Asia’s First UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion

Context: India has successfully launched Asia’s first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development at Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU) in Pune.

                                                                           

AboutAsia’s First UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion:

What it is?

• The UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development is a prestigious international initiative aimed at bridging the gender gap in technical and vocational education.

Launched In: April 24, 2026, in Pune, Maharashtra.

Organisations Involved:

• Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
• UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
• Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune.

Aim: To ensure women are at the forefront of emerging economic sectors and to promote equity in skilling that drives both social transformation and economic progress.

Key Features:

• Sectoral Focus: Prioritizes training for women in sunrise sectors and new-age technologies, including semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, AI, robotics, and defense technology.
• Global Collaboration: The launch was part of the Women Leading the Future of Work conference, involving experts from the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNESCO-UNEVOC (Germany), and the UNESCO Global Skills Academy (Paris).
• Inclusive Outreach: Specifically targets women from underserved communities to provide them with industry-aligned skills that lead to real-world employment opportunities.
• Expert Integration: Features a network of over 40 distinguished industry champions and policymakers to align academic skilling with actual industry demand.
• Dual Ministry Support: Supported by both the Ministry of Skill Development and the Ministry of Education to integrate gender-inclusive skilling into the broader educational framework.

Significance:

• Positions India as a global leader in inclusive workforce transformation by hosting the first such chair in Asia.
• Acts as a powerful driver for women’s financial independence and long-term empowerment by focusing on high-value, future-ready job roles.