HBI Staff | Hyderabad 
Bird Academy, the esteemed educational arm of Bird Group, a prominent conglomerate, has received a ground-breaking invitation from the Odisha Government’s Skill Development & Technical Education Department. This collaboration aims to pioneer skill development and technical education among the youth in Odisha under the innovative scheme named Nutana Unnata Abhilasha (NUA), Odisha.
In response to this invitation, Bird Academy is committed to meticulously designing specialized education and training programs tailored for the youth in Odisha. The primary focus is on providing them with the skills necessary to secure sustainable employment opportunities in the rapidly expanding fields of Aviation and Hospitality, where currently no such facilities exist in the state. The overarching objective is to cultivate a multi-skilled, competent, and efficient workforce that bridges the considerable skill gap prevalent in these sectors.
According to the skill gap report from the Aerospace and Aviation Sector Skill Council, there is a potential for over 1.5 lakh jobs in the ground handling segment alone. In the hospitality sector, as per the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council, there is a shortage of about 3.5 lakhs skilled individuals. Bird Academy, drawing from its expertise, will offer specialized training in airport ground handling at its facility in Kochi, Kerala, and pilot training in housekeeping, food & beverage, and front office management at Roseate Hotels & Resorts in New Delhi.
The initial phase will witness pilot batches undergoing training, with the first batch of 17 students already joining the institute in Cochin on December 14, 2023. Subsequently, a batch of 60 students will undergo training in Delhi for various roles in hospitality, including Room Boy, Steward/Waiter, and Kitchen – Commi.
Radha Bhatia, Chairperson of Bird Group, expressed her pride in contributing to the Skill Development and Technical Education of the youth in Odisha, particularly in remote tribal areas, through the Nutana Unnata Abhilasha (NUA), Odisha scheme. She urged other state governments to emulate Odisha’s strategic approach and emphasized Bird Academy’s readiness to offer unwavering support and expertise in travel, aviation, and hospitality.
This initiative by the Odisha Government reflects a commitment to adapting policies and practices to meet the evolving employment landscape. As Odisha undergoes a transformation across various sectors, the focus on creating a robust skilling ecosystem becomes imperative. The collaboration with Bird Academy is poised to equip the youth with the latest skills, leveraging the state’s demographic dividend for effective industrial growth.
The proposed training programs mark a significant milestone, offering industry-relevant education for the first time in Odisha. This approach, tailored to industry requirements, is expected to enhance employability and open up vast opportunities for the youth, thereby reshaping the future of Odisha.
