Kalaburagi district administration signs MoU with The Hindu Group for AI-powered English Language Training under STEP programme

Kalaburagi District partners with The Hindu Group for AI-driven English training to boost youth employability and communication skills.

In a significant initiative to strengthen employability and communication skills among youth, the Kalaburagi District Administration on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with THG Publishing Private Limited, publishers of The Hindu, Business Line, Frontline and Sportstar, for the implementation of the STEP Blended English Learning Programme across the district.

Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner B. Fouzia Taranum and general manager (STEP Division) of The Hindu Group Sai Krishnan G. exchanging memorandum of understanding in Kalaburagi on Friday. | Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI

The MoU was formally exchanged by B. Fouzia Taranum, Deputy Commissioner of Kalaburagi and Sai Krishnan G., general manager, STEP Division of The Hindu Group at the former’s office on Friday.

Among those present were Preeti Chandrashekhar, Joint Director of Social Welfare; Abdul Azeem, Joint Director, District Industries Centre and member-secretary, Kalaburagi Next Foundation Trust; Nagubai Suryawanshi, District Skill Development Officer; Nagaraj Y. Phatak, Assistant Manager, The Hindu Group; and other senior officials.

The collaboration aims to enhance English language proficiency and professional communication skills among students enrolled in skill academies and technical institutions supported by the District Administration. The initiative is designed to equip young learners with industry-relevant language competencies, thereby improving their career readiness, confidence and long-term employability prospects.

Under the MoU, the students will be enrolled in a 50-hour self-paced online learning module over a period of three months. The programme will begin with a diagnostic assessment to determine each learner’s proficiency level, followed by structured modules customised for each student covering Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing (LSRW) skills, along with grammar, vocabulary and employability-oriented communication.