Youth Program
Learners
57% of the 8,850 learners surveyed said that the curriculum helped them understand how employability skills are connected to their trade and career.
skill training institutions, including 214 Vocational Training Institutes.
69% of the ES trainers believed that the ES Manual adequately addressed the learning needs and abilities of the learners.
A total of 105 graduates found employment in the ‘Green’ sector this year.
trainers and placement officers
22,710 learners from 314 ITIs from 8 states signed up on Quest App for the first time.
institutional leaders
50,300 learners graduating from ITI and VTIs embarked on their career journeys.
States and Union Territories
The gap between the average income of male and female learners was narrowest in full-time employment at 12%
Adoption of Employability Skills Curriculum
This year saw a key shift in our relationship with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Our existing MoU with the ministry was renewed with a broader scope that now includes Quest Alliance supporting the ministry as a strategic advisor for the mainstreaming of skilling initiatives with the Directorate General of Training (DGT), curriculum development, promoting women in the workforce, fostering future skills, and enhancing trainer development.
One of our pivotal achievements was introducing the Employability Skills (ES) curriculum to 2.5 million learners across India's skilling landscape. Championed by the Future Right Skills Network (FRSN), which brings together stakeholders from government institutions, civil society and the corporate sector to equip learners with critical employability skills necessary for today's job market. It includes modules on financial and digital literacy, diversity and inclusion, career development, goal setting, and entrepreneurship.
Addressing educator shortages, the curriculum promotes blended learning, making digital resources accessible nationwide, and integrating them into Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
Feedback from 335 employability skills trainers across 13 states revealed that 73% found the facilitator manual, comprehensive, and 68% praised its support for blended and flipped classroom methods.
Improved placements
This past year has been impactful with placements, with over 50,300 learners from the vocational training ecosystem entering the world of work, and 11,200 choosing higher studies. We've made significant strides in gender-diverse employment: women excel in sectors such as apparel, education, and beauty, while men excel in manufacturing and agriculture.
Self-employment has proven to be a lucrative path for our learners, alongside significant boost in placements within emerging sectors such as the 'Green' industry, Healthcare, and Quick Service Restaurants.
Career Transitions
We believe learners can make informed career decisions when they are equipped with the key skills required. Our career clubs served as a platform for fostering career exploration and readiness among learners. Through market scans and insights into the evolving world of work, we equipped learners with knowledge and skills crucial for successful transitions into employment or further education. The impact of these efforts is evident in the increased engagement and preparedness of alumni. By connecting learners with industry trends and career opportunities, these clubs play a vital role in shaping informed career decisions. They empower students to navigate diverse career paths, enhancing their employability and socio-economic mobility.
A study we conducted in 2023 focused on nearly 2,300 alumni from ITIs across four states who graduated between 2019 and 2021. We found that 64% of alumni were actively engaged in employment or higher education.
Mainstreaming Employability Skills
Over the past five years, since our initial engagement with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in 2019, we have transitioned from an organization that worked with state departments alone, to a strategic advisor to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. This shift is evidenced by our renewed MoU and our advisory role in key consultations, particularly through the “Trainer Development Strategy for the Skilling Ecosystem,” a strategy paper launched in May 2024. Our relationship has deepened, involving collaborations with the Directorate General of Training (DGT), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), and various curriculum and training bodies.
“I learned the need to upskill continuously. You don’t need a classroom to learn, you just need the right attitude and a digital device, the world is at your fingertips.”
Yesumathi D
Alumni,
Salesian Sisters Society and Quest Alliance
