IIT Kharagpur launches ‘School for Skills’ to train rural youth in healthcare

IIT Kharagpur has launched the School for Skills: Healthcare and Technology, a new center designed to train rural and semi-urban youth for roles in the healthcare sector.

The facility will begin its first academic session in November 2025 with an intake of 150 students.

The school’s initial offerings include courses for General Duty Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician – Basic, and Phlebotomist.

All programs are aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and will provide nationally recognized certifications through the Healthcare Sector Skill Council.

Short-term courses are also planned to address immediate skill gaps in patient care and emergency services.

“The School for Skills: Healthcare and Technology at IIT Kharagpur is more than a training hub; it is a catalyst for change. By combining skill development with cutting-edge technology, we aim to build a healthcare workforce that can serve the last mile, transform rural healthcare delivery, and contribute to the nation’s vision of inclusive growth,” said IIT Kharagpur Director Professor Suman Chakraborty.

The initiative has been launched in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Graduates will be deployed at the Syama Prasad Mukerji Super-Speciality Hospital on the IIT campus as well as in partner hospitals.

They will also participate in field trials of new medical technologies developed at the institute and contribute to health data collection in rural areas.

IIT Kharagpur has indicated that the range of courses will expand in the future.

The institute expects the program to open new employment opportunities and bring greater participation from women and students from disadvantaged backgrounds, while addressing pressing shortages in rural healthcare delivery.