St Joseph Skill Academy, an initiative of the Karnataka Jesuit Educational Society, operates under the umbrella of St Joseph’s Indian Institutions. It was established in 2005 at the Ashirvad premises in Bangalore, as a direct response to the challenges faced by semi-educated youth and school dropouts—particularly those from the slums of Bangalore and remote areas of Karnataka—who were struggling to find sustainable livelihoods. The first batch comprised 33 students who, upon completing the course, were successfully placed in the hospitality sector. Their success generated considerable interest, leading to the initiation of subsequent batches. However, due to space constraints and limited facilities, it was deemed appropriate to relocate the college to the premises of St Joseph’s Indian Institutions in July 2006.
As a result of its steady growth and impact, St Joseph Skill Academy was granted a new extension building with modern amenities on the second floor of the old St Joseph’s School building. In 2010, recognizing the academy’s progress, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) partnered with SJSA to certify all its courses. Further validating its efforts, in 2013, the University Grants Commission (UGC) approved two of the community college courses under St Joseph’s Evening College (Autonomous).
St Joseph Skill Academy celebrated its Decennial in January 2015 with a one-day seminar on “Prospects and Challenges of Community Colleges” and inter-college sports and cultural events, “Waves.” The Chief Guest for the seminar was Mr. C.R. Francis. The
main celebration was held on 31st January 2015 at St Joseph’s Indian Institutions Auditorium, graced by Fr. Stanislaus D’Souza, Mr. Harris (MLA, Shanti Nagar), Fr. Xavier Alpohnse, Fr. Anil D’Mello, and Fr. Melwyn Lobo. Currently, St Joseph Skill Academy (SJSA) offers management-approved diploma courses. Each diploma program is offered an additional certification by NSDC through ICRDCE. To date, SJSA has successfully trained over 4467 students, equipping them with valuable skills for their careers. With a strong focus on practical training and 100% placement assistance, SJSA takes immense pride in the success stories of its graduates, who have gone on to secure meaningful employment and contribute to the workforce with confidence and competence.