Bhubaneswar: A delegation of UK Skills and Chartered Bodies Mission visited Odisha to explore collaborations with the state government in vocational education.
The delegation, comprising four chartered bodies of the UK and three award-winning organisations, met on Tuesday with the officials of the Skill Development and Technical Education department and the World Skill Centre (WSC).
The discussions focused on enhancing vocational education, integrating UK-style apprenticeships, and strengthening industry-led skilling initiatives across key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, digital skills, and sustainable infrastructure.
Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain said, “Today, Odisha is recognised as a leader in skill development. We are at the forefront, developing world-class skill centres, forming partnerships with top-tier industry leaders and implementing innovative programmes that creates pathway to meaningful employments and economic self-sufficiency,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, British Deputy High Commissioner to East and North-East India Andrew Fleming said he has been impressed by Odisha’s commitment towards skilling its youths for sustainable livelihood. The visit of the UK Skills and Chartered Bodies delegation presents an opportunity to deepen partnerships between UK institutions and Odisha’s skilling ecosystem.
“By leveraging UK expertise in technical and vocational education and training, we can support Odisha’s ambitions to equip its workforce with internationally recognised skills, enhancing employability and driving economic growth,” he said.
In another event, the UK government, in collaboration with the Energy department and GRIDCO, organised a workshop on ‘Net-Zero Vision for Bhubaneswar’.
The workshop aimed to facilitate knowledge exchange, foster multi-stakeholder collaboration, and outline a strategic roadmap for Bhubaneswar’s transition towards a low-carbon, sustainable future.
This initiative aligns with India’s commitment to achieve net-zero by 2070 and Odisha’s ambitious target of adding 10.9 GW renewable energy capacity by 2029-30.
In his address, British Deputy High Commissioner Fleming shared insights on UK’s experiences in urban sustainability. Reaffirming UK’s commitment to supporting India’s green transition, he appreciated the state government actions for RE adoption, despite being a coal-rich state.
He expressed his confidence on Bhubaneswar achieving the energy transition in a timely manner following some stricter action plans and timely corrective measures. There is real potential for Odisha to emerge as a leader in EV innovation and adoption. He suggested the state government to send some of their brightest minds in this field to visit UK to learn the best practices.
