Jamshedpur, December 26: XLRI Jamshedpur has awarded certificates to 57 students from rural and underserved communities after they completed practice-oriented skill development programmes aimed at improving employability and self-reliance, the institute said on Thursday.
The certification ceremony marked the completion of Batch 5 of the Skill Development Programme run by XLRI’s Fr. McGrath Skill Development Centre (FM-SDC). The participants, drawn from two Indian states, received training in computer skills and data entry, garment and fashion designing, and plumbing and electrical wiring.
According to XLRI, 43 students completed the computer skills and data entry course, six trained in garment and fashion designing, and eight undertook internships in plumbing and electrical wiring.
Several graduates from earlier batches have found employment in schools, private companies and government offices, while others have started their own ventures, highlighting the programme’s impact on livelihoods, the institute said.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. (Fr.) Donal D’Silva, SJ, Convenor of the Centre, said the initiative goes beyond certification to focus on dignity, confidence and creating pathways for a better life. He noted that the Xavier Community College (XCC), under which the programme operates, has trained 198 students across multiple batches.
XLRI Director Dr. (Fr.) Sebastian George, SJ said skills, rather than degrees alone, increasingly determine employability, urging students to continue upgrading their capabilities. Fr. Jerry Cutinha, SJ, Provincial and Superior of the Jesuits, emphasised the importance of integrity alongside excellence.
Programme Coordinator Fr. Parvin Jose, SJ said XLRI sponsored and hosted the comprehensive training, which also strengthened participants’ communication skills and workplace readiness, enabling placements in sectors including education, government services, construction and entrepreneurship.
In his concluding remarks, Prof. Sunil Kumar Sarangi described skill as “the new currency” and encouraged graduates to remain anchored in values such as integrity, compassion and service.
The ceremony included certificate distribution, felicitation of dignitaries and a cultural programme presented by students. XLRI said the FM-SDC initiative reflects its broader mission to translate academic excellence and human values into social impact, contributing to India’s goal of becoming a developed nation through skill development.
