TÜV Rheinland focuses on vocational continuing education in India

TÜV Rheinland takes over the Indian company NIFE (NIFE Sole Proprietorship). NIFE is a major provider of vocational education, a rapidly growing market in India. Already, NIFE is represented in seven Indian federal states and 70 cities. 300 trainers for vocational training and continuing education work in the fields of optical fibre technology, lift technology, fire control and protection and security engineering.

Dr.-Ing. Manfred Bayerlein, Chief Executive Officer of TÜV Rheinland AG: "The takeover of NIFE is an important step in the Indian market. Our enterprise now employs more than 900 members of staff in India, one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Moreover, the TÜV Rheinland NIFE Academy constitutes an important element in our Strategy 2017."

The Indian vocational education and training market offers a lot of potential, because there is no formal vocational education and training system in place for craftsmen, technicians and skilled workers, such as the dual system of vocational education and training in Germany.

It is assumed that only about 4 per cent of the population have a formal vocational qualification; 10 per cent have had training without a final qualification and 86 per cent of the approximately 1.3 billion Indians have no formal vocational education.

The TÜV Rheinland NIFE Academy addresses in particular young people between 17 and 24 years of age; the courses on offer provide a very broad range from seminars of several days duration to diploma degrees.

Stephan Schmitt, Chief International Officer of TÜV Rheinland AG: "The Indian economy is increasingly on the lookout for trained professionals. Eight out of ten young people, who have trained at the TÜV Rheinland NIFE Academy, directly find employment with a company."

Siegfried Schmauder, Executive Vice President Training & Consulting: "A qualified labour force is indispensable for the further growth of the Indian economy. The TÜV Rheinland NIFE Academy provides the basis for implementing further vocational education and training programmes of the TÜV Rheinland in India."