Bengaluru, 6 September

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday urged students to study abroad and become job creators, not job seekers.

He was speaking after launching the Skill Development Department's 'Study Abroad 2026' programme here.

The programme, inaugurated at Palace Grounds, offers students opportunities to pursue higher education at foreign universities, with more than 80 universities participating and over 300 subjects on offer.

"Our talented human resources are unmatched by those in any other state in the country. We want our children to learn at the global level. We desire that they should not merely become employees, but become employers," Shivakumar said.

But "you should not forget your roots. If you forget them, you will not achieve success,” Shivakumar said. 

Shivakumar said 3,145 students had been selected to study at foreign universities following an agreement with the University of Queensland.

He said scholarships were being offered by various government departments, while banks were providing education loans of up to Rs 2 crore.

"More than 80 universities are participating in this programme, offering opportunities to study more than 300 subjects," he said.

He said scholarships were being offered by various government departments, while banks were providing education loans of up to Rs 2 crore.

Speaking to reporters later, Shivakumar said: “I, along with the Chief Ministers of Kerala, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh, will be going to Delhi tomorrow with our education teams to work on reforms. We have been directed by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Working Committee to work on education reforms”.