Revanth Passes Baton of Skill University to New Board

Hyderabad: In a landmark move towards boosting youth employability, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced allocation of Rs 100 crore and 150 acres of land for the establishment of the Telangana Young India Skill University on the city outskirts. The Chief Minister revealed plans during a meeting with the Board of Governors (BoG) of the university, industrialists, and corporate representatives held at the Secretariat on Thursday.

Revanth Reddy stressed that this institution should serve as a model skill university for the entire country. He handed over responsibility for its development to the BoG led by prominent industrialist Anand Mahindra, who is known for his innovative leadership and business acumen.

Revanth Reddy called for active participation from local industries, urging them to establish a corpus fund for the university's long-term operations. He encouraged business leaders to support the construction of campus facilities, which would be named after their companies or key donors.

“The industrialists of the state should contribute towards this initiative and ensure that the youth are equipped with employable skills,” he stated at the meeting.

The Chief Minister highlighted that traditional degrees and postgraduate qualifications were no longer sufficient in the competitive job market. Every year, thousands of young graduates, including engineers, struggle to find employment due to a mismatch between their education and the needs of industry. “The Skill University will address this gap by providing targeted, industry-specific training,” Revanth Reddy said.

He also outlined ambitious future plans, announcing that the government would next focus on establishing a Young India Sports University on 200 acres, with the goal of producing athletes capable of winning gold medals in the 2028 Olympics. The Chief Minister reassured stakeholders that there would be no shortage of funding, stating that the government is prepared to invest significantly in both ventures.

During the meeting, university board chairman Anand Mahindra praised Revanth Reddy's forward-thinking approach, stating that the Skill University would position Telangana as a global hub for skilled manpower. “Telangana has the power to become the world’s leading provider of skilled youth,” Mahindra said. He noted that this vision aligns perfectly with his own efforts in promoting skill-based education across the country.

Mahindra added that the presence of the largest US consulate in Telangana reflects the state’s potential as an international destination for talent. “With the CM’s vision, Telangana can lead in providing not only engineers and IT professionals but also a skilled workforce in a variety of emerging sectors,” he said.

The Board of Governors has fast-tracked the university’s operations, announcing that its first batch of courses will commence in October, shortly after the Dasara festival.

In partnership with the Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI), initial courses will focus on key industries, including healthcare, commerce, and logistics. Leading companies like Apollo, AIG, Lenskart, Flipkart, Amazon, AllCargo, ProConnect, and o9 Solutions have already pledged their support and will provide training in the first year. The goal is to train 2,000 students during this initial phase.

The meeting was attended by a host of industry leaders and government officials, including Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, IT and industries minister D. Sridhar Babu, Board of Governors co-chairman Srini Raju, and prominent board members like P. Devaiah, Suchitra Ella, and Satish Reddy. Several participants, such as Manish Sabharwal and Sanjeev Bikhchandani, joined via video conference.

Minister Sridhar Babu elaborated on the state’s broader vision for Hyderabad as a global destination for business and innovation. He mentioned plans for creating a “Future City,” incorporating Artificial Intelligence, to further cement Hyderabad’s status as a world-class business hub.