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.