CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The main event of the seventh edition of “Kaushal Charcha 2026”, organised by Scope Global Skills University (SGSU) and AISECT India on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, was held with enthusiasm on Tuesday. During the skills festival being organised from July 13 to 16, students, industry experts, skill champions, trainers and academicians are holding wide-ranging discussions on future skills, artificial intelligence, innovation and employment-oriented education.
The programme was organised in line with this year’s World Youth Skills Day theme, “Skills for a Shared Future”. SGSU Chancellor Dr Siddharth Chaturvedi, Vice-Chancellor Dr Vijay Singh and Registrar Dr Sitesh Kumar Sinha were present at the inaugural session. Former Indian cricketer and IISM founder director Nilesh Kulkarni, Roaring Minds founder and Chief Executive Officer Prateesh R. Nair, and Altera Collective founder and Chief Executive Officer Shyam Chhabria addressed the students as special speakers.
In his welcome address, Dr Siddharth Chaturvedi said that a degree alone is no longer sufficient, and that young people must adopt skills, industry exposure, global certification and a culture of continuous learning. He said that in the era of artificial intelligence, digital technology and emerging industries, skill certification, a strong resume and practical experience will become the biggest assets for youth. He also shared details of SGSU’s various initiatives in industry-integrated education, AI-based learning, global certification and employment-oriented skill development. Former Indian cricketer Nilesh Kulkarni highlighted emerging career opportunities in the sports sector and the importance of sports management, sports science and sporting skills. Prateesh R. Nair urged young people to fearlessly embrace new opportunities, develop effective networking and continuously improve themselves.
In the second session, AISECT India General Manager Abhishek Gupta spoke about the relevance of World Youth Skills Day and the role of skill development in a changing global economy. The major attraction of the programme was the inspiring experiences shared by WorldSkills champions. Anushree Srinivasan, bronze medallist at WorldSkills 2022, shared her inspiring journey from regional competitions to the world stage and motivated students to dream big and practise consistently. Sanskar Sharma, who received the Medallion for Excellence in the cyber security category at WorldSkills Lyon 2024 and whose skills journey began at SGSU, said success at the global level can be achieved with the right guidance, dedication and continuous practice. Chief guest Abhay Arun Mahishi, Regional Director, Regional Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (RDSDE), Madhya Pradesh, said India is rapidly moving towards a skill-based economy and new technologies, including artificial intelligence, have created many new opportunities for young people. He urged youth to focus on continuous upskilling and reskilling. On the occasion, more than 70 students, skill achievers, best trainers, best mobilisers and best counsellors were felicitated. The “Kaushal Mantra” newsletter was also released.
“Kaushal Charcha 2026” will conclude on July 16 with an industry roundtable discussion on “Advancing Gender Inclusive Workplace”. The special session will be organised in collaboration with IPE Global and with the participation of Young Indians (Yi) and the Confederation of Indian Industry, where representatives from industry, academia and policy experts will deliberate on inclusive workplaces and the future work culture.
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