The German Embassy in New Delhi held the fifth edition of its GSDP Conversation Series at IIT Delhi, focusing on “The Future of Work in the Digital Era: Indo-German Skills Development in Education and Training.” The event brought together leaders from academia, industry, and government to discuss labor market trends and the growing need for green and digital skills.
This event is part of the Indo-German Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development (GSDP), initiated in 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. It aligns with global sustainability frameworks like the 2030 Agenda, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement, fostering cooperation between the two nations in education and sustainable development.
A key theme throughout the discussions was how collaboration between India and Germany in higher and vocational education can help address challenges posed by digitalization, automation, and sustainability. Participants emphasized the role of technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI), in preparing the workforce for future challenges.
Barbel Kofler, Parliamentary State Secretary at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), highlighted the interconnections between education, sustainability, and technology. “To achieve sustainable development goals, we need joint efforts. Education, gender equality, and sustainability must be integrated with technology,” she said, stressing the importance of investing in the next generation to build a sustainable future.
Nina Smidt, Director of Siemens Stiftung, emphasized the potential of technology in scaling education. “With technology and open educational resources, we aim to reach 60,000 students in the first two years,” she said, adding that equitable access to AI is crucial in creating new opportunities. Smidt urged stakeholders to share success stories of AI’s positive impact to raise awareness.
Chetan Arora from IIT Delhi’s Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence termed AI a transformative force. “AI is a powerful but disruptive tool that can help India scale essential services like education and healthcare despite limited resources. It can provide personalized education and better healthcare access to all,” he said, highlighting AI’s potential to empower workers with lower skills to perform tasks traditionally handled by experts.
The panel discussion, moderated by Uwe Gehlen, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, included insights from A.S. Subramaniyan, Vice President of Siemens Limited India, and Julie Reviere, Country Director of GIZ India. They stressed the need to equip young people with relevant skills to thrive in the green and digital economy.
According to the German Embassy, a major takeaway was the importance of aligning education and training systems with the evolving labor market demands. Both countries acknowledged the urgency of working together to create robust frameworks that can adapt to changing global needs.
The GSDP Conversation Series, signed during the 6th Indo-German Cabinet Consultations in Berlin in 2022, aims to strengthen cooperation between the two nations through regular networking and exchange of ideas. The series is hosted by the German Embassy in collaboration with BMZ, GIZ, the KfW Development Bank, and the German National Metrology Institute (PTB).
(Inputs from ANI)