The ‘Campus to Career Summit: Future Ready Universities & Colleges’ event on Friday saw the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) focused on higher education, employability, digital learning, and skill development in Karnataka.

The summit was organised in Bengaluru by the Higher Education Department, Government of Karnataka in partnership with Karnataka Digital Economy Mission and Elets Technomedia.

One of the initiatives launched at the event was SCOUT – Scholars for Outstanding Undergraduate Students by the Karnataka State Higher Education Council in collaboration with the British Council and six Karnataka public universities. The programme will support 30 undergraduate students through a fully funded two-week residential programme at a UK university. The programme focuses on sustainability and climate studies, along with gender, urban planning, and communication skills, and is aimed at students from underserved backgrounds.

The Department of Collegiate Education signed an agreement with Head Held High Foundation to conduct training programmes in Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies. Supported by Kyndryl, the first phase will be implemented in government colleges in Raichur during the 2026–27 academic year. The programme will offer 30–40 hours of training on AI concepts, digital productivity tools, and technology applications free of cost.

The Department of Collegiate and Technical Education also signed an MoU with 1M1B Foundation through the 1M1B Green Skills Academy. The initiative aims to train five lakh students across Karnataka over three years in employability, green skills, AI awareness, internships, mentorship, and sustainability-related learning, with a focus on rural youth, women, and first-generation learners.

Another initiative introduced at the summit was Shiksha Setu AI in three Government Colleges and three Government Polytechnics. The platform will include a Learning Management System (LMS), Virtual Labs, ERP, Digital Library modules, employability skill courses, and basic 3D, AR, and VR learning tools.

The Government of Karnataka also signed an MoU with Timbuckdo to facilitate internships, part-time jobs, and gig opportunities for students in government colleges. The initiative aims to support employability and provide industry exposure while students continue their education.

In another agreement, the National Stock Exchange of India Limited partnered with the Higher Education Department for a Student Skilling Program focused on financial literacy and securities market knowledge, including mutual funds. The programme is intended to improve employability and self-employment opportunities for students.

Officials at the summit said the initiatives are intended to strengthen industry-linked education, digital learning, and skill development across Karnataka’s higher education institutions.

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