USIBC launches new education initiative

Looking ahead to global economy of the future, the US-India Business Council (USIBC) has announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at strengthening institutional linkages between academia, industry and NGOs focusing on the elementary, vocational and higher education sectors in both countries.

“The US and India must be committed partners in building the workforce of tomorrow, a partnership that will unleash opportunity, spur growth and sustain prosperity not just in our countries but across the global community,” Harold McGraw III, incoming USIBC chairman and chairman, president and CEO
of The McGraw-Hill Companies said.

“To do this, we must focus on strengthening our educational ties at every level. By working together our two countries can equip the next generation with the education and skills necessary to compete and win in the global economy,” he said.

The Education Initiative will serve as a dynamic platform for business, NGOs, and academia to provide vital input into both the US and Indian governments–such that the synergies between American and Indian business and educational communities are unleashed, the USIBC said in a statement.

“We can talk about strategic, defense, civil nuclear, renewable energy and every other type of commercial cooperation, but if we do not develop the skill sets in our respective societies to sustain such collaboration, all this talk will never be successfully converted to action,” Ron Somers president USIBC noted.

“How fortunate it is that families across all walks of life in both our societies so highly value education. We have much to learn from one another, and much to accomplish – to prepare for the challenges of the 21st Century,” Somers said.

Further USIBC has embarked on a survey of rural and urban, private and public K-12 schools throughout India to identify best practices that are working well in educating students, while assessing needs where industry, NGOs and government may join together to fill gaps.

With the support of Ryan International Group, one of India’s leading educators, both financial and intellectual resources will be mobilised to transform these and other schools in a manner that promotes replication of successful models across India, USIBC said.

The USIBC will partner with its member-companies to feature Case Studies of Vocational Training and Skills Development that are being implemented across India. The exercise will attempt to enlist more corporations to participate in this important area of human capacity building. Programmes helping to train thousands of workers will generate employment opportunities and sustain economic growth now and for the long future – in both countries.