The London-based Pearson Group Plc (annual revenue: pound 4 billion or Rs.28,000 crore), one of the world’s largest publishing and media companies which also owns Penguin Books and the Financial Times, is rapidly multiplying its operations in India. Earlier this year it launched its computer-based English language proficiency testing service christened Pearson Test of English-Academic (see EW January). Now Edexcel, a Pearson Group company and UK’s largest certification body offering academic (IGSE, GCE) and vocational qualifications to 5,000 schools in 85 countries and 1 million adults in 45 countries respectively, is set to offer its programmes to IndiaCan Pvt. Ltd — a joint venture of Pearson and the Delhi-based ICT (information communication technologies) heavyweight Educomp Solutions Ltd (annual revenue: Rs.507.09 crore in 2008-09). The Pearson-Educomp joint venture will provide vocational education through a planned network of 600 centres across the country.
Beginning this year, IndiaCan will offer Edexcel’s India-specific Vocational Assessor Qualification (VAQ) development programme to current and aspiring assessors through a mix of workshops, e-content and guided learning. “Edexcel has developed VAQ to meet the needs of assessors around the world. Our India study programme will upskill assessors and equip them with international standard skills. This is a high quality programme and will be delivered by IndiaCan,” says Sami Baig, the Delhi-based regional director (Indian subcontinent) of Edexcel. An alumnus of Calicut University, Baig worked in NCC Education and SmartForce in the Middle East before signing up with Edexcel in 2008.
According to Baig, the Union government through the National Skills Development Mission, has set a target to create 500 million skilled workers by 2022 to transform the country into a global supplier of skilled workers. In this scenario he envisages a big role for Edexcel/IndiaCan. “Our greatest strength is our ability to determine the skill requirements of companies and individuals through gap analysis, and offer our programmes for skills development. Currently Edexcel offers over 5,000 vocational programmes in standard or customised formats. Effective education for effective employment is our objective,” he explains.
Business, engineering, IT, aviation, travel & tourism, retail, and hospitality are some of the areas where Edexcel is offering its certified programmes in addition to work related employability programmes to engineering graduates. Training and certifying assessors apart, Edexcel also offers its skills training and VAQ programmes to corporates and education institutions. “We are looking for partners who share our vision. Soft and behavioural skills is an area of lacuna in India Inc, so we’re venturing there in a big way,” says Baig.
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