Mumbai: Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Minister of Skill Development and  Entrepreneurship, and Minister of State, Ministry of Education, Government of India, launched the Reliance Foundation Skilling Academy, a platform dedicated to preparing India’s youth for jobs of the future.

The platform was launched at a national conference on ‘Empowering Youth for the Jobs of the  Future’, organized by Reliance Foundation in collaboration with the National Skill  Development Corporation (NSDC) that brought together leading voices from across  government, policy, corporate philanthropy, industry, civil society, and academia to discuss  skilling India’s youth.

Speaking at the launch, Jayant Chaudhary, said, “India’s youth stand  at the crossroads of immense opportunities, and the collaboration between Reliance  Foundation and NSDC marks a significant milestone in empowering them for the jobs of the  future. The launch of the Reliance Foundation Skilling Academy, a joint platform, is a  testament to this commitment, ensuring our youth are equipped with the skills needed to  succeed in tomorrow’s workforce. By investing in skilling, we are not only building a stronger  workforce but also shaping a generation of leaders ready to take on global challenges. This  initiative reflects our dedication to ensuring that every young person has access to the tools  and training they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive world. Together, we are laying  the foundation for a brighter, more inclusive future for all.”

Calling attention to the future of skilling in a rapidly-evolving employment landscape, Jagannatha Kumar, CEO of Reliance Foundation, said, ” Enabling young people to  achieve their aspirations is a part of the core philosophy of Reliance Foundation. Reliance  Foundation Skilling Academy is a step towards fulfilling those aspirations and preparing youth  for the jobs of the future. By harnessing technology, the platform maximizes its reach and  accessibility. It bridges the gap between education and employment to equip our young people  with the skills they need to succeed in a dynamic landscape of jobs and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the Reliance Foundation Skilling Academy plays a vital role in fostering a  collaborative ecosystem by forging partnerships and uniting key stakeholders to drive  innovation in skill development, ensuring that India’s youth are empowered in this rapidly  changing economic environment.”

The Reliance Foundation Skilling Academy www.rfskillingacademy.com is an open-to-all  platform that offers future-ready courses for skill building, personalized expert guidance, and  facilitates industry linkages for meaningful employment. It is designed to support an individual  at any and every stage of their career by facilitating skilling, upskilling, and reskilling, including  with unique user-specific recommendations and mentoring through industry leaders. Through  the platform, Reliance Foundation aims to empower over 6 lakh young Indians in the next one  year alone.

Reliance Foundation and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) have agreed  to collaborate on the Reliance Foundation Skilling Academy to enhance the reach and impact  of future-oriented skill courses developed on the platform, thereby supporting the Skill India  Mission. By working together, the two organisations will ensure that these courses are  accessible to students enrolled in higher educational institutions affiliated to AICTE across the  country, significantly boosting their employability and readiness for the future workforce.

The national conference included key participants from across the country, including Prof. T.G.  Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE, Mr. Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC, and others, on shaping India’s  skilling landscape through strategies like strengthening curricula to include emerging  technologies and 21st century skills, integrating mentorship into formal education, vocational  training, and workforce development initiatives. The conference also brought out the need to  prepare youth for jobs in areas featuring new and emerging technologies and strengthen  skilling initiatives while ensuring equity.

A publication by Reliance Foundation, Building India’s Future Young Talent: Stories of  Transformation, a compilation of stories of individuals from across India, whose lives were  transformed through skilling initiatives, was also launched at the conference.