Karnataka chief secretary urges stronger academia-industry collaboration to align education with job market needs

BENGALURU: Chief Secretary of Karnataka, Shalini Rajneesh, on Saturday underscored the need for stronger collaboration between industry and academia, urging stakeholders to align education with emerging job roles.

Speaking at the CII Southern Regional Council Meeting in Bengaluru, Rajneesh highlighted the state's commitment to industry-friendly policies, youth empowerment, and inclusive skilling.

"There is a greater need for alignment between education and emerging job roles to co-create innovative skilling models and drive Karnataka's vision for resilient and equitable growth," she said.

She also spoke about the state's Yuva Nidhi scheme, which offers financial assistance to unemployed youth, and called on industry leaders to partner in building a future-ready talent pipeline.

The chief secretary added that the state is focusing on increasing women's participation in the workforce through targeted skilling and entrepreneurship initiatives to promote inclusive economic growth.

A handbook titled 'Karnataka Innovation & Startup Ecosystem' was released during the event. It aims to highlight the potential of emerging sectors and the state's broader industrial vision.