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Karnataka has to restructure its academic curriculum to ensure that skill development starts in the classroom itself, said Sharanprakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development, here on Wednesday. Speaking at a panel discussion with his ministerial colleagues on the second day of Bengaluru Skill Summit, Dr. Patil said it was critical for the government, along with industry partners, to identify the skills and soft abilities needed for employability. “We must ensure our graduates are industry-ready. We are ready to provide training facilities, bear skilling costs if required to ensure every trained youth finds meaningful employment. Together, we can make Karnataka the skill capital of India,’’ the Minister stated. Beyond Bengaluru Speaking at the panel, Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar said India’s education and skill ecosystem was expanding rapidly from tier I cities to tier II and tier III regions, where new malls, logistics networks, and e-commerce hubs were reshaping job opportunities. He emphasised the government’s focus on establishing Centers of Excellence (CoEs) within institutions to ensure students gain practical skills during their course duration. He observed that students today were drawn to Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science, traditional branches such as Civil, Mechanical, and Automobile Engineering. “Integrating modern technology to core fields is vital for sustainable growth. To build confidence and employability among students, the government has partnered with several enterprises,’’ he said. Some of these organisations include Microsoft, HP (AI gaming lab), Kirloskar Group (11 CoEs in engineering colleges in the state), Varma Foundation, and the Azim Premji Foundation. Opportunity for all “As a State, we believe that while jobs may not be promised to everyone, opportunities to become employable must reach every individual,’’ stated Priyank Kharge, Minister for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood and Panchayat Raj and Rural Development. Indicating that global career opportunities are available for skilled professionals, he said, the world today faced a talent shortage of nearly 85 million people, a gap that skilled youth from Karnataka were ready to bridge. According to him, the government’s NIPUNA initiative is enabling a skilled person in Mysuru to work in Manchester to reflect skilling locally and working globally. “So, our focus goes far beyond Bengaluru. New incubators, accelerators, and CoEs are emerging across Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot, and Mangaluru, covering sectors like biotech, horticulture, AI, and space technology,’’ the Minister added. Skill policy The state’s new Skill Policy envisages a dedicated investment of ₹5,000 crore towards skilling and making 3 million youths employable by 2032.
