Karnataka Government Explores Partnership with RMIT University for Skill Development
Bengaluru, April 4 – The Karnataka government is exploring a collaboration with Melbourne-based RMIT University to enhance re-skilling and up-skilling opportunities in the state’s skill development sector.
A delegation from RMIT University, led by Mish Eastman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Vocational Education, met with Karnataka’s Medical Education and Skill Development Minister, Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, at Vikasa Soudha on Thursday. The discussions centered on fostering a long-term partnership to upgrade skill training programs and align them with global standards.
Strengthening Skill Training in Karnataka
RMIT University, recognized for its expertise in applied research and training innovation in healthcare, expressed interest in contributing to Karnataka’s evolving skill ecosystem. Eastman commended the state government’s initiatives in skill education and emphasized the importance of equipping trainers with contemporary, globally relevant skill sets.
“Upgrading trainers to meet global standards will bring significant advancements to the skill industry,” Eastman stated, highlighting RMIT’s commitment to training trainers with cutting-edge methodologies.
Focus on Super Trainers and Global Standards
Dr. Patil underscored the role of the Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya Institute in Chikkaballapura, which specializes in training skill trainers under the state’s skill development department.
“We have master trainers who train skill trainers, and now our focus is on bringing in super trainers to further enhance the expertise of master trainers to meet global benchmarks,” he said.
Karnataka, with its extensive pool of nursing and allied health science professionals, is keen on facilitating international up-skilling programs for students as part of their curriculum. The government aims to send students to reputed global institutions like RMIT for advanced training in healthcare and other skill-based sectors.
Key Attendees and Future Collaboration
The meeting was attended by Prashil Singh, Director of RMIT’s College of Vocational Education; Justin Schmitt, Manager; Annie Santhana, Regional Director (Education) for the State Government of Victoria; and Australian delegation coordinator Dileep Ebrahim. Senior Karnataka government officials, including Principal Secretary Mohammed Mohsin, Commissioner Dr. R. Ragapriya, Director of Medical Education Dr. B.L. Sujatha Rathod, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences Vice-Chancellor Dr. Bhawan, and Registrar P.R. Shiva Prasad, were also present.
This potential partnership marks a significant step toward strengthening Karnataka’s skill development sector and fostering global collaborations to enhance vocational education.
