FUEL Hosts Annual Conclave & Future Skills Summit 2026 in Pune
Pune, 7th February 2026: Friends Union for Energising Lives (FUEL) hosted its Annual Conclave and Future Skills Summit 2026 in Pune on Friday, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and academic experts to deliberate on the future of education, skilling, and employment in India.
The summit focused on emerging themes such as Industry 5.0, human-centric learning, workforce readiness, employability, leadership development, and the role of CSR in building a future-ready talent ecosystem.
Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar attended the event as Chief Guest, while Maharashtra’s Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil was the Guest of Honour. Both leaders underlined the need for strong collaboration between government, industry, and educational institutions to prepare young Indians for evolving job markets.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Arlekar praised FUEL’s long-standing work in education and skills development. “FUEL has consistently worked to connect aspirations with real opportunities, particularly for first-generation learners and students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Its upcoming university will be a major step toward integrating education, industry, and employability,” he said.
Minister Chandrakant Patil highlighted FUEL’s contribution to youth empowerment in Maharashtra and beyond. “Over the last two decades, FUEL has built a strong bridge between classrooms and careers. Completing 20 years of such meaningful work is a significant achievement, and it reflects their commitment to nurturing future leaders,” he said.
The conclave also featured a high-level roundtable discussion with senior HR and CSR professionals, who shared insights on changing hiring patterns, leadership skills, workforce expectations, and stronger industry-academia partnerships.
FUEL Founder and Chairman Dr Ketan Deshpande said the organisation’s mission has always been rooted in equity and opportunity. “Talent is universal, but access is not. Our journey over the last 20 years shows that when education is linked with skills and dignity of work, young people from underserved communities can become confident contributors to the nation’s growth,” he said.
A major highlight of the summit was the announcement of FUEL’s progress under India’s Social Stock Exchange framework, aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and impact measurement while enabling structured CSR and philanthropic participation in education and skilling programmes for women and first-generation learners.
The event also included a Recognition of Excellence ceremony honouring individuals and institutions for their outstanding contribution to education, skills development, CSR, and youth empowerment.
The FUEL Annual Conclave and Future Skills Summit 2026 concluded with a renewed call for stronger collaboration across government, industry, academia, and civil society to build an inclusive, skilled, and future-ready India.
