Vertically integrated skill development and vocational training for socioeconomically marginalised youth: The experience at Gram Tarang and Centurion University,India

At present, India’s education system turns out millions of young people who are ready to think, but not enough people with entrepreneurial or employment skills. As India faces increasing limits on its resources, both economic and natural, the competency and capability of human resources play a pivotal role in developing and sustaining the economy. The sector of skill development and vocational education requires a paradigm shift, from a static framework to one that is dynamic and constantly adapting to meet industry and social demands. Centurion University of Technology and Management has evolved to provide relevant and inclusive education to young people at every level, from school dropouts to graduates. Through its social entrepreneurship initiative, Gram Tarang Employability Training Services, Centurion partners with industries and the government to develop the capacity for employment and entrepreneurship in all its students and trainees. This article describes Centurion’s vision, operational approach, and the underlying beliefs that guide its innovative thinking, based on its years of working in some of India’s most marginalised and underdeveloped regions.