LinkedIn Gives Rs. 1.5 Cr Grant to Upskill 25,000 Karnataka Students in AI-Ready Careers

LinkedIn India and Mentor Together will support 25,000 students across Karnataka through mentorship-led employability and AI-readiness initiatives.

BANGALORE (India CSR): LinkedIn India, a professional networking platform operating in the technology and employment services sector, has extended its partnership with Mentor Together through an INR 1.5 crore grant to support 25,000 students across Karnataka in employability and AI-readiness.

The programme will be implemented through structured mentoring initiatives. It will focus on career guidance, responsible AI awareness, and job-readiness for students across the state.

The partnership continues LinkedIn India’s seven-year association with Mentor Together, a non-profit organisation working to improve access to career guidance for young people. The initiative also continues collaboration with the Government of Karnataka’s Department of Collegiate and Technical Education.

Over the past year, the programme reached more than 23,000 students across nine districts in Karnataka, the company said.

It also supported 573 students through one-on-one mentoring using the Mentor To Go app. More than 8,000 hours of mentoring conversations were facilitated during the period.

According to the release, 86% of mentees completed the programme with greater confidence in their career direction.

The next phase comes at a time when artificial intelligence is changing entry-level jobs and career pathways. The programme aims to help students understand AI in the context of career planning, learning, and job search.

The initiative will follow a three-level model.

At the first level, 25,000 students across districts in Karnataka will take part in group mentoring sessions. These sessions will introduce career conversations and AI literacy.

At the second level, 8,000 students will receive short-cycle mentoring through the Mentor To Go app. The focus will be on career exploration and responsible use of AI for learning and planning.

At the third level, 700 final-year students will receive placement-focused mentoring. This will combine mentor guidance, staff support, and AI-enabled job-search tools.

The programme treats AI as a practical support tool for career decision-making. It does not position AI only as a technical subject.

The release said the model is designed to meet students at different stages. Some students may be starting their career thinking. Others may be preparing to enter the workforce.

The initiative seeks to move students forward through a mix of human mentoring and AI-enabled support.

The programme has Corporate Social Responsibility relevance because it addresses youth employability, digital readiness, and access to mentorship. It also supports students in public education systems through an institutional partnership in Karnataka.

For CSR and ESG professionals, the initiative shows how corporate grants can support skill development and career transition in the context of emerging technologies.

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