EMPLOYABILITY – SKILLSET FOR A GRADUATE
-Dr. S. Gowri, Professor – SIMS
The one parameter based on which the educational institutions are being ranked is the measure of employability of a graduate. With regard to employability of a graduate, Dr. Eden Y Woon, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has said that “we are very firm in the belief that the university is not a vocational training institute. So the purpose of the university is not just to prepare you for jobs. The purpose of the university is really to give students a skill so that they can go and find a job but, more importantly, it is really to prepare students for what happens after they get a job. In other words, whether they can adapt to the job and adapt to changes that the world requires of them. That is where innovation, creativity and attitude come in.”
There is a general view prevailing among the academicians, parents and students that engineering colleges and B schools are responsible for employment of graduates. Hence there is a need to educate them by saying that colleges are not employment exchanges and they can only help to enhance the life skill of the students and their adaptability to changing job environment.
While defining the learning outcomes for any course, many institutions are failing in competence in the areas of research or excellent teaching which would reinforce learning outcomes. Hence the only measurable outcome or value is employability, which is being enforced by the industry by default. In my personal opinion, relating education to employability may be right in the narrow minded peoples’ view.
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Good article, the main reason students pursue their UG/PG is for them to lay a strong foundation for their career. Few opt to pursue their career in their family or own business, and few start their career by finding a job, very few do it just to possess a degree without employment plan. As long as all students utilize their time in college/uni to gain maximum subject knowledge, soft skills, life skills and basic discipline, they all will be employable, and it is the job of the faculty and the institution to ensure the same. Placing students during college days can be debatable, but making them employable is the basic necessity, as their time and education should not go in vain.
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Also there are plethora of students who join various institutes with very poor communication and soft skills, if those students are identified at the early stages, and given regular opportunities such as presentations, MOC, participation in various management activities, and mentoring regularly, it will surely help them develop confidence and become employable, atleast in jobs where communication is not the only main criteria. That is the challenge of the institute, a strong student will have the skills and motivation, will strive to pursue the career of their choice, irrespective of the institute helps them or not.
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In India, education is seen as a gateway for employment by students and parents. In aborad, even after schooling, employers provide opportunities to talented candidates even in white collar jobs, and hence, education in abroad is seen mainly to improve skills which will help them progress in their career. Not sure if this scenario will ever change in India, as degree is almost a mandate, and hence, employability not employment will be a measure to assess any institute, as that’s the main motive of students to pursue their degree.
If students join institute only to gain subject knowledge, without employment in mind, then surely in future, employability might not be measured to assess the institute and I hope that happens too, but unlikely in next few decades.
Good perspective!
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Yep, bang on. Employability vs Employment. Unfortunately I see the attitude and commitment missing from students these days with minimal effort from their end to develop skills 😦
We shall continue to mentor them.
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my perspective is about the education sector in India, not our institute.
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