Tata STRIVE, an initiative of Tata Community Initiatives Trust and the first Group CSR program of the Tata Group, addresses the pressing need of skilling India's youth for employment, entrepreneurship, and community enterprise. It reaches out to communities and develops skills of people from financially challenged backgrounds and acclimatizes them with the changing work environment.

With recent statistics revealing a global surge in internet and mobile users, now is the best time to teach and learn online more than ever. Mainstreaming of massive open online courses, a type of eLearning method, in 2012 was highly celebrated because it democratized education and improved access to high-quality education and skills development for worldwide communities through the internet. This presentation examines the impact on educational quality of online and blended learning and the key challenges of using eLearning delivery systems.

Facilitating the natural flow of knowledge generation and innovation to its logical conclusion through academia-industry-state (AIS) linkages leads to societal benefits. With the aim to catalyze entrepreneurship for positive socio-economic impact, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur’s AIS linkages provide a platform to start-ups and prospective entrepreneurs for converting their innovative ideas into commercially-viable products.

Colleges and institutes right across Canada play a lead role in strengthening the country’s capacity to innovate by undertaking applied research that leverages their strong industry and community connections. These institutions work with partners, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, in all sectors to refine or adapt products, services, technologies, and processes. This presentation also shares some of the leading-edge applied research projects that colleges and institutes in Canada are delivering in collaboration with industry partners.

Phenomenon-based learning, a shift from focus on school subjects to actual real-world and interdisciplinary topics, was introduced by the Finnish Government through a National Curriculum Framework it put into effect in 2016. “LUMA Centre Finland” and “Finnish Schools on the Move,” two notable educational programs implemented in Finland, are also featured in this presentation.

Established in 2008, Kyoto Alliance is a collaboration between local universities and communities in Japan’s Kyoto Prefecture. The alliance is a partnership of all local major stakeholders with the aim to achieve revitalization of public human resource development both in the local community and economy.

An automotive education program was established in the Philippines to complement, enhance, and expand the concept of “Toyota Technical Education Program” from Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation. The Toyota Motor Philippines School of Technology is a non-stock and non-profit educational institution offering technical and vocational education and training programs.

By expanding education with equity, promoting brain circulation, and linking education with the economy, the Government of the Republic of Korea promoted human capital development to improve the welfare and lives of its citizens. As the country’s experience has shown, institutional building and rolling out national campaigns can overcome common reluctance to technical and vocational education and training experienced in developing countries.

As the number of unemployed youth in South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific continue to rise, Plan International recognized the potential of Information Communication Technology for Development solutions to address the challenge. It developed the Youth Employment Solutions (YES!) Digital Ecosystem and at the heart of it is YES!ME, a monitoring and evaluation system designed to track beneficiaries through program interventions at both individual and aggregate levels.