NE EDUCATION BUREAU
TIRUCHIRAPPALLI, JULY 14
In a significant boost to skill development and employment opportunities for Tamil Nadu’s youth, the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Thanjavur (NIFTEM-T) has launched a pilot Short-Term Skill Training Programme (STSTP) for Assistant Baking Technician (NSQF Level-3) in collaboration with ITC Ltd.’s Integrated Consumer Goods Manufacturing and Logistics (ICML) facility in Tiruchirappalli.
The initiative marks a major step towards strengthening industry-academia collaboration by providing aspiring professionals with real-time manufacturing experience while ensuring direct employment upon successful completion of the programme.
- NIFTEM-Thanjavur launches pilot Short-Term Skill Training Programme at ITC’s Trichy manufacturing facility.
- First batch of 18 trainees receives hands-on industrial training with employment assured at ITC Ltd.
- NSQF Level-3 certification strengthens Tamil Nadu’s skilled workforce for the fast-growing food processing industry.
- MoFPI initiative reinforces the Centre’s vision of creating industry-ready professionals through practical learning.
The programme was inaugurated by Prof. V. Palanimuthu, Director, NIFTEM-Thanjavur, in the presence of Shri Surjeet Singh Roria, General Manager & Head, ITC-ICML, and Shri Padmanabhan T., Senior HR Manager, ITC-ICML, at the company’s Trichy manufacturing campus.
The inaugural batch comprises 18 trainees, who will undergo intensive industry-integrated training from July 7 to August 20, 2026. Unlike conventional classroom courses, the trainees will receive practical instruction within the manufacturing facility, enabling them to acquire industry-relevant technical skills in baking operations and food processing.
A key highlight of the programme is that all trainees have already been assured employment with ITC Ltd., making the initiative a rare blend of skill development and guaranteed career opportunities.
Officials said the programme has been designed in line with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and aims to create a steady pipeline of skilled manpower for India’s rapidly expanding food processing sector.
As an NCVET-recognised Deemed Awarding Body, NIFTEM-Thanjavur will award nationally recognised certifications under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), ensuring that trainees possess industry-validated credentials with nationwide acceptance.
The institute plans to roll out similar industry-integrated short-term programmes across multiple food processing disciplines, reinforcing Tamil Nadu’s emergence as a leading hub for food technology education, vocational training and employment-oriented skill development.
