DCASCI

Developing Critical Agricultural Skills Courses in India

Overview

With funding provided by the Australian Government Department of Education, this new initiative brings together a team of highly skilled agricultural education and research professionals from Australia’s University of Adelaide, Skills Impact, Agricultural Skills Council of India (ASCI) and the National Skills Foundation of India (NSFI). The project aims to strengthen the bilateral relationships between Australia and India through the delivery of pilot training courses in partnership with stakeholders from the Australian and Indian education and agriculture sectors. The project is being implemented from April 2023 through June 2024.

We Are Aiming To

Identify critical and emerging jobs requiring advanced agriculture practices to support India’s education and training needs under India’s National Education Policy 2020.

1

Codify skills in occupational standards and identify unique training opportunities for Australian education providers to support their implementation.

2

Identify pathways for Australian education providers to support the provision of specialist training to India’s agricultural sector in partnership with Indian education and training providers and industry.

3

Design and facilitate delivery of pilot short course training that address critical skills gaps, emerging agricultural technology opportunities and enhance skilling opportunities for India’s agricultural sector.

4

Fact Sheets

Organic Farm & Business Promoter

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Livestock Green Management Promoter

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Integrated Farming Practitioner

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Carbon
Farming

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Digital Agriculture Extension Promoter

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Pilot Training Short Course Programs

Specific areas of focus for a series of pilot training programs will be determined based on the findings of the scoping study and consultation workshops. The project will engage with Training Providers in India and Australia to facilitate the development and pilot-delivery of the short course trainings.

The focus of the pilot courses may include the use of special emerging ag-tech, enhancing farming systems efficiency through precision agriculture and digitisation, supporting entrepreneurial agribusiness models and sustainable soil and water management. The project team will be reaching out to Indian and Australian training providers seeking their interest in being engaged in this exciting project.

Partners

University of Adelaide

Leading Australian partner that will be taking the project forward in India on behalf of the Department of Education, Australia

The University of Adelaide’s School of Agriculture, Food and Wine Science has the largest concentration of agricultural research and teaching expertise in the Southern Hemisphere, and extensive connections to Australian industry. This is coupled with more than two decades of connecting with Indian agriculture in the research and development space.

Agriculture Skill Council on India

Developing standards and content for identified skills

Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) is working under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to transform Indian Agriculture through developing the skills of country’s manpower in emerging areas of agriculture. ASCI works towards skill gap identification and skill upgradation of farmers, wage workers, self-employed & extension workers engaged in organized / unorganized segments of Agriculture & Allied Sectors. ASCI has so far developed 180 Qualification Packs in Agri & allied sector for various skilling programs.

Skills Impact

Australian partner, provide Australian expertise and guidance on skills training

Until 2022, and for almost 30 years, Skills Impact held a Skills Service Organisation (SSO) role to review and develop learning and skills standards for industry. In 2023, a Jobs and Skills Council was established and called Skills Insight to represent industry sectors and to contribute to improvements to the Australian skills system.

Timeline

Jun ‘23

Scoping Study that will identify emerging skill sets and training needs to drive the Indian agricultural sector forward

Aug ‘23

Occupational and skills mapping performed to validate the future demand and need for unique training opportunities

Sep ‘23

Australian training organisations partner with Indian counterparts for collaborative pilot training.

Dec ‘23

Pilot training programs developed based on priority areas from the scoping study and skills mapping

Apr ‘24

Delivery of pilot training courses undertaken, monitored, evaluated and reported.

Jun ‘24

Final report and recommendations completed

Photo Gallery

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Dept Education_Stacked

This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education through the International Education Innovation Fund.