In the context of challenging job- market scenario, it has become essential to train students in skills that could lead to sustainable employment. Adequate training in market related and relevant skills help the students of St. Theresa’s to set up small scale units after their education here. The objectives of this programme are
Young women with proper skill development can take up more challenging roles and jobs in building secure futures and a secure economy. Keeping in view this important benefit the centre for Fine Arts has launched a number of training programmes in skills with thrust on handling under the RUSA 2.0 programme.
Skill training with skilled Trainers is provided to students of the college and unemployed young women of the neighborhood under the "Centre for Fine Arts " established by the Women Studies Centre under the aegis of the RUSA 2.0 .The program was launched on July 2019 and comprised of a certificate Diploma, and Advanced Diploma. The target students hailed from B.A, B.Com, B.Sc disciplines. Faculty, local unemployed women and housewives were also enabled training through time-slots made available in the daily schedule. While the students were allotted training schedules in the morning and evening trainees from outside were provided a fixed schedule from 1.45pm - 3.45pm in the afternoon. Faculty members were allotted zero hour for training i.e Saturday afternoons and free sessions during semester exam evenings after college hours. Skilled trainers from agencies were recruited to carry out this program thereby lending it a professional trait. As students could also avail of this programme after college hours total skill training was made a possibility. The intake being limited to 20 trainees per course and time schedule, intensive training was made a possibility .The hours allotted for certificate course in 45 hours, Diploma course is 60 hours and advanced Diploma is 90 hours. The programme involved training provided in a number of skill oriented courses that guarantee marketing and revenue generation. Suitable collaboration with local markets and wholesale vendors have made this training a money generating venture. Around 11 courses in various skills such as Embroidering, Glass painting, pot decorating, Nail art and thread art, quilling, Mehandi art, paper cutting using sola wood, garland making ,artificial bouquet making, table mats production being some of the crafts taught here. Based on the success of the programme it has been decided to expand this venture to create more avenues for rural women of the locality to be enabled training in the forth coming years. The Rural Entrepreneur Development programme which is soon to be launched in the college is all set to include these skill training courses.
The efficacy of the programme is evident in the products displayed and sold in the sales-cum-exhibition held at the end of the programme. Indirect measures used for its evaluation include the positive feedback received about the programme.
Prakruthi