The Employability Accelerator Programme, a joint initiative of UNIQLO India Private Limited and Avenues Meghalaya aimed at expanding employment opportunities and improving job readiness for youth, marked the successful completion of its inaugural batches with a certification event held in Shillong recently. Over 160 training participants including college-going and unemployed youth, and representing different communities of the Northeast region, were certified after completing an intensive 80-hour training programme focused on workplace readiness and employability, completely sponsored by UNIQLO.
Counted amongst the world’s top three fashion brands, UNIQLO Japan has an extensive presence across the world and has significantly stepped-up operations in India with multiple flagship stores across metropolitan cities with an eye on aggressive growth in the years ahead in the subcontinent. The event, held in city, brought together senior leadership from UNIQLO India, academic institutions, and Avenues as the Training, Knowledge and Curriculum Partner, reflecting a growing collaboration between industry and the education ecosystem. The initiative comes at a time when India continues to face a significant employability challenge.
According to national employability reports such as the India Skills Report, only around 45-50% of graduates in India are considered job ready. In the Northeast, this gap is often more pronounced due to limited industry exposure, fewer structured placement pathways, and lack of access to practical, workplace-oriented training, despite the region’s strong base of educated youth. The Employability Accelerator Programme has been designed as a response to this gap, creating a structured pathway from education to employment.