Karnataka govt to launch employability assessment drive for STEM graduates in Kalaburagi

KALABURAGI: To address the growing employability gap among graduates in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, the Karnataka government will launch a structured, assessment-led model to evaluate and develop job readiness among youth.

Addressing a press conference at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kalaburagi on Tuesday, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and Kalaburagi district in-charge Priyank Kharge said the first phase of this initiative under the Nipuna Karnataka, the flagship reskilling and upskilling programme, will be held in Kalaburagi on August 9 and 10, targeting 2,500 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) students.

This is the first phase of what will become a state-wide rollout. The model will be adapted and implemented across other districts in the coming months, making Karnataka the first state to launch such an integrated and localised employability assessment programme for STEM graduates, the minister said.

Unlike conventional skilling programmes, this model starts with a baseline diagnostic to evaluate each candidate’s aptitude, communication, digital literacy and behavioural readiness. The 90-minute online assessment is being conducted by Unstop, an engagement and hiring platform that works with over 25 million students across India.

Each student will receive a personalised skill-gap report and an Individual Development Plan (IDP) to guide further training and placement efforts. The objective is to move from a one-size-fits-all approach to a data-driven, individual-centric model that makes students more employable before they are routed into skilling tracks, said the minister.

Registrations open on July 29 and can be done via scanning the QR code or visiting the URL: https://unstop.com/o/xvCVUWP/?ref=KalaburgiAssessment. The deadline for registration is August 7. Candidates will be allotted slots on a first-come, first-served basis, with preference given to STEM graduates who had registered for the Kalaburagi Udyoga Mela held in April this year, followed by other final-year and recent pass-outs with a STEM background.

Assessment hall tickets will be issued on August 7 and 8 via SMS and email to registered candidates. The assessment will be conducted on August 9 and 10 at Shetty Institute of Technology, Kalaburagi. There will be four slots per day, each lasting 90 minutes: 10 am-11.30 am, 12 pm-1.30 pm, 2.30 pm-4 pm and 4.30 pm-6 pm.

A recent study during the Kalaburagi Udyoga Mela showed that 70 pc of students scored below 50 pc in aptitude and 63 pc in communication. This pilot aims to address those gaps early and systematically.

This initiative not only improves outcomes for students but also equips employers with job-ready candidates and helps educational institutions align training with real industry demands. Above all, it supports holistic talent development and strengthens the job-readiness pipeline in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, said the minister. (ANI)