Expression of Interest For Strategic Transformation Plan For Skill Hubs

Expression of Interest are invited for Strategic Transformation Plan for Skill Hubs in Maharashtra. Publication Date: 05/12/2025 12:00 AM EDT EOI Deadline: 05/26/2025 11:59 PM EDT Background: The government of Maharashtra, with financing from the World Bank, is implementing Development of Applied Knowledge and Skills for Human Development (DAKSH) in Maharashtra. The program development objective of DAKSH is to improve skills and entrepreneurship training for enhanced employability in Maharashtra. Result area 1 of the program focuses on institutional strengthening for high-quality market relevant training with robust MIS. Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Department (SEEID), Government of Maharashtra acts as the nodal agency for skill development initiatives in the state and is the implementing agency for the DAKSH Maharashtra program. The department works towards its objectives largely through three institutions: 1. Directorate of Vocational Education & Training (DVET) that directly manages the 400+ government ITIs and regulates 500+ private ITIs in the state. 2. Maharashtra State Skill Development Society (MSSDS) that manages central and state government programs in short-term skilling with training partners. 3. Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSInS) that promotes entrepreneurship and innovation in the state through various programs including training. The program boundary for DAKSH includes training at Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) as well as short-term training on NSQF compliant programs through accredited training providers. There are several interventions including on improving the infrastructure, training quality, relevance, and job preparedness. One of the key interventions under the project is to transform the network of government ITIs in the state into 53 hub-spoke-ITIs-consortium (HSICs or Skill Hubs). The project will make significant infrastructure investments in the hubs to improve the quality and market-relevance of the programs. One of the pre-requisites for the infrastructure investment is to have a strategic transformation plan for each skill hub detailing the programs to be offered and corresponding resource requirements. To augment the institutional capacity of the department in conjunction with DAKSH Maharashtra program, the International Bank for Reconstruction & Development (IBRD) has received a grant from the Korea - World Bank Group Partnership Facility (KWPF). IBRD plans to utilize a part of this grant to develop the strategic transformation plans for the skill hubs. Objectives of the assignment: The objective of this assignment is to (a) reimagine the network of ITIs in the state by mapping the ITIs and industries at sub-district level to understand the supply and demand of skills, (b) develop the strategic transformation plan for next 4 years for 53 skill hubs based on current demand as well as future projections, and (c) develop a Model ITI grading framework. Scope of Work: Maharashtra has 419 Government ITIs and 574 private ITIs providing skill training programs in 83 trades 18 1-year programs in engineering, 37 2-year programs in engineering, and 28 1-year programs in non-engineering trades. Total available seats are about 200,000 and admission rate is about 60%. Out of this, about 120,000 enrolment capacity is in government institutions and their admission rate is more than 70%. However, the institutions have significant variance in both capacity as well as utilization. To improve the quality and relevance of training at all the government ITIs, while also improving the resource efficiency, the government plans to reorganize the network of government ITIs into 53 Skill Hubs strategically located and connected to all other government ITIs as spokes. Each of the 36 districts will have at least one strategically selected hub ITI. All the remaining government ITIs in the state will be linked to one of these hub ITIs as spoke ITIs. The government plans to invest significantly in upgrading the infrastructure and the resources at the 53 hub ITIs to drive the sector transformation in the state. First deliverable of this assignment is to reimagine the network of ITIs in the state by doing the following steps: 1. Map all ITIs in the state at sub-district level and super-impose on that a map of industries in the sub-district. 2. Analyze at the granular level gaps between the training demand from the industry and training capacity at the ITIs in each sub-district. 3. Develop a demand projection for 5 and 10 years in the future. 4. Aggregate the demand and the supply of the skills at district level. 5. Based on above, reimagine the ITIs in the state as a network of interconnected ITIs with district as a unit. The key output of this step would be to identify the hubs and map all other ITIs in the state to one of these hubs. Second deliverable of the assignment is to develop Strategic Transformation Plans for each of the 53 skill hubs to guide the investments in infrastructure and resources. The Strategic Transformation Plans would include the following for each skill hub: 1. As-Is Assessment: Assessment of programs offered, enrolment capacity, admission rates, infrastructure, and resources available in the hub and connected spoke ITIs. 2. Demand Projection: Based on industry landscape and skill-gap assessment, projecting the demand for the programs in the catchment area of the skill hub. 3. Finalizing programs to be offered: Based on the demand projection, programs along-with capacity requirement for the hub as well as spoke ITIs will be finalized. 4. Infrastructure and resources gaps: Following NCVT standards, infrastructure and resources required for the programs to be offered will be estimated. Comparing that with the existing infrastructure and resources, a gap analysis will be conducted for hub ITIs. 5. Digital infrastructure: An estimate of digital infrastructure requirement will be developed for hub and spoke ITIs to connect them as well as to utilize digital and blended teaching practices. 6. Additional infrastructure at hubs: The hubs are also expected to play the role of lead institution with advanced training facilities and resources accessible by all spoke institutions. The infrastructure and resources required to play this role will be estimated and included in the strategic transformation plan. Third deliverable of the assignment is to develop a Model ITI grading framework for concurrent monitoring and rating of the ITIs/skill hubs towards meeting the desired objectives. Approach: The first deliverable (mapping the hubs and spokes) will be based on extensive data analysis and stakeholder consultation with DVET, SEEID, and industry representatives at state level workshops. The second deliverable (Strategic Transformation Plan) will follow a mixed approach. The framework of analysis and reports will be similar across the state, based on consultation with DVET, SEEID, and industry representatives at state level workshops. The state may also decide a ceiling on financing available from the state based on overall budget for the program. However, the individual plans for each hub will be developed with decentralized approach working closely with the institute administrators and local industry representatives. For the third deliverable (Model ITI grading framework), the agency will develop the framework in consultation with DVET, industry representatives, and a select group of institute administrators. Deliverables and timelines: S No Deliverable Timeline 1 Inception report including approach and implementation plan T + 2 weeks 2 Reimagined network of ITIs in the state T + 6 weeks 2 As-Is Assessment for 2 skill hubs T + 8 weeks 3 Gap Assessment for 2 skill hubs T + 10 weeks 4 Strategic Transformation Plan for 2 skill hubs T + 14 weeks 5 As-Is Assessment for remaining 51 skill hubs T + 18 weeks 6 Gap Assessment for remaining 51 skill hubs T + 22 weeks 7 Strategic Transformation Plan for remaining 51 skill hubs T + 26 weeks 8 Model ITI grading framework T + 30 weeks Tender Link : https://wbgeprocure-rfxnow.worldbank.org/rfxnow/public/advertisement/5267/view.html

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