In a significant move to strengthen industry–academia collaboration in the construction sector, the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) and Central Polytechnic (CPT) College, Chennai, on Wednesday signed an MoU to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Construction Practices.
The flagship initiative aims to bridge the persistent gap between classroom education and the evolving needs of the real estate and construction industry. According to a release from CREDAI, the CoE will upgrade laboratory infrastructure, introduce industry-driven training modules, and create a comprehensive hub to produce field-ready, skilled Civil Site Supervisors.
A central feature of the partnership is a six-month internship program at project sites overseen by CREDAI member developers. This will offer students hands-on exposure to real-world construction environments, fostering technical competence and practical capabilities required for supervisory roles on active sites.
The initiative is spearheaded by Er. R. Jeyakumar, Chairman – Skill Development Committee; Dr. T. Arul, Executive Committee Member, CREDAI Chennai; Dr. O. G. Dharanipathi, Principal, CPT College; and Prof. Durganand Balsavar, Senior Advisor, United Nations Environment Program. Together, they aim to elevate construction-related skill development and build a robust academic–industry pipeline.
CREDAI Chennai President A. Mohamed Ali hailed the initiative as a milestone for Tamil Nadu’s talent ecosystem.
“The establishment of the CoE marks a pivotal step in aligning academic learning with real-world construction practices. Through this collaboration, we aim to develop industry-ready Construction Site Supervisors equipped with the technical skills and practical exposure needed to lead on the ground,” he said.
The CoE is expected to play a transformative role in preparing students for the fast-evolving construction sector while supporting the State’s growing real estate landscape.