Mphasis-Villgro supported SkillTrain App to train Indian unskilled workforce

February 14, 2017 | Delhi: Mphasis, a leading IT services and solutions provider, Villgro, India’s oldest and foremost social enterprise incubator and Villgro incubatee SkillTrain, a technology-enabled vocational training company, announce the launch of the SkillTrain Mobile App with an objective of transforming the lives of Indian youth.

The mobile app has been developed to disrupt the massive unskilled workforce in the country. Founded by former management consultant B.Ganesh, SkillTrain uses a blended model of video content and practical training to enable rural and urban youth to become employable or self-employed. The offering will now be available via a new mobile app that will be available on all android-based smart phones. The mobile app offers courses in segments such as electronics, tailoring, plumbing, electrical repair and a host of other skill areas. At the time of launch, the mobile app will have five free courses in Hindi language. SkillTrain plans to add at least 10 new courses over the next 6 months. While the video content and quizzes are free, the fee per practical session ranges between Rs 30 and Rs 100 making it one of the most affordable models currently available. The app also enables the learner to pace their learning as per their learning styles and needs thereby helping them master the skill better.

India needs to train an estimated 300 million citizens by 2022 wherein existing capabilities will be able to tap only a fraction of the mammoth target. The SkillTrain mobile app will make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of unemployed youth in India’s urban and rural areas. The state-of-the-art digital learning content and videos in the mobile app are designed in a way that it is affordable to the masses, easily accessible, flexible to use and learn, and certified by the government.

Given that 38% of India’s rural users access the Internet through their mobile phones, a custom-made mobile app addressing the country’s requirements will be a big thrust to India’s skilling challenges. With the Government of India’s Digital India and Skill India campaigns aiming to increase access and boost employability, SkillTrain’s mobile app is especially relevant in reaching a much wider target audience, particularly students from low-income backgrounds in urban and rural communities. 

Online, SkillTrain’s dedicated learning channel provides video content for more than 12 courses and has more than 70,000 subscribers from across the world with more than 8.9 million views. Offline, SkillTrain has blended learning centres operational in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.  Through the mobile app, SkillTrain hopes to train more than 2500 students and place many of the successful candidates in jobs across the country.

“We believe that only a blend of technology in vocational training can help India achieve the dream of becoming a skilled nation,” said B. Ganesh, Founder & CEO of SkillTrain. “Thanks to the funding received from Mphasis and the support received from Villgro, we will now be able to make vocational training more accessible, affordable and effective through our mobile app.”

Villgro has been working with SkillTrain for nearly four years, providing seed funding, mentoring and close guidance to help the entrepreneur build the business. Mphasis F1 Foundation, the CSR arm of Mphasis, has been supporting Villgro to incubate SkillTrain in its growth since December 2015, particularly in the development of the app.

"Mphasis CSR is strongly aligned to the national priorities of Skill India and Digital India Mission, and believes in investing CSR resources to help achieve these objectives. In a country like India where the use of digital assets is witnessing manifold increase and the government authorities are on a mission to empower its citizens digitally, the mobile app creates a lot of value addition in the ecosystem. We are excited to be one step closer towards reaching the Government’s vision of Skill India as well as a Digital India. This app has tremendous potential in bridging the skill gap manifold and reaching a larger pool of those who need these skills,’’ said Meenu Bhambhani, Head – Corporate Social Responsibility, Mphasis.

“SkillTrain and entrepreneur B.Ganesh have long shown tremendous potential and commitment to impact. With this app, we are excited to see the company’s new way forward to reach more youth in low-resource communities and regions,” said Maya Chandrasekaran, Practice leader – Education and Skills, Villgro. “By funding the development of this app, Mphasis has shown a keen understanding of social enterprise needs and is leading the way in corporate-social enterprise sector engagement.”