Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune has launched Asia's first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development — inaugurated by Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary on 24 April 2026 at the international conference 'Women Leading the Future of Work'; led by Dr Swati Mujumdar, the Chair targets training underprivileged women for sunrise sectors like robotics, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.
सिम्बायोसिस स्किल्स एंड प्रोफेशनल यूनिवर्सिटी (SSPU), पुणे ने एशिया की पहली UNESCO चेयर ऑन जेंडर इन्क्लूज़न एंड स्किल डेवलपमेंट की शुरुआत की है — केंद्रीय मंत्री जयंत चौधरी द्वारा 24 अप्रैल 2026 को अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सम्मेलन 'Women Leading the Future of Work' में उद्घाटित; डॉ. स्वाति मजूमदार के नेतृत्व में; उद्देश्य रोबोटिक्स, सेमीकंडक्टर्स एवं उन्नत विनिर्माण जैसे sunrise क्षेत्रों के लिए वंचित महिलाओं का प्रशिक्षण।
Why in News
Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune has launched Asia's first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development — formally inaugurated by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, on 24 April 2026 at the international conference 'Women Leading the Future of Work', organised in collaboration with UNESCO.
Why it matters: It is the first UNESCO Chair in Asia specifically dedicated to gender inclusion combined with skill development — positioning India as a global hub for the convergence of women's empowerment and technical education at scale.
Programme model: Led by Dr Swati Mujumdar, Pro-Chancellor of SSPU, the Chair builds on an industry-integrated skilling framework. SSPU has already trained 10,000 girls in future-ready sectors — robotics, automation, semiconductor technology, advanced manufacturing, and defence technology. The university reports that all trained girls and women received job offers after their programmes, reflecting the success of the industry-linked design.
About UNESCO Chairs: UNESCO Chairs are international academic partnerships — over 950 Chairs in 110+ countries — created to promote research, training, and institutional development in priority areas. They sit under the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme launched in 1992. UNESCO itself was founded on 16 November 1945, headquartered in Paris, with India a founding member.
At a Glance
- Initiative
- Asia's first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development
- Hosting institution
- Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune
- Inaugurated by
- Jayant Chaudhary, MoS (I/C) Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; MoS Education
- Date of inauguration
- 24 April 2026
- Conference
- 'Women Leading the Future of Work' — organised with UNESCO
- Chair holder
- Dr Swati Mujumdar, Pro-Chancellor, SSPU
- Track record
- 10,000 girls trained in robotics, automation, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, defence tech; full job-placement reported
- Target sectors
- Sunrise industries — robotics, AI, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, defence technology
Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune has launched Asia's first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development. The Chair was formally inaugurated by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, on 24 April 2026, at the international conference 'Women Leading the Future of Work', organised in collaboration with UNESCO.
About the Chair:
- First UNESCO Chair in Asia specifically dedicated to gender inclusion and skill development
- Led by Dr Swati Mujumdar, Pro-Chancellor of SSPU
- Aims: promote gender equality through skill development, employment opportunities, and research — particularly for underprivileged girls and women in emerging industries
- Connects three pillars: education + skilling + gender inclusion at international level
SSPU's track record:
- 10,000 girls already trained in future-ready sectors
- Sectors: robotics, automation, semiconductor technology, advanced manufacturing, defence technology
- All trained girls and women reportedly received job offers post-training
- Industry-integrated curriculum focused on practical learning, employability, and direct industry engagement
About UNESCO and UNESCO Chairs:
- UNESCO = United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; founded 16 November 1945; HQ Paris, France; Director-General Audrey Azoulay (since 2017)
- India is a founding member of UNESCO
- UNESCO Chairs / UNITWIN Programme launched in 1992; over 950 UNESCO Chairs in 110+ countries facilitating cross-border knowledge cooperation
- The Chair model creates institutional partnerships for research, training, and capacity development
- UNESCO India operations are anchored under the UNESCO New Delhi Cluster Office (covering India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka)
India's broader skill ecosystem:
- Skill India Mission launched in 2015 to improve employability and vocational training; combines schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)
- Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) created in November 2014 as a dedicated nodal ministry
- National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 integrates vocational training from class 6 onwards and emphasises gender-inclusive skilling
- Women workforce participation target: India's Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) was 41.7% in PLFS 2023-24, up from 23% in 2017-18 — among the largest gains globally
- Sunrise sectors are fast-growing industries — robotics, semiconductors, AI, advanced manufacturing, electric vehicles, green hydrogen, biotechnology — where skilled-workforce demand is highest
About Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU): Located in Pune, Maharashtra; private skill-focused university under the broader Symbiosis umbrella founded by Dr S.B. Mujumdar in 1971; SSPU specifically focuses on industry-integrated skilling and was set up to bridge the academia-industry gap in India.
सिम्बायोसिस स्किल्स एंड प्रोफेशनल यूनिवर्सिटी (SSPU), पुणे ने एशिया की पहली UNESCO चेयर ऑन जेंडर इन्क्लूज़न एंड स्किल डेवलपमेंट की शुरुआत की है। चेयर का औपचारिक उद्घाटन जयंत चौधरी — कौशल विकास एवं उद्यमिता राज्य मंत्री (स्वतंत्र प्रभार) तथा शिक्षा राज्य मंत्री — द्वारा 24 अप्रैल 2026 को UNESCO के सहयोग से आयोजित अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सम्मेलन 'Women Leading the Future of Work' में किया गया।
चेयर के बारे में:
- एशिया की पहली UNESCO चेयर जो विशेष रूप से लैंगिक समावेशन एवं कौशल विकास को समर्पित
- नेतृत्व: डॉ. स्वाति मजूमदार, SSPU की प्रो-चांसलर
- उद्देश्य: कौशल विकास, रोज़गार के अवसर एवं अनुसंधान के माध्यम से लैंगिक समानता का प्रचार — विशेष रूप से वंचित लड़कियों एवं महिलाओं के लिए
- तीन स्तंभ: शिक्षा + कौशल + लैंगिक समावेशन अंतर्राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर
SSPU का ट्रैक रिकॉर्ड:
- 10,000 लड़कियाँ भविष्य-तैयार क्षेत्रों में पहले से प्रशिक्षित
- क्षेत्र: रोबोटिक्स, ऑटोमेशन, सेमीकंडक्टर तकनीक, उन्नत विनिर्माण, रक्षा तकनीक
- प्रशिक्षण के बाद सभी को नौकरी के प्रस्ताव मिले
UNESCO एवं UNESCO चेयर्स:
- UNESCO = संयुक्त राष्ट्र शैक्षिक, वैज्ञानिक एवं सांस्कृतिक संगठन; 16 नवंबर 1945 स्थापित; मुख्यालय पेरिस, फ्रांस; महानिदेशक ऑड्रे अज़ोले (2017 से)
- भारत = UNESCO का संस्थापक सदस्य
- UNESCO चेयर्स / UNITWIN कार्यक्रम 1992 में शुरू; 110+ देशों में 950+ चेयर्स
- भारत में UNESCO संचालन UNESCO नई दिल्ली क्लस्टर कार्यालय के तहत (भारत, बांग्लादेश, भूटान, मालदीव, नेपाल, श्रीलंका)
भारत का व्यापक कौशल पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र:
- स्किल इंडिया मिशन 2015 में शुरू; PMKVY + NSDC शामिल
- कौशल विकास एवं उद्यमिता मंत्रालय (MSDE) नवंबर 2014 में अलग नोडल मंत्रालय के रूप में बनाया गया
- राष्ट्रीय शिक्षा नीति (NEP) 2020 कक्षा 6 से व्यावसायिक प्रशिक्षण को एकीकृत करती है
- भारत की महिला श्रम बल भागीदारी दर (FLFPR) = PLFS 2023-24 में 41.7% (2017-18 में 23% से बढ़ी) — विश्व स्तर पर सबसे बड़ी वृद्धियों में से एक
SSPU के बारे में: पुणे, महाराष्ट्र में स्थित; व्यापक सिम्बायोसिस छत्र के तहत निजी कौशल-केंद्रित विश्वविद्यालय; डॉ. एस.बी. मजूमदार द्वारा 1971 में स्थापित।
Year वर्ष | Milestone मील का पत्थर |
|---|---|
2008 2008 | NSDC established (PPP) NSDC |
Nov 2014 नवंबर 2014 | MSDE created as dedicated ministry MSDE |
Jul 2015 जुलाई 2015 | Skill India Mission + PMKVY 1.0 launched स्किल इंडिया |
Jul 2020 जुलाई 2020 | NEP 2020 — vocational integration class 6+ NEP 2020 |
Apr 2026 अप्रैल 2026 | Asia's 1st UNESCO Chair on gender + skill at SSPU UNESCO चेयर |
Static GK
- •UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; founded 16 November 1945; HQ Paris, France; current Director-General Audrey Azoulay (since 2017); India is a founding member
- •UNESCO Chairs / UNITWIN Programme: International academic partnerships launched in 1992; over 950 Chairs in 110+ countries; promote research, training, and institutional development in priority areas
- •UNESCO India presence: UNESCO New Delhi Cluster Office covers India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka; coordinates UNESCO programmes including World Heritage, MAB Biosphere Reserves, Education for All, and Intangible Cultural Heritage
- •Skill India Mission: Umbrella programme launched 15 July 2015 by PM Modi; aims to skill 40+ crore Indians by 2022 (later extended); umbrella for PMKVY, NSDC, Skill Loans, ITI upgrades
- •Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): Flagship skill-development scheme under MSDE; PMKVY 1.0 launched 2015; PMKVY 4.0 in current cycle; provides short-term training, recognition of prior learning, and special projects
- •National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC): Public-private partnership under MSDE; established 2008; key implementation agency for skill development; partners with industry to design sector-specific curricula
- •Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE): Created November 2014 by NDA government as dedicated nodal ministry; oversees Skill India Mission, NSDC, NCVET, Directorate General of Training (DGT), ITIs
- •National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Approved by Union Cabinet on 29 July 2020; replaces NPE 1986; integrates vocational training from class 6; emphasises gender-inclusive skilling and equity in higher education
- •Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) in India: PLFS 2023-24: 41.7%, up from 23% in PLFS 2017-18 — significant rise; rural FLFPR rose faster than urban; gap with male FLFPR (~78%) remains substantial
- •Sunrise sectors: Fast-growing industries with strong employment potential — robotics, AI, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, electric vehicles, green hydrogen, biotechnology, space-tech, fintech
- •Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU): Private skill-focused university in Pune, Maharashtra; under the broader Symbiosis umbrella founded by Dr S.B. Mujumdar in 1971; emphasises industry-integrated skilling
- •Jayant Chaudhary: President of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD); Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; Minister of State for Education from 2024 in the NDA government; Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh
Timeline
- 1945 (16 November)UNESCO founded; India a founding member
- 1971Symbiosis Society established by Dr S.B. Mujumdar in Pune
- 1992UNESCO Chairs / UNITWIN Programme launched
- 2008National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) established
- 2014 (November)Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) created as dedicated nodal ministry
- 2015 (15 July)Skill India Mission launched; PMKVY 1.0 launched the same year
- 2020 (29 July)National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 approved
- 2024Jayant Chaudhary appointed MoS (I/C) Skill Development; FLFPR rises to 41.7% per PLFS 2023-24
- 2026 (24 April)Asia's first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development inaugurated at SSPU Pune
- →Initiative: Asia's first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development
- →Hosting university: Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune
- →Inaugurated by: Jayant Chaudhary — MoS (I/C) Skill Development and Entrepreneurship + MoS Education
- →Date: 24 April 2026
- →Conference: 'Women Leading the Future of Work' — with UNESCO
- →Chair holder: Dr Swati Mujumdar, Pro-Chancellor SSPU
- →Track record: 10,000 girls trained in robotics + automation + semiconductors + advanced manufacturing + defence tech
- →UNESCO founded 16 November 1945, HQ Paris, India is a founding member
- →Director-General: Audrey Azoulay (since 2017)
- →UNESCO Chairs / UNITWIN Programme = 1992; 950+ chairs in 110+ countries
- →Skill India Mission launched 15 July 2015 by PM Modi
- →MSDE created November 2014 — dedicated skilling ministry
- →FLFPR rose from 23% (2017-18) to 41.7% (2023-24) — PLFS
- →NEP 2020 approved 29 July 2020; integrates vocational ed from class 6
Exam Angles
Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune has launched Asia's first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development, inaugurated by Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary (MoS I/C Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; MoS Education) on 24 April 2026 at the 'Women Leading the Future of Work' conference; led by Dr Swati Mujumdar, Pro-Chancellor; SSPU has already trained 10,000 girls in robotics, automation, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and defence technology; UNESCO was founded on 16 November 1945 in Paris, with India a founding member; the UNESCO Chairs / UNITWIN Programme runs 950+ chairs in 110+ countries since 1992.
Q1. Where was Asia's first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development launched, and who inaugurated it?
- A.IIM Ahmedabad; inaugurated by Dharmendra Pradhan
- B.Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune; inaugurated by Jayant Chaudhary on 24 April 2026
- C.Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai; inaugurated by Smriti Irani
- D.Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi; inaugurated by Annpurna Devi
tap to reveal answer
Answer: B. Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune; inaugurated by Jayant Chaudhary on 24 April 2026
Asia's first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development was launched at Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune on 24 April 2026. It was inaugurated by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education. The Chair is led by Dr Swati Mujumdar, Pro-Chancellor of SSPU.
Q2. When was UNESCO founded, and where is its headquarters located?
- A.1919, in Geneva
- B.1945, in Paris
- C.1948, in New York
- D.1992, in Brussels
tap to reveal answer
Answer: B. 1945, in Paris
UNESCO — United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization — was founded on 16 November 1945, with headquarters in Paris, France. India is a founding member. Its current Director-General is Audrey Azoulay (since 2017). The UNESCO Chairs / UNITWIN Programme was launched in 1992, with over 950 chairs in 110+ countries today.
Q3. When was the Skill India Mission launched, and which year was the dedicated Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) created?
- A.Mission launched 2010; MSDE created 2008
- B.Mission launched 15 July 2015; MSDE created November 2014
- C.Mission launched 2017; MSDE created 2017
- D.Mission launched 2020; MSDE created 2019
tap to reveal answer
Answer: B. Mission launched 15 July 2015; MSDE created November 2014
The Skill India Mission was launched on 15 July 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of the first World Youth Skills Day. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) was created in November 2014 as a dedicated nodal ministry. The two key implementation pillars are PMKVY and NSDC.
India hosting Asia's first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development at Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune marks a structural alignment of three policy threads: women's empowerment, future-skills development, and international academic partnerships. The Chair — inaugurated by Jayant Chaudhary on 24 April 2026 and led by Dr Swati Mujumdar — builds on SSPU's track record of training 10,000 girls in sunrise sectors (robotics, automation, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, defence technology) with full-placement reported.
Policy backdrop: India has steadily institutionalised the skilling ecosystem since 2014-15 through the MSDE (created November 2014), the Skill India Mission (launched 15 July 2015), PMKVY, and the NSDC. The NEP 2020 (approved 29 July 2020) integrates vocational training from class 6 onwards. India's FLFPR has climbed from 23% (PLFS 2017-18) to 41.7% (PLFS 2023-24) — among the largest such gains globally.
Why a UNESCO Chair signal matters: UNESCO Chairs / UNITWIN Programme (launched 1992) host over 950 chairs in 110+ countries. Hosting Asia's first chair specifically on gender + skill development gives India:
- Anchor for international academic networks in this priority area
- Knowledge diplomacy in line with India's G20 / SDG agenda — particularly SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 5 (gender equality), and SDG 8 (decent work)
- Visibility as a global hub for women-led skilling beyond the traditional ITI/PMKVY route
Wider gender-skill challenges: Despite FLFPR gains, India still faces persistent gaps — under-representation of women in STEM education, technical workforce, leadership roles in advanced manufacturing, and emerging sectors. The Chair's industry-integrated model — focused on placements and sunrise sectors — directly addresses this concentration gap.
Comparative international context: Countries like Germany (dual-education system), Japan (Society 5.0 reskilling), and Singapore (SkillsFuture) provide reference points; the UNESCO Chair structure can serve as a bridge for cross-country learning while building domestic Indian leadership in the field.
- Skilling-gender convergenceProgramme connects two policy silos — skill development and women's empowerment — that have historically operated in parallel
- Sunrise-sector targetingRobotics, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, defence-tech are exactly the sectors where women's participation has been lowest globally
- Industry-integrated curriculumAll-placement track record validates the institutional model — directly addresses the placement gap that has weakened earlier women-skilling schemes
- Knowledge-diplomacy gainHosting Asia's first such chair anchors India in international gender-skill governance
- SDG alignmentPlugs into SDG 4 (quality education) + SDG 5 (gender equality) + SDG 8 (decent work)
- FLFPR gain contextFLFPR rose from 23% to 41.7% — sustaining and accelerating this depends on quality-skill access in sunrise sectors
- Scaling the SSPU model nationally — replicability across diverse institutional contexts
- Sustaining placements in sunrise sectors as their hiring cycles vary with global economic conditions
- Bridging the gap between elite skill institutions (like SSPU) and mass ITIs / polytechnics
- STEM-pipeline weakness — gender gap in school-level STEM enrolment continues
- Care-economy and unpaid domestic work continue to limit women's labour-market mobility
- Employer mindset and workplace-safety conditions in male-dominated sectors
- Replicate the model through state polytechnic and ITI partnerships
- Convergence with PMKVY 4.0 and NSDC sector-skill-council frameworks
- Industry MoUs for sustained placement pipelines
- STEM-pipeline interventions starting at school level (NEP 2020 vocational integration)
- Workplace-safety, transport, and creche infrastructure for women in technical roles
- Track outcomes via gender-disaggregated employment data in PLFS and Annual Skill Surveys
Mains Q · 250wDiscuss the significance of Asia's first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development for India's women-skilling ecosystem. What are the key challenges in scaling this model? (250 words)
Intro: Asia's first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development at SSPU Pune — inaugurated by Jayant Chaudhary on 24 April 2026 and led by Dr Swati Mujumdar — marks a structural alignment of women's empowerment with future-skills development. SSPU's track record of 10,000 girls trained in sunrise sectors (robotics, automation, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, defence-tech) with full placement signals what works.
- Policy backdrop: MSDE (Nov 2014); Skill India Mission (15 Jul 2015); PMKVY; NSDC; NEP 2020 vocational integration; FLFPR rose 23% → 41.7%
- UNESCO Chair / UNITWIN context (1992; 950+ chairs in 110+ countries) anchors India in gender-skill knowledge networks
- Strategic significance: knowledge diplomacy; SDG 4 + 5 + 8 alignment; Asia hub-positioning
- SSPU model strengths: industry-integrated curriculum; placement-track record; sunrise-sector targeting
- Challenges: scaling beyond elite institutions; sustaining placements through sectoral cycles; STEM pipeline weakness from school level; care-economy constraints; workplace safety in male-dominated sectors
- Way forward: replicate via state ITIs/polytechnics; PMKVY 4.0/NSDC convergence; industry placement MoUs; school-level STEM interventions; workplace-infrastructure investments; gender-disaggregated outcome tracking via PLFS
Conclusion: The Chair's significance lies less in its individual programme size and more in the institutional template — industry-integrated, placement-anchored, sunrise-sector focused. Scaling depends on bridging elite-institution models with mass skilling channels and on the wider environment of STEM access, care infrastructure, and workplace safety.
Common Confusions
- Trap · Where the Chair is hosted
Correct: Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune — not a Symbiosis arts/management institution and not in Mumbai/Bengaluru; SSPU is the dedicated skill-focused university under the Symbiosis umbrella
- Trap · Who inaugurated the Chair
Correct: Jayant Chaudhary — Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship AND Minister of State for Education; not Dharmendra Pradhan and not Annpurna Devi
- Trap · Date of inauguration
Correct: 24 April 2026; not 24 April 2025 and not 27 April 2026
- Trap · Who leads the Chair
Correct: Dr Swati Mujumdar, Pro-Chancellor of SSPU; she is also the architect of the industry-integrated skilling framework SSPU uses
- Trap · UNESCO founding year and HQ
Correct: Founded 16 November 1945; HQ Paris, France; not 1919 (which is the ILO/League of Nations) and not 1948
- Trap · UNESCO Chairs / UNITWIN Programme
Correct: Launched 1992; over 950 Chairs in 110+ countries; not a CBD funding mechanism and not part of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
- Trap · Skill India Mission launch date
Correct: 15 July 2015 — World Youth Skills Day; launched by PM Modi; not 2010 and not 2017
- Trap · MSDE creation year
Correct: November 2014 — by the NDA government; first dedicated nodal skilling ministry in India
- Trap · FLFPR change
Correct: Rose from 23% in PLFS 2017-18 to 41.7% in PLFS 2023-24 — among the largest such increases globally; rural FLFPR rose faster than urban
- Trap · Sunrise sectors examples
Correct: Fast-growing industries with strong employment potential — robotics, AI, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, electric vehicles, green hydrogen, biotechnology, space-tech, fintech