Chandigarh: As UNESCO marks World Youth Skills Day 2026 on July 15 with the theme ‘Skills for a Shared Future’, highlighting the importance of equipping young people with AI, digital and green skills, a visit to Chandigarh’s vocational training institutes reveals an ecosystem attempting to adapt to a rapidly changing world of work, one where technology is evolving faster than formal curricula.At Panjab University’s Centre for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and the Institute of Educational Technology and Vocational Education, faculty members acknowledge that while artificial intelligence, automation and digital technologies are transforming industries, incorporating them into university curricula is a gradual process. To bridge the gap, institutions increasingly rely on internships, industry visits, expert lectures and alumni interactions to expose students to emerging technologies.A similar transition is visible at the govt Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Sectors 11 and 28. While traditional trades continue to dominate admissions, institutes are gradually introducing newer courses such as drone technician and geoinformatics assistant, reflecting the changing demands of the labour market.However, educators admit that keeping pace with technological change remains a challenge. “Vocational education is essentially a livelihood skill,” said Ikdeep Singh, marketing instructor at ITI, Sector 11. “But there is still a lack of a well-connected ecosystem. Sometimes industries are ready to hire but students are unavailable, while at other times students possess the skills but suitable industry opportunities are limited.”Sector 11 ITI, primarily catering to women, offers courses in cosmetology, dressmaking, computer applications, finance and stenography, among others, with around 500 students enrolled annually. Students are sent for industrial training, and govt schemes such as PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana and PM Vishwakarma are also implemented. However, faculty members point out that stronger industry collaborations and greater integration of emerging technologies into training programmes would further improve employability.At the larger govt ITI, Sector 28, which has more than 900 sanctioned seats and over 45 industry partnerships, apprenticeship fairs are organised regularly under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). Yet, another trend has begun to emerge of graduates with engineering degrees, increasingly enrolling in vocational courses to acquire practical skills sought by employers abroad.Gender imbalance also continues to persist. Around 90 per cent of students at Sector 28 ITI are men, while women constitute only about 10% of enrolment. Female students remain concentrated in traditional trades such as dressmaking and cosmetology, while technical trades continue to attract predominantly male candidates.The rapid growth of artificial intelligence has also triggered conversations about the future relevance of some conventional skills. Officials indicated that the stenography trade is likely to be phased out in the coming years as part of curriculum rationalisation.The conversation around future skills also extends to inclusivity. At Sadhna Vocational Training Institute, an NGO working with intellectually disabled students, training focuses on developing practical livelihood skills through activities such as candle making, paper plate manufacturing and carry bag production. Director Bhavna said the institute works to ensure that students remain economically engaged through production-based training, while also recognising the need to continuously adapt to changing technologies.As artificial intelligence and automation continue to reshape workplaces, Chandigarh’s skill development ecosystem finds itself balancing traditional vocational education with emerging technological demands. While new courses, industry collaborations and apprenticeship programmes indicate progress, educators believe stronger curriculum reforms, closer industry linkages and continuous upskilling will be essential if today’s learners are to remain employable in tomorrow’s economy.For the same, as part of the Chandigarh Skill Development Mission (CSDM), vocational courses in green hydrogen, piped natural gas and caregiving are coming up. As Chandigarh’s elderly population is in large numbers, caregiving is being developed as a course to cater to their needs. These caregivers will be groomed and equipped with IT skills.Coordinator for skills, CSDM, Anju Lakhani, also told TOI that a prototype assembly lab has been set up in ITI sector 28 in collaboration with Maruti Suzuki which will be inaugurated in the coming days.As part of the mission, the psychiatry ward of PGI has also been roped in to create awareness among patients there. As pointed out by the coordinator, the patients who developed mental health conditions after failing an entrance exam, are guided to do a vocational course and develop a skill.
