Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE)

KASE (Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence), the State Skill Development Mission (SSDM) of Kerala, has become a prominent organization in promoting skill development initiatives in the state. It is a representation of skill development and empowerment in the State, having been founded with the vision of fostering talent and bridging the gap between education and industry. KASE has been a catalyst for socioeconomic growth, changing lives and advancing Kerala toward a better future by coordinating its actions with the changing demands of the sector. KASE was established to serve as the highest authority for initiating, overseeing, and coordinating targeted skill development for various industrial domains. Additionally, KASE has been recognized as the State Skill Development Mission (SSDM) to serve as the nodal agency for the convergence of all state-wide skill training programs. Promoting, establishing, setting up, monitoring, governing, and regulating institutions and academies for skills excellence for development are the primary goals of SSDM. 

Skill Convergence in Kerala - Kerala's need for departmental convergence under a state-level mission is shown by the fact that different departments have their own skilling initiatives. The following is a quick summary of KASE's main initiatives:

District-Level Skill Development and Community Engagement - Kerala has embraced a decentralized approach to skill development in recognition of the distinct needs of various regions. KASE gives local governments the authority to determine the skills needed in their regions by establishing District Skill Committees, which are chaired by District Collectors. These committees gather insights on local demands and evaluate proposals from district-based agencies to bridge specific skill gaps.

District Skill Development Centers - Originally called Kaushal Kendras, District Skill Development Centers (DSDCs) are rural skill centers that target young people living in rural areas. The scheme aims to give individuals from a variety of backgrounds chances to develop their skills. DSDCs facilitate district-level skill information and offer skill training in a variety of fields at the local level. The districts of Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram are currently home to DSDCs. Additionally, KASE intends to establish DSDCs in every district.

Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) - The World Bank supports the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship's (MSDE) initiative, Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP). The State receives 40% of the entire budget allocation, while the Central receives 60%. SANKALP aims to address ongoing issues such as the National Skills Qualification framework's (NSQF) universalization, the standardization of certification and assessments, convergence, the infusion of quality into skill development programs and their market relevance while guaranteeing private participation, particularly in the context of short-term training. Through Keraleeyam, Ente Keralam fairs, Freedom Fest, and other events, SANKALP has promoted itself throughout Kerala in collaboration with District Skill Committees.

District Skill Committee - Under the direction of the District Collector, District Skill Committees have been established in each district as part of the SANKALP Scheme. The district's many skill development activities are planned, coordinated, and overseen by the District Skill Committees.

District Skill Development Plan - Training initiatives are moving forward in compliance with the District Skill Development Plan, which was created in collaboration with the District Skill Committees. The Project Evaluation Matrix created by KASE was used to assess the District Skill Development Plans that the districts submitted. Districts are expected to train 1,295 candidates in the second phase and 1,792 candidates in the first.

Short-Term Training under the Inclusion Component - Candidates from marginalized communities were given access to skill training programmes based on the District Skill Development Plans that were submitted. 675 individuals have received training under the scheme's inclusion component, 451 have received certification, and 43 have reportedly been placed. There are ongoing activities for skill training.

Job fairs and activities to promote apprenticeships - Using the Kerala State Job Portal, job fairs were held in every district. The aim of the job fairs was to put individuals who had finished short-term skill training programmes as well as members of the general public. Through these fairs, 3,233 individuals received employment offers. In addition to the job fairs, apprenticeship awareness campaigns were held around the state.

Skill Summit/Training Service Provider's Summit (TSP Summit) - With more than 200 attendees, SSDM held the first Skill Summit for industry professionals and training partners in Trivandrum as part of growing the State's Skill Convergence initiatives. The Honorable Minister for Labour and Skills of the Government of Kerala inaugrated the summit. After that, nearly 200 people from each of Kerala's remaining 13 districts participated in summits.

Training Service Providers Summit 2024-2025 - All 14 Kerala's districts successfully hosted the Training Service Providers (TSP) Summit. A strong commitment to public-private partnerships was demonstrated by the summit. The summit mobilised over 2,800 stakeholders, including 1,851 training providers.

Skill Training Programs for Women’s Empowerment - The Indian Institute of Infrastructure & Construction (IIIC), a Center of Excellence under the State Skill Development Mission (KASE), carried out a number of skill-training initiatives targeted at the upliftment of women. Through the Women's Empowerment project, 23 female students got skill training in four courses during this fiscal year, and all 23 of them were able to find jobs.

“Unnathi” Training Program for Scheduled Castes (SC) - Under the leadership of the State Scheduled Castes Development Department, young skill training programs in a number of sectors for the upliftment of Scheduled Castes youth have been determined to be implemented through the "Unnathi Training Program." The State Skill Development Mission's partner organizations, Toonz Animation, ESPOiR, and IIB, are organizing these training courses in the fields of animation, nursing, and logistics.