KIU Ghizer Campus Holds Closing Ceremony of Four-Day Youth Employment Soft Skills (YESS) Training
Ghizer, October 3, 2025 — A certificate distribution and closing ceremony was held yesterday at the Karakoram International University (KIU) Ghizer Campus, marking the successful completion of a four-day training on Youth Employment Soft Skills (YESS). The training program, designed by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) under its BEST4WEER initiative, focused on equipping young people in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Chitral with job readiness and employability skills.
The YESS program is built around 12 core competencies, carefully structured under three categories: Skills, Knowledge, and Attitudes. These modules aim to strengthen the employability potential of youth by developing practical soft skills, enhancing workplace knowledge, and fostering positive professional attitudes.
Addressing the participants as the chief guest, Dr. Atta Ullah Shah, Vice Chancellor of KIU, highlighted the critical importance of soft skills in meeting contemporary employment challenges. He urged students to continuously upgrade their knowledge and technological skills, sharing his own life experiences as an example of perseverance and professional growth.
Dr. Aftab Ahmed Khan, Director of the School of Professional Learning and Continuing Education, expressed gratitude to the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) for its technical and financial support. He also emphasized the need to integrate the YESS modules into KIU’s regular curriculum to ensure long-term impact and sustainability.
Dr. Shahab U Din, Director of KIU Ghizer Campus, applauded the trainers of trainers (ToTs) for their dedication and acknowledged the efforts that went into making the program a success.
Students who participated in the training shared their positive experiences, noting that the sessions had significantly boosted their confidence and employability skills. They also expressed a strong desire to see such initiatives expanded in the future.
The YESS initiative reflects a growing collaboration between KIU and development partners such as AKF/AKRSP, aimed at bridging the gap between academic learning and practical workforce needs in the region.
