12K students got jobs ‘through fairs, placement drives’

Following the thrust in technical and vocational education, as many 12,378 students have secured employment through job fairs, joint placement drives and campus recruitments, while over 14,421 students and 1,203 faculty members have undergone digital learning through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) platforms over the last two and a half years.

A government spokesperson said the system had been redesigned for employment generation, industrial collaboration, innovation and future-ready skills. He said the focus had shifted from tradition-based training to technology-integrated learning, strengthening institutional capacity, modernizing curricula, forging industry linkages and aligning training with emerging technologies. “These interventions are now translating into measurable improvements in employability, entrepreneurship and the readiness of youth to compete in the global economy,” he said.

The spokesperson said a network of 348 technical education and industrial training institutions consisting of engineering colleges, pharmacy colleges, polytechnics and ITIs was operational across the state in both government and private sectors.

“The establishment of the Government Pharmacy College at Sulah and the Government Polytechnic at Jandaur reflects the expansion of quality technical education into underserved regions. More significantly, the government has prioritised futuristic programmes over conventional courses. Disciplines such as Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, M Tech in Electric Vehicle Technology, Internet of Things, Mechatronics and 19 modern vocational trades in ITIs signify a decisive shift towards skill domains aligned with the digital and industrial economy,” he said.

He further said the accreditation of four undergraduate programmes of JLN Government Engineering College, Sundernagar by the National Board of Accreditation highlights the government’s commitment towards academic excellence. “A futuristic leap has been taken by starting Drone Service Technician training in 11 government ITIs in collaboration with Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam, with 128 trainees already certified, placing Himachal among the select few states cultivating manpower for the emerging drone economy,” he said.

He said that under the ADB-funded Himachal Pradesh Skill Development Project, machinery and equipment of 50 ITIs, one Polytechnic and one Engineering College were upgraded at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 80.98 crore, benefitting nearly 5,880 students. Smart facilities such as video conferencing systems, computers, power-saving inverters, on-grid solar plants and solar street lights were being installed across multiple ITIs, creating a digital-ready and energy-efficient learning environment.