Schneider Electric sets up Centre of Excellence in Bangalore

The CoE is to be set up following a tripartite MoU between New Horizon College of Engineering, Schneider Electric and The French Ministry of National Education.

Schneider Electric will set up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the premises of New Horizon College of Engineering (NHCE) in Bangalore. The Training Centre will carry out vocational training programmes in initial and continuing education in the fields of electricity, automation and energy management.

The tripartite MoU was signed in Bangalore between The French Ministry of National Education, represented by Marianne de Brunhoff, Director-European and International Relations and Cooperation of the French Ministry of National Education; Schneider Electric India, represented by Shrinivas Chebbi, president, partner & eco buildings; and NHCE, represented by Mohan Maghnani, chairman.

Commenting on the signing of the MoU, Chebbi, says, “The CoE is a result of a common desire to develop, within an international framework of ‘academic-industry’ links, training programmes in continuing education for technical teachers, to train young engineers and technicians and prepare them for the job market in the fields of electricity, automation and energy management. In addition, the programme will also train customers of Schneider Electric. The effort is to bridge the skills gap in the country.”

The Training Centre will carry out vocational training programmes in initial and continuing education in the fields of electricity, automation and energy management. The highlights of the programmes include the following:

• Modules from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the subject and the level of the training decided in mutual discussion amongst all the parties.

• Modules for trainers to upgrade skills to be up to date with the latest technology and practices, practical and pedagogical.

• Guidance and training for trainers and students.

• The training centre will be open to all customers of SEI, provided the requests come from SEI in consultation with the governing board.

• The training centre will be the strong link between the academia and industry by facilitating conferences, visits, lectures and experts from Schneider Electric who will organise discussions on specific topics.

Commenting on the MoU, Michel Le Devehat, representative of the French Ministry of National Education, says, “I am delighted to pool resources and expertise to upgrade the knowledge and professional skills of teachers, students and customers by organising training programmes in initial and continuing education and offering specialised French professors to be part of this effort. We are a partner in the growth aspirations of India.”

The French Ministry of Education will appoint the professors for a long-term overseas assignment at the CoE. The professor will also act as a director for the Centre.

Sharing his views on the establishment of the CoE, Manghnani says, “We look forward to creating a platform for the development of a course of study for training of trainers in rapidly evolving sectors, in terms of technology and teaching methods in partnership with them and the French government. We look forward to the rich learnings.”

For the parties signing this MOU, the aims are to collate resources and expertise in order to upgrade knowledge and professional skills of teachers, students and customers of SEI in initial and continuing education, and also ensure sustainable access to the job market for engineers and technicians in the field of electricity, automation and energy management.