Tag: Skill Development

National

IHCL, Indian Army & REACHA Launch Youth Skill Centre in Uri on World Youth Skills Day

Tanisha Cardozo

MUMBAI, JULY 15, 2025 – On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), in collaboration with the Indian Army and REACHA (Research & Extension Association for Conservation Horticulture and Agro-Forestry), launched a Skill Development Centre in Uri, Jammu & Kashmir. This initiative is a significant step toward empowering local youth with job-ready skills and sustainable livelihood options.

The newly launched centre will offer two vocational training programs:

  • Bakery
  • Fashion Designing (Weaving)

These programs are tailored to help participants become either employable in hospitality and retail sectors or begin their own entrepreneurial ventures.

A Purpose-Driven Partnership

Mr. Gaurav Pokhariyal, Executive Vice President – Human Resources, IHCL, stated:

“Guided by our ESG+ framework Paathya, IHCL is committed to training 1,00,000 youth by 2030. The skill centre in Uri reflects our deep commitment to inclusive development, especially in regions with tourism potential.”

Brig Manish Sehgal (VSM), Commander 12 Inf Bde, Dagger Division, added:

“We believe in nurturing the community for lasting peace and development. This centre is a testament to collaborative nation-building.”

Mr. Nikhil Pant, Chairman & CEO of REACHA, highlighted:

“Our long-standing partnership with IHCL and the Indian Army continues to bring real change to the lives of youth in J&K.”

Scaling Impact Across Jammu & Kashmir

IHCL and REACHA have already established successful hospitality skill training centres in Kupwara and Buniyar. With Uri added, the collective initiative is set to train approximately 550 youth across J&K by 2026, fostering self-reliance, community upliftment, and employment.

This initiative aligns with India’s national goals for skilling, entrepreneurship, and sustainable regional development — serving as a blueprint for impactful public-private-community partnerships.

TechPulse

IICT Joins Forces with Global Tech Leaders to Launch AVGC-XR Courses in India

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) has officially launched admissions for its inaugural academic session, with classes set to begin in August 2025. With the creative economy booming globally, the institute is setting the stage for India to lead in the domains of Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR).

Announced by Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw at the WAVES Summit earlier this year, IICT is envisioned as a world-class institution fostering talent in digital creative technologies. What sets it apart is its strategic collaboration with industry giants like Google, Meta, Microsoft, YouTube, Adobe, NVIDIA, and JioStar. These tech leaders will not only support curriculum development but also provide industry training, internships, scholarships, and direct job placements for graduating students.

The institute’s first wave of courses includes:

  • 🎮 6 in Gaming
  • 🎞️ 4 in Post Production
  • ✍️ 8 in Animation, Comics, and XR

With a focus on immersive, hands-on learning, these courses aim to align with industry standards, preparing students for careers in global media, tech, and gaming companies.

IICT has also forged a key MoU with the University of York, UK, enabling students to access global certifications, research collaborations, and exchange opportunities, further enhancing the institute’s international credibility.

Under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Vishwas Deoskar, the institute aims to position India as a global AVGC-XR hub. “We’re merging India’s immense creative potential with global standards. It’s a revolution in digital skill-building,” said Dr. Deoskar.

The institute will soon release its full curriculum, and admissions for the August 2025 batch are now open.

With India’s youth eager for high-growth careers and the AVGC-XR sector set to skyrocket, IICT is the launchpad for future creative innovators.

TechPulse

Goa Concludes ‘Bridging Horizons’ with a Strong Push for Industry-Academia Collaboration

allycaralgoa

Panaji, July 2025: The Valedictory Session of Bridging Horizons: A Confluence of Industry, Institute & Innovation, organised by ASSOCHAM Goa State Development Council in collaboration with the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), marked the culmination of a high-impact dialogue focused on shaping Goa’s innovation ecosystem.

The event brought together leaders from academia, corporate industry, startups, and government to identify tangible strategies for enhancing synergy between educational institutes and the industrial sector. With a clear focus on skill development, research translation, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship, the valedictory session captured actionable insights and commitments.

Key highlights included:

  • Strengthening industry-led curriculum and faculty development.
  • Enhancing student internship pipelines and collaborative R&D opportunities.
  • Leveraging state initiatives like Goa Start-up Policy and Goa Tech Vision 2030.
  • Enabling infrastructure support and regulatory ease for MSMEs and tech startups.

Speaking at the event, representatives from DITE&C reaffirmed the Government of Goa’s focus on positioning the state as a hub for innovation, powered by partnerships across stakeholders. “The future of Goa lies in building knowledge-driven collaborations,” said a senior official.

ASSOCHAM Goa leaders emphasized the importance of continuous dialogue between institutions and enterprises. “We’re proud to catalyse a platform where ideas can grow into impact. Today’s discussions set the tone for sustained innovation,” they noted.

The Bridging Horizons series, throughout its sessions, has become a meaningful platform for advancing the convergence of knowledge, skills, and enterprise in Goa. As it draws to a close, it leaves behind a renewed momentum for industry-academia-government partnerships—paving the way for a smarter, more connected Goa.

Business

GCCI and Goa College of Engineering Sign MoU to Foster Industry-Academia Collaboration

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Panaji, Goa | June 30, 2025 — In a strategic initiative to align academic learning with real-world industry demands, the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Goa College of Engineering (GEC), Farmagudi, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 30, 2025. The MoU marks a milestone in strengthening Goa’s innovation ecosystem through deeper collaboration between education and enterprise.

The formal signing ceremony took place in the presence of key dignitaries from both institutions. Mr. Shrinivas V. Dempo, President of GCCI, and Dr. Krupashankara M. S., Principal of GEC, signed the MoU. Other dignitaries present included Mr. Sanjay Amonkar, Director General, GCCI; Dr. Suraj S. Rane, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, GEC; Ms. Pratima Dhond, President-Elect, GCCI; Mr. Rohan Bhandare, Hon. Treasurer, GCCI; and Ms. Ambika Dhakhenkar, Deputy Director, GCCI.

Key Objectives of the MoU Include:

  • Curriculum Modernization: Aligning GEC’s academic curriculum with evolving industry needs to enhance employability.
  • Skill Development & Training: Facilitating training programs, internships, and industry-specific workshops.
  • Innovation & Research: Supporting student-led innovation, entrepreneurship initiatives, and collaborative research projects.
  • Expert Engagement: Organizing industry talks, field visits, seminars, and placement-focused sessions.
  • Infrastructure Support: Setting up industry-sponsored labs to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
  • Consultancy & Projects: Offering technical consultancy and enabling real-world project exposure for students.

Mr. Shrinivas Dempo, President of GCCI, emphasized the vision behind the initiative:

“This partnership is a forward-looking step that reflects GCCI’s commitment to nurturing talent, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Goa. We are delighted to collaborate with one of Goa’s premier engineering institutions.”

Dr. Krupashankara M. S., Principal of GEC, expressed his enthusiasm:

“This MoU allows our students to gain enhanced exposure to real-world industry challenges. We aim to bridge the divide between theoretical learning and practical application.”

The MoU will remain in effect for a period of five years, during which both institutions will jointly undertake strategic initiatives to drive innovation, research, and skill development across Goa.

With this collaboration, GCCI and GEC reaffirm their shared vision of creating a future-ready workforce, empowered by knowledge, practical experience, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Business

CM Dr. Pramod Sawant Engages with New Goa Technology Association Leadership

allycaralgoa

Focus on Employment Generation and Boosting Entrepreneurship in the State

Panaji, Goa | June 20, 2025 — In a significant step toward advancing Goa’s digital and entrepreneurial ecosystem, Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant held a strategic meeting with the newly constituted Managing Committee of the Goa Technology Association (GTA). The agenda: to strengthen collaboration between the state government and the tech industry for job creation, skill development, and fostering local startups.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister congratulated Shri Mangirish Salelkar on being re-elected as President of GTA for an unprecedented third term, acknowledging his continued leadership in shaping Goa’s growing technology landscape.

🤝 Strengthening Government-Industry Collaboration

The discussions focused on several key areas:

  • Creating high-quality employment opportunities for Goan youth
  • Supporting tech startups and small IT enterprises
  • Enhancing industry-academia linkages for better skill alignment
  • Promoting Goa as a tech hub for innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Exploring policy support and infrastructure development

“Goa’s tech ecosystem is growing, and we want to ensure it creates direct opportunities for Goans. The government is fully committed to supporting this vision,” said CM Dr. Pramod Sawant after the meeting.

👨‍💼 Mangirish Salelkar Re-Elected as GTA President

Shri Mangirish Salelkar, Co-founder & CEO of Umang Software Technologies, continues to lead GTA as its President — marking his third consecutive term. Known for his work in building a community of IT entrepreneurs and pushing for industry-friendly policies in Goa, Salelkar’s leadership has been widely appreciated by both peers and policymakers.

“We thank the Hon’ble Chief Minister for his time and commitment. Our new committee looks forward to working closely with the government to empower Goa’s tech sector and create more opportunities for local talent,” said Salelkar.

🧑‍💻 About Goa Technology Association (GTA)

The Goa Technology Association is the leading body representing the IT and tech industry in Goa. Comprising IT companies, startups, and service providers, GTA acts as a bridge between the government and the private sector, advocating for policy changes, talent development, and sustainable tech growth.

Since its inception, GTA has:

  • Promoted Goa-based IT hiring
  • Engaged in dialogues on infrastructure and internet access
  • Supported local startups and innovation-driven enterprises

🌱 Looking Ahead: A Shared Vision

The meeting concluded with a mutual understanding to:

  • Conduct regular industry-government dialogues
  • Launch joint skill-building initiatives
  • Encourage tech investments and incubation programs
  • Promote Goa as a preferred destination for IT and knowledge industries

As Goa moves to position itself beyond tourism and into knowledge-driven growth, the collaboration between the state government and industry bodies like GTA is expected to be crucial for long-term economic resilience and innovation.

📌 Key Highlights:

  • CM Dr. Pramod Sawant met with GTA’s new committee in Panaji
  • Focus: Employment, startup growth, and entrepreneurship
  • Mangirish Salelkar re-elected as GTA President for the 3rd term
  • Government assured continued policy and infrastructural support