Centre for Future Skills at FISAT: What the Autodesk, Schneider and VLSI Labs Mean for Students

The Centre for Future Skills (CFS) at FISAT, Angamaly, is Kerala’s first NSDC-backed skilling centre, giving students hands-on access to Autodesk, Schneider Electric, and VLSI labs.

While the labs were NSDC-funded, certification courses may still carry fees. Inaugurated on 27 February 2026, it includes six international labs built at a cost of ₹7 crore.

For students, the key question is: will this help me get hired? Used well, it can – through projects, industry exposure, mentorship, and certifications.

Kickstart your embedded systems career and turn your tech passion into high-demand skills!

What is the Centre for Future Skills at FISAT?

The CFS is a campus-based skilling hub that brings industry tools, trainers and certifications into the college. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship through NSDC, and Ethnotech Academy is NSDC’s implementation partner.

FISAT signed its MoU with NSDC in New Delhi on 4 April 2025, and FISAT says it is the first and only institution in Kerala selected for the centre.

Across the CFS network, training areas include

• AI
• machine learning
• data analytics
• AR/VR
• cloud
• cybersecurity
• IoT
• industrial automation
• RPA
• semiconductor design

Is the Centre for Future Skills at FISAT Free?

It can partly be so – it depends on the course. NSDC-backed funding built the labs. However, FISAT’s own notice for a Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) batch listed a fee of ₹7,500 for 40 hours of training. This includes certificates from NSDC and Cisco on completing the exam.

The batch is open to B.Tech, MCA, MSc, BCA, BSc and Diploma students. Before you enrol, email cfs@fisat.ac.in and enquire about the fee, eligibility, batch dates and exam charges for your chosen course.

Why the Autodesk, Schneider and VLSI Labs Matter

These are three labs that lead to three different and distinct careers. The skills are typical for each track. So, it is important that you confirm the exact modules with the centre before you start.

Autodesk Lab: Turn Ideas into Digital Designs

Autodesk tools sit at the heart of modern design and manufacturing. A portfolio of 3D models, assemblies and simulations says far more in an interview than a line on a resume.

Best for:

• Mechanical and Civil students
• Anyone eyeing product design or construction technology

Schneider Lab: Learn Automation That Powers Industry

Factories, buildings and power systems run on controllers, sensors and monitoring software. Practising on real automation platforms shows you how these pieces connect. This helps in core-sector interviews.

Best for:

• EEE, EIE and Mechatronics-minded students
• CS students curious about industrial IoT

VLSI Lab: Build the Skills Behind Modern Chips

VLSI means designing circuits at chip scale. India is investing heavily in semiconductors. Learning to write, simulate and verify hardware descriptions early gives you a head start.

Best for:

ECE and EEE students aiming at

• chip design
• Verification
• embedded systems

How CFS Can Improve Your Employability

A certificate alone rarely gets you hired. Employers look for proof such as:

• working projects
• tool familiarity
• the ability to explain your choices

The CFS model supports this by combining lab practice, mentoring and industry certification. So, each course should leave you with something you can show, such as a design file, an automation demo or a simulation report.

How to Use CFS Strategically

1. Pick one primary track: Autodesk, Schneider or VLSI.
2. Finish the foundation training and practise weekly.
3. Build two projects, one guided and one independent.
4. Attempt a certification that matches your target job role.
5. Document each project: problem, tools, method, result, learning.
6. Publish your work on LinkedIn, GitHub or Behance.
7. Use these projects in internship, placement and higher-study interviews.

Choosing Certifications that Add Value

• Match the credential to a specific job role.
• Prefer programmes with hands-on labs and projects.
• Check that employers in your field recognise it.
• Avoid collecting unrelated certificates without practical work.

Kickstart your embedded systems career and turn your tech passion into high-demand skills!

CFS vs Traditional Classroom Learning

Conclusion

The Centre for Future Skills at FISAT gives students a rare opportunity to work with industry-grade tools while they are still in college. Autodesk primarily builds design strength, while Schneider builds automation skills and the VLSI lab opens the door to semiconductors.

Understand that the centre will not hand you a job, and not every course is free. So enquire about fees early and choose with a goal in mind. Pick one track, build real projects, earn a certification that fits your target role and keep a visible portfolio. This combination can make internships, placements and higher-study applications easier to win.