British Council and Microsoft India empower Karnataka youth with enhanced English skills

Co-developed ‘English Skills for Youth’ programme aims to enhance employability skills of young people between 18-25 years of age

Empowering the next generation with enhanced language competencies and employability skills

Partnership aims to promote inclusivity, providing opportunities for socio-economically underserved youth, with special focus on English language skills for employability of women

Bengaluru, 25 March 2025: British Council, the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural exchange, in partnership with Microsoft India, recently hosted a landmark event in Bengaluru. The event celebrated significant progress of the ‘English Skills for Youth’ programme a transformative three-year partnership between the British Council and Microsoft India, which aims to empower young people aged 18-25, particularly students from government engineering colleges across Karnataka, by enhancing their English language and communication skills for employability. To date, the initiative has successfully reached 11095 students and 114 faculty members across India.

In 2023, the British Council and Microsoft India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise a three-year partnership programme titled ‘English Skills for Youth’. This pioneering initiative aims to improve life opportunities for young people, especially women, from socio-economically marginalised communities throughout India.

Held at Microsoft India (R&D) Private Limited, Luxor office in Bengaluru, the event brought together students, faculty members from government engineering colleges, and senior stakeholders from the Government of Karnataka, Microsoft, the British Council, and the British Deputy High Commission. The event served as a platform for reflecting on the project’s achievements and its positive impact on the community.

Event Highlights:
Hands-on Workshops: Interactive sessions designed to develop English language and communication skills witnessed enthusiastic participation.

Inspirational Addresses: Esteemed speakers from the education and technology sectors shared insights on the transformative power of language skills.

Personal Stories: Students and faculty members shared their journeys of growth, illustrating the profound impact of the programme on their academic and professional development.

Panel Discussion: Experts discussed the future of language learning with a focus on artificial intelligence and multilingual challenges in the global workforce.

Recognition Ceremony: The event honoured 14 English Practice Club Leaders (EPCLs) and 7 faculty members from among 81 English Practice clubs for their dedication to creating a supportive learning environment across colleges in Karnataka.

This partnership between the British Council and Microsoft India marks a significant step towards fostering employability and personal development through language skills. It aligns with the broader goal of empowering young people to thrive in a globalised world.

Dr M C Sudhakar, Minister for Higher Education, Govt of Karnataka, stated that, “Strong partnerships drive meaningful change. Through this partnership with the British Council and Microsoft India, I am very pleased that we are creating an ecosystem of learning that will benefit thousands of students from government colleges across Karnataka. The English Skills for Youth initiative reflects the Govt of Karnataka’s shared vision of equipping young people with skills that will open doors to new opportunities and create pathways for success.”

Janaka Pushpanathan, Director, British Council, South India, said, “We take immense pride in the progress made through this transformative initiative and the significant, measurable impact it has had on young people across Karnataka. The event serves as a testament of the unwavering commitment, dedication, and passion demonstrated by students, faculty members, and our esteemed partners. We remain confident that the skills acquired through this programme will continue to equip these young individuals to pursue their aspirations and thrive in a competitive global environment.”

The English Skills for Youth project continues to make a meaningful impact by equipping young people with the language and leadership skills they need to succeed in their academic and professional lives, helping them break down barriers and unlock new opportunities.

For more information on the English Skills for Youth project or to learn more about future events, please visit https://www.britishcouncil.in/programmes/english/english-and-empowerment/english