It is not appropriate for industries to dictate changes to the higher education curriculum based solely on their needs. Students’ education should be holistic, aiming to develop multifaceted skills. This approach will ensure that youth are equipped to find employment in one field, even if not in another. To this end, a joint committee consisting of educationists and entrepreneurs will be established to determine the next steps, said Dr. M C Sudhakar, the Higher Education Minister, on Thursday.

He was speaking at a meeting held under his chairmanship with over 30 prestigious universities regarding the KWIN project at the Global Investors’ Conference. Medical Education Minister Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil and Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil were also present at the meeting.
Addressing the university representatives, Dr. Sudhakar stated, “The nature of learning and education cannot be changed based on the demands of one sector. Such a move would limit the scope of education and create new challenges. We need to reshape holistic learning to meet the demands of the contemporary world. All our graduates should secure good jobs. We will consult with the central government and the UGC for overall improvements. It is crucial that our youth receive world-class education within our country.”
He also noted that 70% of the students in our universities come from outside the state. He mentioned that well-equipped nurturing centers and testing facilities would be provided to support deep-tech startups and the R&D centers of large companies in KWIN City.
Agreement with 9 Universities: M B Patil
“The best universities in the world will be part of KWIN City, with agreements already signed with nine universities, including St. John’s University and the University of Liverpool. Prestigious institutions such as the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) in Pilani and the World Horti Centre, a leader in the field of horticulture, have also shown interest in the project. Ongoing discussions with such institutions are underway,” said M B Patil, Minister for Large and Medium Enterprises.

 
Universities from several countries have expressed interest in opening campuses in KWIN City. UGC regulations now allow the top 500 universities to establish campuses in India, presenting a significant opportunity for Western universities to set up in KWIN City at a low cost. This initiative will give students hands-on experience in research and development, he explained.
Medical Education Towards Excellence: Dr. Sharan Prakash
Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil highlighted that the state has 70 medical colleges, offering 11,000 undergraduate seats and 6,000 postgraduate seats. “The goal is to position the state as a global hub for skill development in areas like artificial intelligence and eco-friendly energy,” he said.

Dr. Prabhakar Kore of KLE Society, Jawahar of PES University, and Nagaraju of RV Educational Institution were also present at the meeting, along with leaders from 30 universities from across the state, country, and abroad, including BLDE Educational Institution.
In the roundtable it was highlighted that KWIN City will introduce industry-led skill programs in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor manufacturing, bioengineering and sustainability making Karnataka a talent reservoir and gaining international recognition.
The roundtable saw active participation from representatives of leading educational institutions and organizations, including:
• St. John’s University
• University of York
• Azim Premji University
• Boston University
• RV University
• PES University
• KLE University
• Bangalore Airport City Limited
• Atria University
• Alliance University
• National Public School
• International School of Management Excellence
• Vice Capital, San Francisco