17/08/2026
What does it take to make vocational education future-ready?
It takes strong partnerships between ITIs, industry and government - so young people can learn relevant skills, gain workplace experience and move from training to meaningful careers.
This was the idea behind the Kerala PM SETU Industry Partnership Forum & Industry-ITI Leadership Dialogue 2026 that took place on August 11.
Quest Alliance joined the Industrial Training Department, Government of Kerala, and the Kerala Institute of Labour and Employment (KILE) in Kochi for a day of dialogue with industry leaders, ITI leadership and ecosystem partners about PM SETU’s vision to transform ITIs through upgraded infrastructure, hub-and-spoke clusters, industry-led partnerships, curriculum alignment, trainer development and stronger pathways to employment.
The dialogue also surfaced priorities for Kerala’s vocational education ecosystem - deeper industry exposure, apprenticeships, workplace learning, career counselling, instructor development, mentorship, technology exposure, and stronger industry participation in curriculum and placement pathways.
For Quest Alliance, this builds on over six years of partnership with Kerala’s ITI ecosystem to strengthen employability, future-ready skills and career pathways.When young people have the skills, support from their ecosystem, and opportunities to shape their futures, vocational education can open the door to careers they build for themselves.
