RETAIL SECTOR
The Retail sector offered six courses in Regular and one in the Summer Skill Skool mode during the year 2014-15. Since there are a few courses specific to this sector most of the employees are being recruited from other disciplines due to the high employment potential. The condition is more alarming in the unorganized sector where the manpower is not equipped with even the basic level of retail specific and customer service skills. A cohesive effort to develop skills within the sector can have a significant potential impact on productivity and competitiveness, both within the sector and on the wider economy. Sector has offered placements and internships to students who have successfully completed the courses in firms like Max Retail Pvt Ltd, Thrissur and Joy Alukkas, Kottayam.
Business Advisory Committee Meeting
For ensuring industry support to ASAP by connecting with leading industry players, the first BAC committee meeting was convened in Thiruvananthapuram on 16th June 2015 at Sopanam Hall of Mascot Hotel, Thiruvananthapuram. Shri P Mohamed Riyas( Head Strategic Design, ASAP), Programme Managers- Ms Ambili E Kurian, Smt Salini V R & Ms Archana Kesavankutty and invited BAC members constituted the discussion panel.
Members accepted their role in associating with ASAP and agreed to provide support in all streams including quality assurance, internship and placements and trouble shooting. Decision was taken to provide expert members to assess the ongoing field trainings in the sector in SDCs. For placement purposes, it was decided to provide access to BAC members the database of students currently going to undergo convocation. It was also decided to conduct SMILE, workshops, seminars and reality shows for popularising Retail sector and its job opportunities among the students. BAC team was satisfied with the syllabus currently followed by retail sector and new initiatives were suggested as add-on. Skill Mentorship for Innovative Life Experience( SMILE) was introduced to the committee for which the BAC members offered their support.
The second Business Advisory Committee Meetingof the sector was convened at Sopanam Hall of Mascot Hotel, Thiruvananthapuram on 11th October 2015. Action report of the first BAC was analyzed and approved by the committee. Standardization of curricula, the implementation aspects and trainer pool development were raised as a major point of discussion in the meeting based on which industry offered its support. Organization of seminars / workshops, the decision taken during the first meeting was reviewed and ASAP took the decision to record and relay these programmes through the VICTERS channel as career guidance programme. Decision was taken to organize Job fairs Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulum and Calicut where students would be provided with on the spot offer letter. Committee also took decision to organize a content Standardization workshop which will have Training Experts to sit together and work out a standardized Syllabus.
ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 42