Skill Development Programs Research Articles

Program Development Skills Towards Work Performance of Extension Agent During Movement Control Order (MCO) in Peninsular Malaysia

Program Development Skills Towards Work Performance of Extension Agent During Movement Control Order (MCO) in Peninsular Malaysia

Now and Future Challenges of the Automobile Industry in the Developing World

The automotive sector has fuelled economic expansion in several countries. The automotive industry is changing quickly in the areas of response to shifting consumer tastes, the adoption of stronger government rules, and technology innovation. This study examines the current and future challenges faced by the automotive industry in developing countries and explores strategies for fostering growth and addressing these challenges. The automobile industry in developing countries confronts various obstacles, like infrastructure limitations, environmental concerns, lack of skilled workforce and market competitiveness. These challenges hinder the industrial growth and sustainability. However, there are also promising opportunities and future trends that can reshape the industry, such as electric vehicles, autonomous and connected vehicles, shared mobility services, advanced manufacturing techniques, and sustainable materials. To overcome these challenges and promote growth, several recommendations are proposed. These include: infrastructure development to improve accessibility, skill development programs to address skilled workforce shortage and effective policies. By addressing these challenges and implementing the recommended strategies, developing countries can advance growth, improve sustainability, and create a vibrant and competitive automobile industry. Conclusively, collaboration between governments, industry players, academia, and research institutions are vital for overcoming challenges, and achieving long-term success in evolving automotive landscape.

Educated institution and skill development program post COVID-19

Educated institution and skill development program post COVID-19

Sustainability of Public Financing of Skill Development Programs in India

Sustainability of Public Financing of Skill Development Programs in India

An empirical study on the green skill development programme and its inclusiveness in green industries for effective green marketing and sustainable development: key success factors and challenges

India is a young, human-resources-rich nation. With regard to our country’s economic growth, India continues tolag behind due to various issues such as homelessness, unemployment, analphabetism, infrastructure for medicalcare, etc. Youth play a crucial role in the country’s economic growth. The Green Skill Development Programme(GSDP) of the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF and CC) is an environmental andforestry skills development initiative to encourage young people in India to procure employment and/or self-employment. The system aims to develop long-term workers who are technically skilled and committed tosustainability. In June 2017, the GSDP pilot project was launched. In the current situation, it has been discoveredthat the majority of young people being trained face a severe labor shortage due to a lack of skills and technicalknowledge. Most of them do not know what is happening with today’s technology. Attempts to supply sustainabilityskills are made through the GSDP, which are also known as “green skills.” These are the skill sets, expertise, values,and attitudes that the workers need to develop and foster sustainable social, ecological, and economic conditionsin business, industry, and the community. Such companies favor workers who possess green skills to achieve theirmission. In this study, an effort is made to define the primary green skills sought by the green sector, determine howsuccessful the GSDPs have been, and identify the foremost challenges experienced by the youth in participatingin the government-sponsored GSDPs.

The Biomedical Entrepreneurship Skills Development Program for the Advancement of Research Translation: Foundations of Biomedical Startups course, metrics, and impact.

A growing number of biomedical doctoral graduates are entering the biotechnology and industry workforce, though most lack training in business practice. Entrepreneurs can benefit from venture creation and commercialization training that is largely absent from standard biomedical educational curricula. The NYU Biomedical Entrepreneurship Educational Program (BEEP) seeks to fill this training gap to prepare and motivate biomedical entrepreneurs to develop an entrepreneurial skill set, thus accelerating the pace of innovation in technology and business ventures. The NYU BEEP Model was developed and implemented with funding from NIDDK and NCATS. The program consists of a core introductory course, topic-based interdisciplinary workshops, venture challenges, on-line modules, and mentorship from experts. Here, we evaluate the efficacy of the core, introductory course, "Foundations of Biomedical Startups," through the use of pre/post-course surveys and free-response answers. After 2 years, 153 participants (26% doctoral students, 23% post-doctoral PhDs, 20% faculty, 16% research staff, 15% other) have completed the course. Evaluation data show self-assessed knowledge gain in all domains. The percentage of students rating themselves as either "competent" or "on the way to being an expert" in all areas was significantly higher post-course (P < 0.05). In each content area, the percentages of participants rating themselves as "very interested" increased post-course. 95% of those surveyed reported the course met its objectives, and 95% reported a higher likelihood of pursuing commercialization of discoveries post-course. NYU BEEP can serve as a model to develop similar curricula/programs to enhance entrepreneurial activity of early-stage researchers.

Threat to the Sustainable Production of Natural Resins: A Case of Rangeeni Strain of Kerria lacca (Kerr) in Eastern Plateau &amp; Hills Region of South East Asia

The study conducted to examine the trends, growth and instability in the production of an insect-based natural resin in India. Study is designed with sampling and Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) based primary data as well as secondary data. District-level time-series data of Jharkhand state for 50 years from 1970-71 to 2019-20 was used. Time series analysis revealed the variation in lac production levels in different levels of geo coordinates. Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) was worked out by fitting the exponential function. The instability indices worked out by using the method suggested by Cuddy and Dell. The growth in lac production and export of lac-based value-added products has decelerated in the post-liberalization period, while yield growth has accelerated. The overall decline in the production level of rangeeni crop ranged from -5.54% in Western Plateau Sub Zone V to -6.98% in South Eastern Plateau Sub Zone VI. Utilization of the existing natural endowment of Butea monosperma in major rangeeni lac-producing districts in Western Plateau Sub Zone V could be a promising strategy to minimize the variation in the production of rangeeni crop. A paradigm shifts from rangeeni lac cultivation during previous decades coupled with climate change issues may be another possible reason for the regional disparity in the level of rangeeni lac production.&#x0D; The overall scenario in Jharkhand state depicts the alarming situation for katki crop (Rainy season rangeeni crop) having the highest instability index (49.69), particularly with significant negative growth rates from 2000 to 2020. The magnitude of decline for katki crop was found highest and most significant during the 2001-2010 period. Although, the production of rangeeni strain was affected adversely in Jharkhand (-21.60%) during the Ninth Five Year Plan coupled with shifting from rangeeni to kusmi lac cultivation due to boosting through capacity building and skill development programs which influenced the awareness and knowledge level of the stakeholders. However, COVID-19 could break the momentum, and functionaries including the institutions and facilitators shifted to manage the disrupted supply chains during 2019-20 and 2020-21. Post COVID-19 scenario, emerged with new ICT-enabled interventions with greater scope for extension and awareness programs. However, there is a huge technological gap in the existing lac industry with poor automation and dependency on local labor. Policy interventions including market initiatives like Minimum Support Prices (MSP), Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs); and Institutional initiatives like FPOs, SHGs, JLGs, etc. may play a key role in strengthening the sector. New host plants like Flemingia semialata may be promoted to reduce instability indices in the long run.

Impact of Skill Development Program for producing Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan

A fundamental requirement for a competent and successful entrepreneur is knowledge and practice of entrepreneurial skills, particularly in the commercial context. This study investigates the impact of several entrepreneurial skill development programs in Pakistan, including the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Human Resource Research Development Board (BBSHRRDB) and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC). The population of this study consists of 255 entrepreneurs. The broad objective of the study is to examine the impact ofthe Skill Development Program on producing Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan. The sample size of this study is 280 female entrepreneurs. A systematic random sampling technique was used to analyse the data. Using Araoye’s (2004) sampling procedure, a sample of female business owners is selected for the study. The data were received by distributing a questionnaire to all respondents. For analysing the data, descriptive statistics were used, and the regression test was performed to test the hypotheses. It was determined that BBSHRRDB and NAVTTC have animpact on the development and performance of female entrepreneurs across all evaluated metrics. The study also concluded that social factors such as formal/ business networks, informal networks, and social acceptance have a significant impact on the success of women entrepreneurs in Pakistan.

Skill Development of Students for Economic Empowerment

A study was conducted in College of Home Science, Department of Family Resource Management and Consumer Science organized skill development classes for the economic empowerment of the students. These classes are geared towards the needs of students in a particular context keeping in view their social needs, culture and geographic realities. The present study was carried out to enhance the economic empowerment of students of Kumarganj through skill development. A Total 124 respondents participated in the study. Primary data were collected through interview schedule. Results revealed that about 80 percent of the respondents improved their skills in functional and decorative crafts while 87 percent respondents contributed to family income. Following a skill development programme, 70% of respondents agreed that they had improved their leadership and communication skills. The findings indicated that organising students into self-help groups was a relevant strategy for empowering them, as poor students expressed a strong tendency to derive strength from being a member of the group. The intervention of Family Resource Management and consumer science had a positive impact on students' functional status. It was observed that there is a perfect fit between skills, resource available, technological options and marketing avenues.

(The shift to) online delivery of a rural faculty development program in research skills: lessons learned

BackgroundWhile rural physicians are the ideal candidates to investigate health and healthcare issues in rural communities, they often lack the required skills, competencies, and resources. As a result, research skills development programs are crucial to help ensure communities receive the quality of care they deserve. Memorial University of Newfoundland created a research skills development program called 6for6 to empower and enable rural physicians to research solutions to community-specific health needs. 6for6 program delivery was exclusively in-person until 2019. However, with limitations introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations around the globe needed to respond quickly. As we work to return to a post-pandemic environment, program administrators and educators worldwide are unsure whether to retain or remove the changes made to programs to adapt to the pandemic restrictions. Therefore, this work addresses the impact of the online delivery model in two areas: 1) attainment of competencies (specifically research skills, knowledge, and attitudes); and 2) participant experiences, defined as the ease of attendance, the capacity to interact with team members and peers, and challenges or barriers associated with navigating program resources.MethodsWe compared the effect of an online delivery model pivoted to adapt pandemic restrictions with the original model (primarily face-to-face) on the acquisition of learning competencies and participant experience using a mixed-methods study. Various data collection methods, such as a pre-post program survey, post-program focus group, and structured observation, were utilized.ResultsFrom 2014 to 2021, 35 physicians attended the program (30 face-to-face and five online). The Wilcoxon-sign-rank test did not show any significant differences in the participants’ median change of research competency scores who attended face-to-face and online learning, respectively: knowledge (32.6, 26.8), attitudes (3.8, 3.5), and skills (32.4, 20.0). Flexibility and accessibility were key aspects of participants’ experiences during the online model. Comparison with previous years demonstrated no significant challenges with the virtual delivery model, yet participants struggled with mentorship challenges and learning-life balance.ConclusionsAlthough presenting some unique challenges, the online model did not negatively affect learner competencies. Likewise, it provided opportunities for rural physicians to attend learning sessions and interact with experts and peers while remaining in their communities.

The Nature of Substance Abuse Treatment in South Africa: A Social Work Perspective

Given the chronic nature of substance use disorders, treatment requires a combination of various methods to be successful. Numerous factors contribute to the selection of a suitable treatment plan, which include the service user’s needs, the severity of the substance use disorder, the substance of choice, comorbidity and the history of treatment. Social workers as part of the multidisciplinary team are usually the first point of contact with service users undergoing treatment. In this article, we discuss social workers’ perspectives of the nature of treatment for substance use disorders in South Africa. The study is qualitative in nature and adopted an exploratory research design. The results of the study are based on an empirical investigation conducted with 20 social workers employed in various substance abuse treatment centres in South Africa. Using thematic data analysis, we present the three main themes that emerged from the study: (1) treatment for substance use disorder in South Africa; (2) services for treatment of substance use disorder rendered with regard to the Integrated Service Delivery Model; and (3) intervention methods for treatment of substance use disorders. The findings of the study revealed a need for more public treatment facilities and the application of treatment methodologies that are more applicable to the South African context. We recommend that service users be enrolled in skills development programmes as part of their treatment to allow them to lead meaningful lives in recovery.

Economic and social inclusion of person with disability and transgender through skills development program of BRAC: A qualitative study

AbstractThis article is based on the Skills Training for Advancing Resources (STAR) project for the youth initiative of the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) in Bangladesh. The objective was to explore the consequences of social and economic inclusion of this project for the persons with disability (PWDs) and transgender (TG) youth people. The research focused on how inclusive programmatic interventions created multidimensional impacts among the “marginalized” and “excluded” PWD and TG youths at the grassroots level. This study adopted a qualitative approach where in‐depth case interviews and observation were applied for data collection. PWD and TG graduates, master craft persons (MCPs), employers, and program staff members were the participants in this study. Results found that PWD and TG youths faced vulnerabilities and social stigma in their lives and livelihood trajectories due to their physical inability and low level of social dignity. The STAR project has a certain level of contribution to the livelihoods of PWD and TG people, where these helped them to gain their social, cultural, and economic capital. Findings would be an important guideline for policymakers, NGO managers, and human rights workers.

Comparison of group and individual soft skills development programs -

Competitive pressures are increasing demands on managerial performance and, thus, on creating effective management development programs. The purpose of this study was to compare group and individual approaches to developing line and middle managers. The Managerial Tools and Managerial Training Simulator programs were used, with 256 managers participating. We examined the following five soft management skills: effective goal setting, giving feedback and evaluating performance, accepting feedback as a manager, management coaching, and leading discussions and team meetings using a facilitative leadership style. After both types of development programs, both groups of managers showed improvements in developing skills as assessed by their subordinates. At the first measurement, individual and group development resulted in the same positive increase in subordinates' perceptions. However, in terms of a long-term effect (the second measurement), this positive increase was maintained for the individual development programs but not group programs, where it decreased. Thus, the effect of the individual development programs appears to be longer-term. Overall, we found no significant difference between line and middle managers - both groups responded similarly to the development activities. Regarding developing individual skills, the smallest change was found in the ability to set goals and provide feedback. The most considerable change was the ability to accept feedback, coach, and facilitate. This research provides information for specialists in education and development and may help select appropriate leadership development tools, particularly for individual programs with longer-term impacts.

Impact of a disability-targeted livelihoods programme in Bangladesh: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of STAR+

IntroductionThere is little evidence on the impact of livelihood interventions amongst people with disabilities. Effective programmes are critical for reducing the heightened risk of poverty and unemployment facing persons with disabilities. STAR+ is a skills development and job placement programme targeted to out-of-school youth with disabilities (ages 14–35) living in poverty. It is a disability-targeted adaptation to an existing, effective intervention (STAR), which has been designed to address barriers to decent work for people with disabilities. This protocol describes the design of a cluster randomised controlled trial of STAR+ in 39 of the 64 districts of Bangladesh.MethodsBRAC has identified 1500 youth with disabilities eligible for STAR+ across its 91 branch offices (typically a geographical areas covering about 8 km radius from local BRAC office) catchment areas (clusters). BRAC has limited funding to deliver STAR+ and so 45 of the 91 branches have been randomly allocated to implement STAR+ (intervention arm). The remaining 46 branches will not deliver STAR+ at this time (control arm). Participants in the control-arm will receive usual care, meaning they are free to enrol in any other livelihood programmes run by BRAC or other organisations including standard STAR (being run in 15 control branches). The cRCT will assess the impact of STAR+ after 12 months on employment status and earnings (primary outcomes), as well as poverty, participation and quality of life (secondary outcomes). Analysis will be through intention-to-treat, with a random mixed effect at cluster level to account for the clustered design. Complementary qualitative research with participants will be conducted to triangulate findings of the cRCT, and a process evaluation will assess implementation fidelity, mechanisms of impact and the role of contextual factors in shaping variations in outcomes.DiscussionThis trial will provide evidence on the impact of a large-scale, disability-targeted intervention. Knowledge on the effectiveness of programmes is critical for informing policy and programming to address poverty and marginalisation amongst this group. Currently, there is little robust data on the effectiveness of livelihood programmes amongst people with disabilities, and so this trial will fill an important evidence gap.Trial registrationThis study has been registered with the Registry for International Development Impact Evaluations, (RIDIE Study ID: 6238114b481ad) on February 25, 2022, and the ISRCTN Registry (ID: ISRCTN15742977).

Current Status of the System of Rice Intensification in India and Constraints to Overcome for Large-Scale Adoptio

System of rice Intensification (SRI) has the great potential to be promoted in large scale. However, with the policies and suitable recommendation, it did not spread to large scale in India. Suitable measures are required further upscaling the SRI in all the states of the country. The paper gives brief account of the initiation of SRI work (demonstrations and research), basic principles of SRI, advantages and initial experiences of the SRI adoption especially in Andhra Pradesh. The lack of skill development specially to adopt SRI principles hindered the large scale adoption even though NGO’s and other organisations involved in promotion of SRI. There is need to relook the SRI promotion across the country with proper skill development and suitable programme and integrating with ongoing programmes and mainstreaming the SRI in National Agriculture

Globalization-Female Labour Participation Nexus in Pakistan: A Dynamic Analysis.

Background: The process of globalization is defined as a process of integration with the globe through trade, foreign investment, and the transfer of technology and migration from one region to another. There is a need to investigate whether increasing dependency and interconnectedness among various regions can bring any advantage for female labor while opening a new venue or creating hurdles. The main objective of this study is to empirically investigate the impact of globalization on female labor participation using time series data. This study also considers the impact of the economic situation, education, and health on the female labour supply in Pakistan.&#x0D; Methodology: Female labour force participation rate is a dependent variable, whereas; Globalization Index, Economic Misery Index, school enrolment ratio, fertility rate, and GDP growth are independent variables. The ARDL bound testing approach has been used for data analysis to estimate the model. The time series data was collected from secondary data from 1973 to 2019.&#x0D; Results: The study's finding proves globalization's negative and significant impact on female labour participation in Pakistan. The increasing trend of globalization is not supporting domestic employment opportunities for females. Rather, it pushed females back from the labor market due to the demand for more skilled labor and the replacing human labor with technology. Moreover, the lack of education and health facilities and the worse economic situation have overturned globalization's positive effects on females. &#x0D; Conclusion: Based on the study's findings, it is suggested to improve female skills through investment in different education, training, and skills development programs to cope with the imminent challenges of globalization on females in Pakistan. Even though researchers have highlighted the impact of globalization on female labour, however; it has not been investigated comprehensively in the context of Pakistan. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the impact of globalization on females, considering the Economic Misery Index, school enrolment ratio, fertility rate, and GDP growth.

Educator performance and the strategic plan priorities of the Eastern Cape Department of Education

Background: The Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) is still experiencing skills shortages among its educators which poses critical challenges in performing their duties of improving learner performance in the province. Shortages of skills development programmes in the Eastern Cape has resulted in poor performance of both educators and learners in most schools. Although the ECDoE has clearly espoused its strategic objectives regarding training and development of educators, it is worrying that only a limited number of educators have received capacity development in critical performance areas.Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between educator performance and the strategic plan priorities of the ECDoE.Setting: Buffalo City Education District in Eastern Cape Province.Methods: The study adopted a quantitative research strategy and uses a survey questionnaire to collect information from respondents. The sample size was made up of two hundred and seventy (270) participants. The survey questionnaire used a Likert scale ranging from one (1) (strongly agree) to five (5) (strongly disagree). The reliability of the survey questionnaires was determined by calculating the Pearson’s coefficient, and internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s alpha scale.Results: The study established that remediating the lack of training opportunities for educators was the direct objective of the ECDoE strategic plan priorities.Conclusion: The article concludes that the ECDoE needs to carry out a skills and capacity audit, based on strategic plan needs analysis. The designing of human capital skills development and training programmes should be informed by the ECDoE’s strategic plan and Integrated Quality Management System that align with educators’ key performance areas.

EMPLOYEES PERCEPTION AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ITS ATTAINMENT FOR ECONOMIC PROGRESS

There are two major challenges related to the talent: Will and Skill. If will, one can learn new skills and create future prospects. The skills and attitude matter to share the career and growth in professional life. The present study emphasizes on the skill development program in the organizations. It aims to check the perceptions and attitudes of the employees in the organization towards the economic progress. The author had conducted survey from the 94 employees from the different companies in Delhi working at different levels. The non-probabilistic convenient sampling technique is applied in the Survey. The structured questionnaire is used as an instrument for data collection containing demographic details of the employees along with their perceptions and attitudes towards the skill development with respect to economic progress in the organization. The author had reached to the conclusion of the study with the application of the Data Analysis techniques i.e. Frequency Analysis for their personal information, Chi Square Test to check the association among the Personal information of them and the Training leads to the performance improvement of the organization and descriptive statistics with the calculation of the Mean value to check the perception and attitudes towards the skill development. The ndings of the study had proven that employees are in the strongest opinion for the skill development program in the organization which ultimately leads to the Economic growth in the country.

Analysing the Contribution of Skill Development Program in Eligible Youth and Exploring Impact of Factors Affecting the Success of Programme

Ujala Verma, Dr. Boola Choudhary, Prof. Praveen Choudhary

Pemberdayaan UMKM Dalam Menstabilkan Perekonomian Daerah Rejang Lebong di Tengah Pandemi Covid-19

This paper aims to describe how efforts are made to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) in stabilizing the economy in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The data used is sourced from data from the official website of several agencies or institutions that are relevant to this research. The results show that although the Covid-19 pandemic has created problems for UMKM and cooperatives, on the other hand, opportunities have also emerged. UMKM actors and cooperatives can take advantage of information and communication technology so that creativity and innovation emerge among UMKM in maintaining their business which has an impact on the optimal use of local or regional products. Local governments seek to empower UMKM in meeting community needs through skills development programs and funding assistance. The UMKM empowerment programs in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic include changing business models from conventional to digitalization, designing social and digital strategies, developing and empowering UMKM resources optimally, and economic recovery programs in the form of capital assistance from the government.