FRSN Ecosystem Summit: Strengthening Partnerships Between Industry and ITIs to Empower Youth for the Jobs of Tomorrow
MFNews
FRSN Ecosystem Summit: Strengthening Partnerships Between Industry and ITIs to Empower Youth for the Jobs of Tomorrow
Panchkula: The growing demand for a highly skilled workforce with relevant technical expertise underscores the need to strengthen the ITI (Industrial Training Institutes) ecosystem. To address this, key stakeholders from ITIs, industries, and the government came together at the FRSN Ecosystem Summit: Strengthening Partnerships Between Industry and ITIs, held on February 20th, 2025, in Panchkula, Haryana. The Future Right Skills Network (FRSN) is a collaborative effort by Accenture, Cisco, J.P. Morgan, and SAP Labs facilitated by Quest Alliance with an overarching mission to make India’s youth future-ready.
The summit organized by the non-governmental organization FRSN in partnership with the Department of Skill Development & Industrial Training (SDIT), Haryana, showcased best practices, success stories, and emerging trends in vocational education and training. To encourage positive practices at every level in the ITI ecosystem, the event celebrated the outstanding contributions of trainers, principals, and other stakeholders to foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. Additionally, the summit highlighted FRSN’s Trainer Development Strategy for the Skilling Ecosystem (TDSSE) — a comprehensive framework and set of guidelines designed for the holistic development of 21st-century education. The successful collaboration since 2023 has reached 70545 learners across 154 ITIs in 22 districts. The summit will launch select trade trainers who will be trained to impart technical and 21st-century skills in classrooms. Since the signing of the MoU with the SDIT in 2023, FRSN has brought about positive change at the grassroots by training Employability Skills (ES) Trainers and placement officers; setting up ES labs; introducing AI curriculum among instructors; and organizing the first-ever Principal Leadership Program in the state that enhanced the leadership skills of 30 Institute leaders. The highlight of this year’s intervention is training group instructors to support institute growth and organizing Master Training programs to help trainers assimilate ES skills among learners.
Harish Krishnan, Managing Director & Chief Policy Officer Cisco India & SAARC, Cisco said, “With AI and emerging technologies becoming commonplace across sectors, there is an increasing shift to skill-based hiring. More and more businesses are looking to equip their workforce with a blend of technical expertise and soft skills to stay at par with the evolving job landscape. According to a report, 80% of organizations in India are struggling to fill roles in 2025, especially in industries like IT, energy, and utilities. To address this skill gap, accessible and relevant training within the ITI ecosystem is essential, making academia-industry partnerships critical. Platforms like this summit provide an excellent opportunity to bring together key stakeholders to collaborate, evaluate current practices, and develop strategies that enhance the scalability and long-term impact of skilling initiatives.”
The event also provided a platform for key stakeholders across the skilling ecosystem to dialogue, appreciate, and explore avenues for innovation in vocational training to improve skill development and employability in Haryana.
Nikita Bengani, Director, Youth Program, Quest Alliance, said, “This Summit has provided an invaluable platform for stakeholders across ITIs and industries to connect, collaborate, and explore a range of opportunities—from internships and placements to innovative collaborative projects—all aimed at equipping our youth with job-ready skills. By fostering these partnerships, we are creating pathways that bridge the skills gap and better align vocational training with industry demands. This will ensure the delivery of high-quality, relevant education, enabling Haryana’s youth to thrive in an ever-evolving job market. As we look toward the future, we are focused on developing a workforce that is not only technically proficient but also adaptable, resilient, and prepared for the challenges of tomorrow’s economy.”
By empowering stakeholders to collaborate and evolve together, the event ensures that Haryana’s ITI ecosystem remains resilient and responsive, preparing the next generation of skilled workers for future challenges and opportunities.
