Retailers Association of India launches online retail education

Mumbai: Retailers Association of India, which represents the large and new retail sector, has signed up with e-learning organisation GurukulOnline Learning Solutions to launch an e-learning portal to provide online courses in retail in India.

Modern retailing in India is currently witnessing a transformation where traditional markets give way to the emergence of department stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, specialty stores and malls. Rated the fifth most attractive emerging retail market, India topped the Global Retail Development Index of 30 developing countries drawn up by A T Kearney.

The eLearning portal was conceptualized to help the sector overcome its people crisis.

According to Gibson G Vedamani, CEO, Retailers Association of India, says, "Retailing is a very significant industry in the country today with diverse business formats and ownership structures. Along with this explosive growth comes the greatest need of the industry - its quality manpower. I am sure this initiative of ours will provide the opportunity for students and professionals to attain proficiencies in Retailing and help them have a bright retail career."

The first course being launched is titled Certified Retail Professional. It covers the fundamental aspects of the organised retail business and will be invaluable to those targeting a career in Retail. Developed by industry experts under the auspices of rai, these courses are aimed at both students and professionals.

Vedamani, further adds, "The added feature of the course 'Certified Retail Professional' is that it comes with a job guarantee subject to successful completion of the course. Once a candidate has successfully completed this course, he/she will be offered internship with rai member companies. On successfully completing the internship, students shall be placed with leading retail organisations across India. We plan to launch many more such courses in the near future."

Says Shailesh Mehta, CEO, GurukulOnline, "As these courses are designed in an engaging, online format, they enable a high level of interactivity not possible through conventional learning. Apart from the usual advantages of eLearning like 'anytime, anywhere' learning, students further benefit by never having to miss a class as well as from friendly, media rich, interactive learning. It is truly 'students-centric' learning as against traditional 'teacher or administrator centric learning' ".

Through www.instituteofretailmanagement.com, rai and GOLS seek to equip candidates with key skills necessary to gain a foothold in this industry. These programs will not just empower individuals and enhance their employability, it will also give the Retail industry access to a bigger talent pool.

This course will also be available at GOLS Jobs And Careers CentresTM, which have been set up at several colleges in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Pune. Candidates can also access the course at a Reliance WebWorld closest to them.

Retailers Association of India represents the new large retail sector and its governing board comprises Kishore Biyani and Ved Prakash Arya of Pantaloons, B S Nagesh of Shoppers' Stop, Noel Tata of Trent Ltd, Vinay Nadkarni of Globus, Sumantra Banerjee of RPG Retail, Nandan Piramal of Piramyd, Kodandarama Setty of Viveks, R Subramanian of Subhiksha.