Industry 5.0 & The Future Of Work: Are Universities Evolving Fast Enough?

Skill development and education are essential drivers of India's progress. If India wants to become a manufacturing hub, we would need more than just traditional skills and knowledge.

Models of skill-integrated higher education exist, with only a select few universities recognised as 'Skill University.' 

By Prof. Supriya Pattanayak

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The world around us is rapidly changing, and the current students or the future workforce must be attuned to changing times. While adapting to these changes by empowering themselves with requisite skills will be a necessity for students, the responsibility of universities is even higher as they mould their careers in the right direction. The Indian government has prioritised skill development and quality education under NEP 2020, and a policy framework is now in place to ensure their successful implementation. 

Furthermore, models of skill-integrated higher education exist, with only a select few universities recognised as 'Skill University.' 

Developing Skills Is Essential

Skill development and education are essential drivers of India's progress. If India wants to become a manufacturing hub, we would need more than just traditional skills and knowledge. The demographic dividend will only benefit us if the students are proficient in Industry 5.0. In the larger context, universities are not evolving fast enough. 

There needs to be a multi-pronged approach to ensure students get a deep dive into what their work will look like. There is a need for better interaction between universities and industry. 

They must provide practical training, Applied Learning, and Action Learning through Live Production and Action Labs. 

Spotlight On Research

Research is another area where universities and corporations can collaborate. Till now, industries have created their own R&D, but when they do so with universities, they can get a better insight into their desired area of research as universities have more youngsters bringing in fresh perspectives as well hard hard-working individuals who ensure that the intense research can be carried out within the stipulated time. 

There should be more interplay, and it will benefit both students and universities.

Universities can also develop various social outreach programmes, which serve as student labs. Depending on their choice of course, each student may participate in a variety of corporate procedures and operations. 

In addition, Research Centres, where students and professors collaborate to solve real-world problems, can also be created by universities to give the students the much-needed push. This motivates students and teachers to work on projects, publish papers, and file patent applications. Universities have successfully incubated students and teachers to launch start-ups with revolutionary ideas, through intensive research. 

Universities can also collaborate and share knowledge, experience, and best practices to have a partner and strengthening research and academic cooperation, thereby delivering industry-driven vocational education as envisioned by the National Education Policy 2020. 

Other universities can follow current models, but they must first determine what works best for them. A future-ready workforce requires youth to be multi-skilled and adaptable, with better skills but also advanced knowledge of Industry 5.0.  

(The author is the Vice Chancellor of Centurion University Odisha)

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