MARG joins hand with Central Institute of Technology, Australia
- Signs Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to offer varied vocational courses at MARG SWARNABHOOMI
- Both organisations to work on a collaborative training model that will focus on customisation and efficacy measurement
- 1 lakh sq ft of fully fitted incubation space earmarked at MARG Swarnabhoomi
- Plans to jointly host industry workshops and seminars on international vocational education developments
Chennai, April 23, 2012: MARG Limited, one among India's leading Infrastructure companies, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Central Institute of Technology, Australia to offer various vocational courses in India by setting up a centre at MARG Swarnabhoomi. The MoU was signed in the presence of Neil Fernandes, Managing Director, Central Institute of Technology & AP Ganessh Ram, CEO - MARG Swarnabhoomi and Education Services. The other officials present were Dr.Kiran Sandhu – International project officer and Mr.Jamie Mackaway – GM – Strategy & development of Central Institute of Technology.
Central Institute of Technology and MARG Limited have reached agreement to promote the association in phased manner for a collaborative training model. Initially, CIT and MARG will offer vocational courses in the area of Music business, Architectural Technology & Building, Civil, Structural Engineering & Drafting, Furniture and Industry & Interior Design. Vocational courses in Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Drafting, Mining and Interactive Multimedia will be added in the second phase of operations.
Speaking on the occasion, GRK Reddy, Chairman & Managing Director, MARG Group said "The MoU with Central Institute of Technology (CIT) is a proud moment for us. The education city within MARG Swarnabhoomi (EduCity) will soon house leading International education brands from Australia, Singapore, UK, Middle East, US & Malaysia. The partnership with CIT is aimed at addressing the growing demand for quality vocational education in India. The current scenario calls upon highly specialized & globally competitive talent to meet our industrial needs and MARG Swarnabhoomi is advantageously placed for training courses like these as it is a live lab that uniquely combines academia and industrial eco-system with serene lifestyle and living".
MARG will earmark necessary infrastructure (fully fitted incubation space) upto 1,00,000 Sq.ft. at Amrita Park in MARG Swarnabhoomi for the delivery of selected courses. Both CIT and MARG recognise the value of co-operation in the field of vocational education and training in India and aim to Build the capacity of the Indian vocational education and training sector to support the development of a highly skilled workforce required for the economic development of India.
While signing the MoU, Neil Fernandes, Managing Director, Central Institute of Technology said "We are excited to partner with MARG Swarnabhoomi in creating a unique platform for providing knowledge and instilling self-confidence among tomorrow's youth. The serene environment at MARG Swarnabhoomi & their excellent infrastructure support coupled with our expertise in offering high quality vocational courses will set standards in academic proficiency along with vocational and entrepreneurial skill development."
MARG and CIT propose to work together to customise the courses based on the requirement of the Indian Vocational Education market and undertake the phased approach to assess the efficiency and effectiveness. MARG will identify and nominate the trainers who have industry qualifications aligned with the identified courses and CIT will train the trainers nominated by MARG for the identified courses to deliver the courses to students. CIT will also provide the course materials and pedagogy for the selected courses and also assist in assessing the students during and at the end of the course period.
AP Ganessh Ram, CEO - MARG Swarnabhoomi and Education Services said, "India, as a young country with 55% of its population below 30 years of age, requires very good employment opportunities. If India could impart good vocational education to its young population, it will succeed in preparing the youth as a formidable work-force of international quality. In the manufacturing and services sector there are hundreds of skills and vocations for which there is a worldwide shortage. India, even after 65 years of Independence, has not created good vocational training institutions. MARG's and CIT's association is aimed at bridging the gap."
Both CIT and MARG will jointly host industry workshops and seminars on international vocational education developments. Seminars and workshops will be held on a needs basis either in India or Western Australia for the purpose of facilitating the mutual understanding between the training institutions and improving the capability of Indian training institutions. It will also develop and promote programs that are based on the Australian Qualification Training Framework, including quality assurance standards, Training Packages and assessment frameworks, customised to India's skill development requirements.
MARG's education initiatives are aimed at MARG Swarnabhoomi emerging as an education cluster for a New Economy. MARG has an educational focus aimed at meeting the growing global demand for skilled workforce by empowering young individuals with the necessary skill sets to bridge the socio-economic divide. These initiatives under a trust titled 'Swarnabhoomi Academy of Institutions (SAI)' will provide a platform for world class education with International faculty, shaping young minds and creating knowledge based society. SAI includes the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music (SAM), MARG Institute of Design and Architecture Swarnabhoomi (MIDAS) and MARG Navajyothi Vidyalaya (affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education).
Education is the fundamental building block of MARG Swarnabhoomi's ecosystem. For this purpose, infrastructure and association are being created to cater right from elementary to higher education. And the educational institutes collaborating from India and abroad will transform MARG Swarnabhoomi as the intellectual capital with thriving high-quality human resource.
ABOUT CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Central Institute of Technology is a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institution based in Perth, Western Australia. It is the equal oldest post-secondary educational institution in Western Australia and the largest TAFE institution in Perth.[1] Historically it was also known by the names of Perth Technical College, Central Metropolitan College of TAFE (CMC) and Central TAFE.
The institution currently trains around 25,000 students each year and operates at five campuses in the Perth metropolitan area. Namely, Perth campus, Leederville campus, East Perth campus (eCentral), Mount Lawley campus and Nedlands campus (Oral Health Care Centre of Western Australia) Central Institute of Technology also caters for 1500 students from overseas each year and has offshore contracts for the delivery of Australian vocational qualifications in mainland China, Hong Kong, Mauritius and Kuwait.
ABOUT MARG SWARNABHOOMI
MARG Swarnabhoomi, the flagship project of MARG is being developed as an inclusive and integrated new paradigm city based on the principles of new urbanism with unique offerings for education, research and innovation. This integrated city will house a R&D hub and an innovation led futuristic Science Park supported by an educational, commercial and residential framework. MARG Swarnabhoomi has been designed to be an aspirational habitat based on the principles of 'new urbanism' where Education, Research and Innovation will coexist in a stress free atmosphere.
Christened as the "Land of New Thinking"- the global city of education, research and innovation that brings together educational institutions, manufacturing & research companies, IT services firms, housing and healthcare facilities all under one roof. It has already roped in several companies including the likes of Grundfos India, Polyhose, Van Spall Associates, Virgo, Sumeet Machines and TVS Kwikpatch in the engineering category. Strand Bioprocesses and Micro Therapeutics Research labs have been tied up in the Research & Innovation domain. MARG Swarnabhoomi has been shortlisted as Indian Green Building Council's (IGBC) pilot project for the first Platinum rated city in India.
ABOUT MARG LIMITED
MARG Limited (BSE: 530543), incorporated in 1994 and headquartered in Chennai, is an infrastructure, real estate development and services company. The Company is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and its shares are traded on the NSE under the category of 'Permitted Security'. The holistic regional development undertaken by the group is unlocking economic prosperity and creating inclusive & sustainable growth models.
With over two decades of reassuring presence and the credit of pioneering the development of economic growth centers, MARG's portfolio spans across the entire infrastructure value chain - urban and industrial infrastructure, urban residential clusters, marine infrastructure & services, malls and EPC division. Listed by Dun & Bradstreet among "India's Top 500 Companies 2010", today MARG Group has projects worth more than Rs. 3000 crores under execution, a seasoned human capital of more than 1100, global partners in the Infra space and offices spread across India, Singapore and China.
The MARG CSR brand – MARG Parivarthan complements these business verticals.
More information on MARG is available on http://www.marggroup.com |
