Karnataka requires revising academic curriculum to introduce grade-level skills: Sharanprakash Patil

Karnataka needs to restructure its academic curriculum to ensure that skill development begins in the classroom itself, Sharanprakash Patil, minister for medical education and skill development, said here on Wednesday.

During a panel discussion with his ministerial colleagues on the second day of the Bengal Skill Summit, Dr. Patil said it is critical for the government along with industry partners to identify the skills and soft skills required for employability.

“We must ensure that our graduates are industry ready. We are ready to provide training facilities, bear the cost of qualification if necessary to ensure that every trained youth finds meaningful employment. Together we can make Karnataka the skill capital of India,” the minister said.

For Bengaluru

Higher Education Minister MC Sudhakar told the panel that India’s education and skills ecosystem is rapidly expanding from tier-I cities to tier-II and tier-III areas, where new malls, logistics networks and e-commerce hubs are reshaping job opportunities. He highlighted the government’s focus on setting up Centers of Excellence (CoEs) within institutions to impart practical skills to students during the course duration.

He noted that today’s students are drawn to computer science, artificial intelligence and data science, traditional fields such as civil, mechanical and automotive engineering. “Integration of modern technology in key fields is vital for sustainable growth. To build confidence and employability among students, the government has partnered with several businesses,” he said. Some of these organizations include Microsoft, HP (AI gaming lab), Kirloskar Group (11 CoEs in engineering colleges in the state), Varma Foundation and Azim Premji Foundation.

An opportunity for all

“As a state, we believe that while jobs may not be promised to all, employment opportunities must reach every individual,” said Priyank Kharge, Minister for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods and Panchayat Raj and Rural Development.

Indicating that global career opportunities are available for skilled professionals, he said the world today faces a talent shortage of nearly 85 million people, a gap that the skilled youth of Karnataka were poised to bridge.

According to him, the government’s NIPUNA initiative enables a qualified person in Mysore to work in Manchester to reflect the qualification locally and globally. “Our focus goes far beyond Bengaluru. New incubators, accelerators and CoEs are coming up in Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot and Mangaluru, covering sectors like biotech, horticulture, AI and space,” the minister added.