Victoria creates retail training links with IndiaMon 3rd November 2014
The Victorian Government is supporting a new partnership that will see Australia’s leading retail training organisation deliver courses in India.
Announcing the partnership, Trade Minister Louise Asher said the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Retail Institute would receive a $100,000 grant under the Victoria India Skills Partnership Start-Up Allowances program.
“This funding will enable the ARA Retail Institute to partner with India’s peak organisation for retailers, the Retail Association of India, to deliver retail training in the Indian state of Maharashtra over the next three years,” Ms Asher said.
“The ARA Retail Institute will deliver retail training specifically tailored to the Indian market, as well as Australian accredited training, with ‘train the trainer’ programs delivered to support local educators.
“This innovative new project will further enhance the reputation of Victoria’s world class vocation training system, while also helping people in India to develop internationally transferable skills in the retail industry,” Ms Asher said.
Australian Retailers Association Executive Director Russell Zimmerman welcomed the announcement.
“The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) looks forward to working alongside the Retail Association of India and forging a close relationship to ensure retail success both today and in the future.
“We are extremely proud to be part of this innovative project and the ARA welcomes the Victorian Government’s support in developing trade around skills in retail education creating a significant skills export opportunity for Victoria and the retail sector”.
Announced in March 2014, the Victoria India Skills Partnership Start-Up Allowances program supports local VET institutions seeking to enter the Indian market by providing a one-off contribution to commence a trans-national project with an Indian partner.
Grants of up to $100,000 are available to eligible Victorian VET providers.
Successful projects must: comprise of a partnership between a Victorian VET provider and an appropriate Indian partner; demonstrate that the project will become commercially viable; and deliver vocational training for a specific industry, social or regional need identified in India.
The ARA Retail Institute is based in Melbourne and is the training arm of the Australian Retail Institute, the peak industry body for Australia’s retail sector.
Since 2009, the ARA Retail Institute has delivered retail training to more than 1,000 students in Bahrain in partnership with the Bahrain Institute of Hospitality and Retail.
