GTU TO TRAIN MANPOWER FOR GLASS INDUSTRY

Use of glass in buildings might have gained popularity but there is a dearth of trained manpower which can understand the nitty-gritty and technical aspects of it. Gujarat Technological University (GTU) has decided to fill in the void and launch two short-term courses for people aiming to work or already working in either glass industry or construction business. The varsity has decided to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Saint Gobain India to start the courses. Registrar G P Vadodaria said that the company approached the varsity to start the courses to train manpower in glass industry.

"The two courses will be for professionals -mechanical or civil engineers - who need to understand how glass industry works, quality of good glass and technical aspects associated with it. The second course will be for workers in the industry, be they dropouts or lower rung workers, in skill development," he said. The MoU will be signed on November 8. Vadodaria said that the format where employees are hired in specific industry and trained keeping industry-specific skills is common in technological universities in Tamil Nadu.

"For example, if a glass unit hires a set of 20 employees, residential training programme at GTU will aim at brushing up their skills to work at their best in the industry," he said. Saint Gobain has decided to set up its laboratory with equipment and necessary material. Meanwhile, GTU has also geared up to start a new initiative: to come up with common certificate programme for teachers. The idea will be discussed at the meeting of all technological universities, scheduled in November at GTU.