Karnataka Bats for Industry-Academia Collaboration to Bridge Skill Gaps, Empower Youth
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has called for deeper collaboration between government, academic institutions, and industry to address the growing skill gap and enhance employability among youth, particularly in underserved regions.
Speaking at the first anniversary of the Bajaj Engineering Skills Training (BEST) Centre at PES University, Skill Development and Medical Education Minister Dr. Sharanaprakash R. Patil underscored the power of public-private partnerships in creating a skilled, job-ready workforce.
“This collaboration between Bajaj Auto and PES University is a benchmark in how academia and industry can come together for meaningful impact. Empowering youth from underserved areas like Kalyana and Kittur Karnataka is not only inspiring but a vital investment in the state’s future,” said Dr. Patil.
The BEST Centre, set up under Bajaj Auto’s CSR programme, provides engineering students with hands-on training in cutting-edge technologies such as mechatronics, motion control, robotics, Industry 4.0, and smart manufacturing. Over the past year, 320 students have completed the programme, with all of them landing jobs with competitive salaries. Plans are in place to double the intake in the coming years.
Dr. Patil said the initiative demonstrates how private sector models can be adopted to reshape government-led skill development strategies. “Sometimes, governments must learn from successful models in the private sector. The training here clearly aligns education with employability,” he added.
Also present at the event were Prof. D. Jawahar, Chancellor of PES University; Dr. J. Surya Prasad, Vice-Chancellor; and Sudhakar Gudipati, Vice-President (CSR) of Bajaj Auto Ltd.
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