LinkedIn Launches AI-Ready Career Mentoring for 25,000 Students in Karnataka
LinkedIn has partnered with Mentor Together to provide AI-ready career mentoring for 25,000 students across Karnataka. Backed by a Rs 1.5 crore grant, the program aims to boost student employability and career confidence through structured mentorship and AI-powered tools.
Highlights
- •LinkedIn partners with Mentor Together to provide career mentoring for 25,000 students in Karnataka.
- •The initiative is supported by a grant of approximately Rs 1.5 crore (USD 160,000).
- •The program focuses on AI literacy, career exploration, and placement support via the Mentor To Go app.
- •Last year, 86% of participating students gained greater confidence in their career choices through the program.
As the integration of artificial intelligence accelerates, preparing the next generation for an evolving workforce has become a priority. To address this need, the professional networking platform LinkedIn has deepened its commitment to educational advancement through a renewed partnership with the non-profit organization Mentor Together. This collaborative initiative is designed to provide comprehensive AI-ready career mentoring to 25,000 students across Karnataka, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate a job market increasingly influenced by automation and machine learning.
Empowering Students with AI-Ready Career Mentoring
Supported by a grant of approximately Rs 1.5 crore—equivalent to roughly USD 160,000—from LinkedIn, this extensive program focuses on delivering structured mentorship to improve student employability. The project continues a long-standing seven-year relationship between the participating organizations and builds upon their ongoing work with the Karnataka Department of Collegiate and Technical Education. By combining human guidance with modern digital tools, the program seeks to demystify complex career pathways for young learners.
The success of this initiative is already evident. Over the previous year, the project reached more than 23,000 students across nine districts in the state. Utilizing the Mentor To Go app, the program facilitated over 8,000 hours of mentoring conversations, with 573 students benefiting from direct, one-on-one sessions. According to data provided by the organizers, an impressive 86 percent of participating students reported significantly higher confidence in their career planning and decision-making capabilities upon completing the curriculum.
The upcoming phase of this AI-ready career mentoring project follows a strategic three-tier framework. The initial level prioritizes broad career awareness and AI literacy, delivered through group mentoring sessions tailored for the 25,000 students. In the second stage, approximately 8,000 participants will engage in short-term conversations with industry professionals via the Mentor To Go platform, emphasizing responsible AI utilization and career exploration.
Finally, the project provides intensive, placement-focused mentoring for 700 final-year students. This comprehensive stage integrates personalized mentor support, assistance from academic staff, and specialized, AI-powered job search tools. By blending traditional mentorship with cutting-edge technology, the program aims to provide students at various stages of their development with the necessary resources to thrive in an unpredictable and rapidly changing professional environment.
