Skilled Employment for a Sustainable Future
Abstract
In partnership with The Anandilal Podar Trust and Podar College, our team participated in a two-week pilot program in Nawalgarh, Rajasthan, India, consisting of an academic course that focused on sustainability and social entrepreneurship, site visits to local, relevant social enterprises, and cultural immersion activities. The program aimed to introduce foreign students to the rich culture and heritage of the Shekhawati region.As part of the program, we completed a group project and presentation concerning gaps in the skilled workforce in India, with a specific focus on unemployment among youth and young adults, aged 18-26. Information for the presentation was gathered through our site visits in the community, interactions with students at Podar College, and conversations with the director of the Kantikumar R. Podar Skill Centre – a Podar initiative for training unemployed young adults in solar technologies and banking/finance.Our presentation included recommendations for the Skill Centre to expand their services to continue to fill identified needs in the workforce.; This community-engaged opportunity helped our group to better understand economic needs in India’s emerging economy and make connections between employment, sustainable development, and quality of life. Exploring existing programs at the Skill Centre and seeing examples of businesses in the community helped to shape our understanding of the classroom material with real-world applications.
Start Time
16-4-2025 1:30 PM
End Time
16-4-2025 2:30 PM
Room Number
210
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Presentation Subtype
Community Engaged Showcase
Skilled Employment for a Sustainable Future
210
In partnership with The Anandilal Podar Trust and Podar College, our team participated in a two-week pilot program in Nawalgarh, Rajasthan, India, consisting of an academic course that focused on sustainability and social entrepreneurship, site visits to local, relevant social enterprises, and cultural immersion activities. The program aimed to introduce foreign students to the rich culture and heritage of the Shekhawati region.As part of the program, we completed a group project and presentation concerning gaps in the skilled workforce in India, with a specific focus on unemployment among youth and young adults, aged 18-26. Information for the presentation was gathered through our site visits in the community, interactions with students at Podar College, and conversations with the director of the Kantikumar R. Podar Skill Centre – a Podar initiative for training unemployed young adults in solar technologies and banking/finance.Our presentation included recommendations for the Skill Centre to expand their services to continue to fill identified needs in the workforce.; This community-engaged opportunity helped our group to better understand economic needs in India’s emerging economy and make connections between employment, sustainable development, and quality of life. Exploring existing programs at the Skill Centre and seeing examples of businesses in the community helped to shape our understanding of the classroom material with real-world applications.