By Prof. Supriya Pattanayak
India is a diverse country with students from different backgrounds pursuing dreams of earning a decent livelihood and creating a successful career. Many go on to pursue Bachelors, Masters and PhD courses, while others cannot continue their education beyond Class XII. The major reason for this discontinuation is lack of funds, as higher education is comparatively more expensive. There are also students who cannot pursue regular education because they did not score enough marks to be able to secure a seat in a good college, and are left with the School of Open Learning as their only option. There are, however, multiple options for them now.
Skill-Integrated Education
It is imperative to understand that the key to a successful career is skill-integrated higher education. As students learn key skills required for a job, along with the theoretical knowledge, they become an asset for the workforce when they pass out from their university. There are government initiatives that encourage the development of a workforce prepared for industry, including the introduction of the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) along with National Occupational Standards (NOS) in higher education. These certificate courses, recognised across the nation, are of a few months' duration and can make students job-ready in little time. Students pursuing such certificate courses in a field of their choice will make them employable.
Programs Like B.Voc
A select few colleges in the nation offer B.Voc degree, which allows students to learn on the job as well. Here, industry collaborates with universities to develop a course framework that effectively combines theory and practical application, allowing students to study while they work. By the time they graduate from college, the students have obtained multiple NSQF qualifications, which improves their exposure to the business and their employment possibilities. These kinds of experiences are always preferable to one- to four-week internships that provide a narrow perspective of the field compared to the hands on training available at Action Learning Labs.
Diploma Courses
Diplomas have also been a great option for such students. One to two year in duration, they can help students specialise in their chosen field and with skill integrated education, they will be ready to enter industry 5.0 soon. Students can choose to pursue a regular Bachelors program after making themselves economically stable, where the credit of the diploma will be counted equivalent to relevant number of years. Through this lateral entry system, and credit system it is now possible for students to get back into regular degree courses after a break. This way students can pace out their education upto PHD level, continuing as and when it is comfortable for them.
Entrepreneurship As A Career Path
We must also create entrepreneurs through education system. To prepare students for business, higher education must use a curriculum model that combines academic knowledge with real-world experience. A university must focus on fostering entrepreneurship and improving employability. This can be done by setting of manufacturing facilities within the campus. Additionally, fields of product development and design must be on priority as this exposure gives confidence to the students to start something of their own.
Human capital has become increasingly important in the context of social and economic growth in the post-liberalised period. India's economy is changing from being largely rural to being more pro-industrial, necessitating a workforce that is highly educated and trained. India needs to concentrate on raising educational standards across the board in order to have a workforce that is prepared for the transformation that is about to unfold.
There are several alternatives for transdisciplinary domain specialisations with a curriculum that is grounded in practice accessible today. In the end, this promotes employment, employability, and — above all — the enthusiasm for entrepreneurship. Thus, our students must become job creators rather than job seekers and create an eco-system that can help everyone thrive.
By Prof. Supriya Pattanayak is Vice Chancellor, Centurion University.
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