Solan, September 18: A three-day training programme aimed at strengthening the skills and capacity of vocational trainers concluded at Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni.

Organised by the Directorate of Extension Education under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) project, the programme brought together 49 vocational trainers from schools across Himachal Pradesh. The training focused on enhancing their technical knowledge, practical skills and teaching methodologies to enable them to deliver more effective vocational education to students.

During the programme, the participants were trained in the effective utilisation of funds under the NSQF project, orchard management, fruit production, pruning and grafting, disease and pest management in fruit and vegetable crops, and business opportunities.

The trainers were also taken on practical exposure visits to the university’s Fruit Processing Unit, Floriculture Laboratory and Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre. They were briefed on fruit processing, commercial flower management, mushroom production and entrepreneurship-related activities.

The programme also focused on ways to strengthen awareness among students about skill development, employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities through workplace-based training, career counselling, job fairs and skill-awareness programmes.

The training was coordinated by Dr Meena Kumari and co-coordinated by Dr Divya Chaudhary.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Director of Extension Education Dr Dharam Pal Sharma said skill development has become an important tool for empowering young people and helping them become self-reliant.

He said training programmes of this nature would enable vocational trainers to introduce students to new technologies, practical skills and emerging employment opportunities.

Dr Sharma stressed that students should not limit their aspirations to seeking jobs but should also develop skills that can open avenues for self-employment, entrepreneurship and income generation.

He said exposure to vocational skills at the school level would help students identify their interests and abilities, understand self-employment opportunities and make informed career choices.

The initiative under the NSQF project, he added, represents an important step towards building a skilled, employable and self-reliant young workforce in Himachal Pradesh.