Skills, Not Degrees, Will Define the Future: Dr. Patil

Bengaluru Express
Kochi (Kerala), Aug 30: Karnataka’s Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Dr. Sharanaprakash R. Patil, urged students not to fear failure but to embrace it as the first step towards learning and innovation.

Speaking at the Global Skill Summit organized by the Kerala government on Friday, Dr. Patil reminded the student community that every entrepreneur, innovator, and leader has failed before achieving success. “Failure is not the end—it is a stepping stone to success. Governments, industry, and academia can build frameworks, policies, and institutions, but real change will come from young people who dare to dream differently, who have the skills to build, and the courage to act,” he said.

Dr. Patil emphasized that while a formal degree may open doors, it is skills that keep those doors open. “Skills bring confidence, dignity, and independence. When combined with higher education, they produce individuals who are not only employable but also capable of creating jobs for others,” he added, in the presence of Kerala ministers Dr. R. Bindu (Higher Education), P. Rajeev (Industries), and M.B. Rajesh (Local Self-Governance).

Commending Kerala’s literacy and progressive spirit, the Karnataka minister underlined that education should not be confined to exam preparation alone. “The future of work will not be defined by degrees, but by adaptability, problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation. With the rise of digital technologies, automation, artificial intelligence, green energy, and new business models, skills are the true currency of the future,” he noted.

The Global Skill Summit drew over 2,000 participants, including global thought leaders, policymakers, industry captains, training institutions, academic faculty, international organizations, innovators, and students.