Pune: NSDC, deAsra, CEED and Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics sign MoU to enhance skilling and entrepreneurship landscape in India

Pune, 8th November 2023: The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the Centre for Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Development (CEED) & deAsra Centre of Excellence for Nano-entrepreneurship at Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics have joined hands to share knowledge and contribute to enhance the skilling and entrepreneurship landscape in India. NSDC and Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

This collaboration marks a milestone in their shared commitment to strengthen the skilling and entrepreneurship landscape in India. This partnership places special emphasis on addressing the needs of underserved communities and regions.

The signing authorities for this significant event were Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of NSDC, and Col Kapil Jodh, Registrar of Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. The virtual signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Ajit Ranade, Vice-Chancellor of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pradnya Godbole, Director of CEED & deAsra CoE for Nano-entrepreneurship and CEO of deAsra Foundation and Dr. Archana Patankar, Senior Consultant to CEO’s Office, NSDC, among others.

Dr. Ranade, addressing the meeting said, “The objectives of the Centre and the goals of NSDC are very much aligned. Hence, I am very confident in this collaboration. Skilling is an instrument to achieve an ultimate objective. Not just failures, but we must learn from our successes as well, if this can be replicated and what else can we achieve using the means in which the success was first achieved.”

Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of NSDC said, “NSDC is focusing its efforts on making skilling outcome oriented for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. Our partnership will further add to the knowledge base and expertise in the skilling domain and strengthen our efforts further.”

Pradnya Godbole, Director of CEED and CEO of deAsra Foundation, concluded the signing ceremony with her remarks. She remarked, “The combined strengths and efforts of NSDC, CEED and the deAsra CoE for Nano-entrepreneurship will bring the much required force for creating a fostering and enabling ecosystem for unorganized enterprises and MSMEs to start and scale up.”

The collaboration between NSDC and CEED will provide needed knowledge and advocacy support in building the capacity of grassroot institutions; establishing the market linkages, industry connects to the products and services rendered by artisans/ village industries/ MSMEs with aim to create pragmatic solutions, boost economic activities for serving larger public interest. The aim is to enhance the growth of MSMEs thus enabling job creation and increase income levels of families/ households through joint efforts. The goal is to create social impact model projects through innovative approaches to provide a professional helping hand to MSMEs by shaping a market essential skilling ecosystem and strategies.

This partnership will foster action research on topics such as innovative microfinance models for access to finance for MSMEs, classification & definition for nano-entrepreneurs, and indicators and enabling environment for their growth, indicators of readiness of youth for self-employment/entrepreneurship, etc.

NSDC and CEED’s joint knowledge-sharing initiative is assured to harness the combined expertise of both institutions for the greater public good, aligning with their respective mandates.

About National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC):
NSDC is a not-for-profit company registered under Companies Act, 1956 and has the license under Section 25 of the said Act and was set up as part of National Skill Development Mission to fulfill the growing need in India for skilled manpower across sectors and narrow the existing skill gap between the demand and supply of skills.

About Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE):
Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, is deemed to be a University under section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, (from now on referred to as “Gokhale Institute”, which expression shall, unless repugnant to the context or meaning thereof, be deemed to include its successors, executors, administrators and assignees) having its administrative office on Survey No 846, BMCC Road, Shivaji Nagar, Pune- 411004, Maharashtra.

About Centre for Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Development (CEED): The Centre for Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Development (CEED), along with the deAsra Centre of Excellence in Nano Entrepreneurship, is an entrepreneurship policy research and advocacy Centre at Gokhale Institute. The vision of the Centre is to put research in business and entrepreneurship into practice and achieve betterment of society through nurturing values of entrepreneurship and self-employment.