G20 ‘Future of Work’ exhibition inaugurated in the State Capital

Bhubaneswar: An exhibition on the ‘Future of Work’ under G20 Presidency was kickstarted here today on the sidelines of the 3rd Education Working Group (EWG) meeting that began earlier in the day. The exhibition will continue till April 28, which will showcase the need for acquiring new skills.

The Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in association with the Central Ministry of Education is organising the mega event at the CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT) in Bhubaneswar.

Inaugurating the exhibition and later taking to his personal Twitter handle, Union Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan wrote, “Inaugurating a special exhibition on #G20FutureofWork at @csirimmt, Bhubaneswar … I welcome you to a world of endless possibilities. A unique confluence of technology leaders, influencers, innovators, industry and academia, #G20FutureOfWork exhibition gives a glimpse of modern workplaces, skills & jobs of the future and the evolving learning, skilling and employability landscape.”

An official source said that it will act as a unique platform for technology leaders and academia to showcase their perspectives and vision around the future of work. Several institutes and organisations from diverse sectors, including NIT Rourkela, IIT Bhubaneswar, IIM Sambalpur, Meta, UNICEF and NCERT, have participated in the exhibition to display advanced technologies that would drive the future of work, constant innovations in the modern workplace, skills and innovative delivery models.

The exhibition will showcase the transformations as a result of digital innovations and ways disruptive technologies are redesigning occupations and reshaping the world of work. Odisha is a land of skills. Its art & architectural excellence and ancient trade linkages is a glowing testimony to this.

The 21st century will be knowledge-based and technology-driven. Guided by its civilisational ethos and as a natural hub of talent, captive market & resources, India is going to play a leading role in fulfilling global aspirations of the 21st century, Union Minister Pradhan said.

Skills and competencies will drive the future rather than degrees. PM Narendra Modi has envisioned transforming India’s Yuva Shakti into job creators rather than job-seekers. As technologies continue to disrupt, we must think of new approaches to skilling to prepare youth for the future of jobs. Internet, mobility and global connectivity will provide us with an opportunity to think about global requirements.

“Glad that today on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, industry, academia, startup ecosystem and all stakeholders have come together in Bhubaneswar under the G20 Future of Work framework to reimagine the skilling ecosystem, create future-ready global citizens and make India a global hub of skilled manpower,” the Minister asserted.

“I compliment and appreciate the spirit of Jan Bhagidari of the people of Odisha. I have been told that more than 1 lakh youth have participated in month-long G20-related events to generate curiosity about India’s G20 presidency as well as the 3rd EWG meeting,” the Minister concluded.