Initiative to Inspire

Amit Gossain (AG), managing director, KONE India, converses with your author (SSP) about the diploma course in Mechanical Engineering with Specialization in VT being offered by the company with Chitkara University in Punjab.

SSP:What was the thought process behind the tie-up and conducting the courses? How and when was it conceptualized and taken forward?

AG: The vertical-transportation (VT) system is a crucial element in both the commercial and residential real estate sectors. This ensures the efficient operation of a building and the comfort of the customers. Urbanization has fueled the need for smart and efficient technologies to support growth, and the VT industry is constantly innovating, in terms of design and technology, to provide customers with safer, more intelligent, reliable and efficient elevators and escalators.

Urbanization has fueled the need for smart and efficient technologies to support growth, and the VT industry is constantly innovating, in terms of design and technology, to provide customers with safer, more intelligent, reliable, and efficient elevators and escalators.

As the industry is growing, there’s a lot of demand for VT professionals, and we are committed to imparting knowledge and training to young professionals who want to enter the industry. This unique program is the first of its kind offered by an elevator company. Its purpose is to have the flow of knowledge, experiences, resources and connections for the development of a capable, qualified workforce and domain knowledge for the elevator and escalator sector. This sets a path for successful candidates to look for lucrative assignments in the ever-growing VT industry in India and abroad.

The initiative, conceptualized to fulfill the requirement for a skilled workforce in our industry, was launched in August 2018. KONE is committed to transforming the lives of young people and inspiring the next generation of innovators and skilled professionals through industry/academia partnerships. Chitkara College of Applied Engineering, a constituent institution of Chitkara University, known for its unique approach in imparting knowledge – and skill-based academic programs to its students across multiple disciplines, became the launchpad and successfully launched the Diploma in Mechanical Engineering with Specialization in VT with a maiden batch of 25 young students. 

There is a constant need for high-caliber manpower in the industry, and the collaboration can ensure that the training programs include curricula that meet the needs of the industry.

SSP: What are the facilities created and the factors taken into consideration while planning and implementing the overall project?

AG: The fundamental objective behind the course was to set up the framework for a long-term company academic partnership, which will ensure that students who pass have sound knowledge and associated skills of the subject and its application. 

The following factors were taken into consideration in planning and implementing the overall project: 

• Build competency, capability and capacity for program delivery: directly influence the planning and execution of education and training across India

• Help in developing program curriculum and assessment criteria; identify institutes/delivery partners, which would be engaged for the delivery of training, and train the trainers’ sessions

• Develop the Centre of Excellence that serves as a technology demonstrator for training, skills development and a benchmark at the Chitkara University Campus

• Set up a simulator lab in the campus for real-time practical learning and full-time deployment of experienced lab employees in charge at Chitkara University 

• Train the trainer of Faculties, Engineers and Technicians wherever possible/applicable through chapters/member organizations (where possible).

SSP:Which opportunities do the courses open for those who participate? What are the aspects covered in the program? How was it designed?

AG: The students have a choice to become trainees after an internship at KONE India at the end of the course, then go into a technical line of work like as installation engineers, safety and quality managers and technical line managers. They can fast-track growth in their chosen field.

The program is a three-year, full-time Diploma in Mechanical Engineering with Specialization in VT. The program covers the basics in the first two semesters, and, in the second year, the students study and work on core VT courses alongside core Mechanical Engineering subjects. Presently, the program comprises eight courses, which include a combined approach of classrooms, labs and assignments. During the final year of the program, students are entitled to an internship for six months with KONE India. The internship ensures practical immersion by allowing students to learn manufacturing, installation, commissioning and maintenance.

The fundamental objective behind the course was to set up the framework for a long-term company academic partnership.

SSP:What are the advantages of industry-academia partnerships/ education initiatives like this one? To what extent do you see the tie-up and courses benefitting the VT industry and in which manner? 

AG: An industry/academia partnership is a mutual approach: the companies offer business insights, and the students contribute proven methodology and expertise. There is a constant need for high-caliber manpower in the industry, and the collaboration can ensure that the training programs include curricula that meet the needs of the industry. This purely acts as a medium to enhance innovation through knowledge exchange. The collaboration sets the path for growing demand in the VT industry to come with the right qualification, skill and knowledge. These tie-ups with institutes help in providing the basic training required to enter the VT sector.

SSP:Given the present Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) era, do you feel this was a much-needed step and extremely significant?

AG: The VT industry will not be impacted by RERA coming in, because the natural demand for new homebuyers and for commercial properties will always remain high, as the inventory of homes has come down substantially in the last few years.