Symbiosis Launches Asia’s First UNESCO Gender Chair
Source: GK Today
Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune, has launched Asia’s first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development. The initiative was announced during the international conference titled “Women Leading the Future of Work”, organised in collaboration with UNESCO. The Chair aims to promote gender equality through skill development, employment opportunities and research, especially for underprivileged girls and women in emerging industries.
First UNESCO Chair of Its Kind in Asia
The UNESCO Chair was formally inaugurated by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Minister of State for Education. The initiative marks a major step in linking education, skilling and gender inclusion at an international level. It is the first UNESCO Chair in Asia dedicated specifically to gender inclusion and skill development, making India a key centre for this global agenda.
Focus on Future Skills and Employment
Under this initiative, SSPU has already trained 10,000 girls in future-ready sectors such as robotics, automation, semiconductor technology, advanced manufacturing and defence technology. These sectors are considered sunrise industries with strong employment potential. According to the university, all trained girls and women received job offers after completing their skill development programmes, reflecting the success of its industry-linked training model.
Leadership Behind the Initiative
The UNESCO Chair is being led by Dr Swati Mujumdar, Pro-Chancellor of SSPU, who has developed a strong industry-integrated skilling framework for large-scale women’s empowerment. The model focuses on practical learning, employability and direct industry engagement. It aims to reduce gender gaps in technical education and increase women’s participation in high-growth sectors where representation has traditionally remained low.
Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune, has launched Asia’s first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development. The initiative was announced during the international conference titled “Women Leading the Future of Work”, organised in collaboration with UNESCO. The Chair aims to promote gender equality through skill development, employment opportunities and research, especially for underprivileged girls and women in emerging industries.
First UNESCO Chair of Its Kind in Asia
The UNESCO Chair was formally inaugurated by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Minister of State for Education. The initiative marks a major step in linking education, skilling and gender inclusion at an international level. It is the first UNESCO Chair in Asia dedicated specifically to gender inclusion and skill development, making India a key centre for this global agenda.
Focus on Future Skills and Employment
Under this initiative, SSPU has already trained 10,000 girls in future-ready sectors such as robotics, automation, semiconductor technology, advanced manufacturing and defence technology. These sectors are considered sunrise industries with strong employment potential. According to the university, all trained girls and women received job offers after completing their skill development programmes, reflecting the success of its industry-linked training model.
Leadership Behind the Initiative
The UNESCO Chair is being led by Dr Swati Mujumdar, Pro-Chancellor of SSPU, who has developed a strong industry-integrated skilling framework for large-scale women’s empowerment. The model focuses on practical learning, employability and direct industry engagement. It aims to reduce gender gaps in technical education and increase women’s participation in high-growth sectors where representation has traditionally remained low.