Semi-finalist of the 1st ILO Skills Challenge Innovation Call

The Heritage Ambassador Programme, NSDC, India

The Heritage Ambassador Programme is one of the semi-finalists of the 1st ILO Skills Challenge Innovation Call. The solution, submitted by the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC – India), aims to equip persons from local communities of heritage sites with the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform as professional tourist guides, accredited by the relevant national body. Eventually, they will be linked to tourism aggregator websites, where travellers can hire these certified guides directly.

Web page | 15 July 2020

National Skill Development Corporation
(NSDC) is a not-for-profit public limited company. NSDC aims to promote skill development by catalyzing creation of large, quality and for-profit vocational institutions. The organization provides funding to build scalable and profitable vocational training initiatives and develops appropriate models to enhance, support and coordinate private sector initiatives. It is also creates and enables a support system which focuses on quality assurance, information systems and train the trainer academies either directly or through partnerships. 

The Heritage Ambassador Program is a highly localized and customized skilling model which enables the creation of micro-tourism circuits and local economic value chains that would also generate entrepreneurship opportunities, curtail migration, promote sustainable development while building community’s accountability to their local, heritage sites. The project aims to equip persons from local communities of heritage sites with the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform as professional tourist guides. Eventually, they will be linked to tourism aggregator websites, where travellers can hire these certified guides directly.
“The heritage ambassador project is an inclusive, local job creation model that aims to promote domestic tourism. We are grateful to ILO for the recognition and look forward to your support in executing this innovative program.”
Avneet Kaur, Head-Corporate strategy and international collaborations, NSDC