FCDO India in partnership with NSDC organized a webinar on Usage of AI and ML in vocational education and training

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under their ‘Skills for Jobs’ project organized an e-session on the usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in the vocational education and training landscape. The hour-long webinar was aimed to highlight the rising importance of data-based decision-making and leveraging AI and ML to gather insights. A study titled Predictive analytics in skill development – Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques’ commissioned by FCDO along with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), undertaken by Bennett University, was used a case study to demonstrate the perceptive learnings from the data trends.

The webinar was attended by more than 100 delegates with rich participation from regulatory and implementing agencies from within the TVET ecosystem. Ms Anu Gupta, Head-Skills and Ms Kaustubhi Harit, Skills Policy Lead FCDO India opened the session by highlighting the increased use of new age technologies to strengthen skill development initiatives. They shared some examples of tech based studies and activities undertaken under the Skills for Jobs Pogramme.

Ms Vandana Bhatnagar, Chief Programme Officer, NSDC, iterated the importance of data analysis and spoke on the host of initiatives undertaken by NSDC for understanding further growth pathways. She expressed the interest in exploring how AI can help in designing newer TVET programmes and also in introducing adaptive learning, counselling services and assessment systems.

Dr. Deepak Garg, HoD – Department of Computer Science, Bennett University, who led the study on predictive analytics in skill development showcased predictive as well as suggestive analytics on the historical data which was provided by NSDC, to gauge the probability of placement for trained candidates by drawing on interlinkages between placement and other data points such as district, age, sector etc.

Taking cognizance of the great strides that UK has charted in leveraging AI and ML in the skill development space, Dr. Adam Director, Oxford Artificial Intelligence Limited presented some AI/ML based solutions which are being used by the UK government, training entities and other stakeholders for evidence-based decision making. A demonstration of ‘Match-My-Spec’ tool that utilizes natural language processing, to intelligently match individuals to various job opportunities was organized. Further, he discussed how such technology-based solutions were being utilized for activities like skills pricing which maps changes in terms of sectoral demand, prospective salary residual and its variations across regions. This solution particularly was well appreciated during the Covid-19 exigency wherein it is used to track changes in the local economy.