The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Medhavi Skills University and Amrit Mehsana Start-up Innovation Mission have together signed a strategic MoU to set up India’s first district startup and innovation hub to boost sustainable employment in Gujarat. The Centre of Excellence (CoE)—NaMoiHUB— in Mehsana, Gujarat will serve as the nodal body for building industry-ready manpower as per the requirements of the different industry clusters present in the district. In short, the CoE will be a global employment gateway for the youth of Gujarat.
Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Higher & Technical Education, Law and Justice, Government of Gujarat Rushikesh Patel was present at the launch event.
Thanks to its tie-up with over 100 industries and MSMEs, this CoE will be able to provide specialised, industry-aligned learning through work-integrated programmes.
With an annual training capacity of 2,000 individuals, the CoE will cater to various sectors, including manufacturing, automotive, electronics, agriculture and textiles. This CoE will not only propel the Amrit Mehsana Mission forward, but also identify and address regional skill-development challenges, foster industry-academia collaborations, and create global employment opportunities for the youth of Gujarat.
The Centre will offer advanced and industry-relevant, skill-based courses. As the knowledge and technology partner, NSDC will provide strategic support in technology integration and industry tie-ups to align these capacity-building courses with the emerging market trends.
It will also offer international placement programmes, equipping learners with skills tailored for global opportunities and bridging the gap between local talent and worldwide demand.
According to Mayank Bhatnagar, general manager-state engagement, NSDC, “This initiative exemplifies the power of collaboration in addressing regional skill-development challenges. It will not only strengthen Gujarat’s industrial landscape but also ensure that the state remains at the forefront of skill innovation. By fostering industry-academia learning, we are equipping Gujarat’s youth with skills that transcend borders, ensuring their readiness for both local and global opportunities.”
M Nagarajan, IAS, district collector, District Collector’s Office Mehsana (DCOM), calls this “a significant milestone in our mission to drive sustainable economic growth through skill development.”
Kuldip Sarma, co-founder and pro-chancellor, Medhavi Skills University, believes the CoE “is a testament to MSU’s dedication to bridging the gap between education and industry. Together with DCOM and NSDC, we aim to create a transformative ecosystem for skill development in Gujarat.”