Gurugram, Haryana, Delhi NCR, 2023: With rapidly evolving technologies and guest preferences, industries across various domains face acute talent shortages. Academic institutes need to implement key strategies focused on integrated learning experiences involving industry-academia collaboration, constant curriculum updates, and the development of cognitive and technical competencies amongst students. This blog post explores the specific roles an institute can play in filling the skill gap and how SGT University is addressing this key issue.
Introduction
India has witnessed the massive expansion of several industries after recovering from the setback induced by Covid-19. However, even as the engines of economic growth rev up, a peculiar challenge persists – the issue of the skill gap, which broadly means a qualified workforce not keeping pace with evolving industry requirements.
Be it customer service, technical knowledge, leadership capacities or niche skills, the mismatch between the supply of talent and the actual ground needs of employers is proving to be a roadblock, impacting productivity and innovation. For fresh graduates aspiring to tap high-growth career avenues, the skill gap implies a lack of access to fulfilling, well-paying jobs.
Clearly, the skill gap has emerged as a crucial area for intervention by diverse stakeholders. Higher education institutes have an obligation as well as an opportunity to be the harbingers of change when it comes to bridging the talent deficit facing several sunrise industries.
How Academic Institutes Are Meeting Industry Skill Demands
Higher education institutes are responding to urgent industry demands in mainly two ways: by aligning teaching methodologies, curriculum, and skill-building priorities with employer expectations; and by actively facilitating exposure as well as collaborations of students with industry players during the course of study itself.
As an example, catering and hotel management institutes are entering partnerships with leading hospitality brands and restaurants to organize apprenticeship drives. Through such initiatives, students get to immerse themselves in professional settings and acquire domain knowledge beyond textbook concepts.
Several technical institutes are also revamping subjects and course content, integrating new applications and tools used currently in sectors like IT, IoT, machine learning, etc. Some have developed electives focused exclusively on imparting much-wanted competencies like data analytics and automation.
Besides overhauling curricula, teaching formats are also changing, with institutes adopting interactive pedagogies like design thinking workshops, hackathons and flipped classrooms to promote experiential learning. Rather than privilege theoretical input, the attempt is to cultivate core skills that boost employability.
Academic institutes are also leveraging their industry linkages to facilitate recruitment and enable students to get placed in reputed firms in their respective domains. Tie-ups with companies translate into guaranteed jobs and exposure to real-time projects, as well as resource persons from the industry.
What role can academic institutes play in filling the demand for skilled professionals in the industry?
While reform measures by institutes are a step in the right direction, there are certain fundamental, multifaceted roles that academia needs to consciously embrace to address skill gaps plaguing recruiters:
- Become learning grounds that provide students with overall career clarity and opportunity to discover their niche, instead of just pathways to degrees. This requires supplementary interventions like workshops on various professions, counselling modules, etc.
- Impart cutting-edge technical skills demanded by industry in emerging fields like data science, IoT, AI, etc. through relevant courses with an emphasis on hands-on training.
- Adopt continuous evaluation and update curriculum regularly based on feedback from students as well as employers. An annual revision of 20% of the syllabus is optimal.
- Create strategic partnerships and MoUs with leading companies in different verticals to facilitate apprenticeships, live projects, and campus recruitments.
- Bridge classroom-industry divide through exposure via plant visits, on-site trainings, and guidance from industry professionals.
- Develop transferable cognitive skills like creative thinking, problem identification and problem solving – instead of mere academic knowledge for better adaptability.
- Set up dedicated incubators and acceleration labs to promote entrepreneurship and nurture startups.
- Promote inter and multi-disciplinary learning, allowing students to combine courses and obtain holistic exposure.
Institutes Need to Promote an Integrated Learning Experience That Involves industry-academia Collaboration and Constant Revision of Curriculum
For institutes to be active catalysts, helping students evolve into valuable professionals who can substantially fill existing skill deficits, an integrated approach to learning is vital. Industry linkages, progressive curriculum supported by competent faculty, and advanced infrastructure ultimately shape a wholesome ecosystem that aids the transition of graduates from campus to the workplace.
More Industry-Academia Interfaces on Campuses
It is essential to dismantle barriers between industry and academia, facilitating greater collaboration and continued interfaces. Industry professionals should actively participate in framing the syllabus, offer electives stemming from real-time needs, and provide input during curriculum redesign.
Subjects must incorporate applications and concepts reflecting current industry practices. Workshops, hackathons, and competitions on industry-relevant topics need to be held to offer students practical exposure. Institutes can have dedicated cells hosting seminars and talks by industry experts to help students gain clarity on multiple career choices.
Leading employers could be invited for recruitment drives, and institutes can have dedicated placement cells liaising with companies in different verticals to facilitate campus placements. Students stand to benefit greatly when institutes enter strategic partnerships with reputed organisations, leading to increased training, live projects, and apprenticeship opportunities.
Updating Course Curriculum
While designing courses aligned to industry requirements, institutes should also reassess learning outcomes periodically and keep upgrading curriculum. Optimally, 20% of the syllabus could be refreshed annually by factoring in new technologies, innovations, and ideas. Open channels of communication with students and recruiters would help institutes continually improve course content.
Evaluation patterns should also be updated to emphasize learning rather than mere performance in exams. The focus needs to shift from academics to helping students develop cognitive, analytical, and technical skills.
Availability of Quality Infrastructure and Qualified Faculty
Even with a clearly mapped curriculum and schedule of industry lectures or seminars, actual skill-building would require corresponding infrastructure and expert faculty. For instance, institutes offering technical courses need well-equipped labs and workstations to allow applied training.
Great learning outcomes would depend substantially on the competence of teaching staff in comprehending industry expectations and realigning academic priorities accordingly. Institutes must invest in training programs and engagement initiatives to ensure faculty remain updated on key industry trends, developments, and tools.
By fostering greater synergy between industry and academia, institutes can transform skill development avenues for students and positively impact their employability.
SGT University: Best Private University in Gurgaon, Haryana, Delhi NCR
Located in Budhera, Gurgaon, SGT University is among the most sought-after destinations for higher education in North India. Conferred with the coveted ‘A+’ grade by NAAC, the university offers an extensive array of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate programs across diverse domains, attracting students from India and abroad.
Boasting cutting-edge infrastructure matched by extensive industry linkages, SGT University has emerged as one of the top skill incubators, delivering graduates and doctorates aligned with the evolving industry skills framework.
SGT University is one of the top private universities in Gurgaon, Haryana, and the Delhi NCR region. The university has received several prestigious accreditations and ratings, including:
- NAAC A+ Grade
- UGC entitlement
- UGC 12B status
- QS I-Gauge Diamond rating
- AICTE approval
- NIRF ranked
The university offers a wide range of medical and non-medical programs across various disciplines. Some of the key faculties and courses offered are:
Medical:
- Allied Health Sciences
- Dental Sciences (SGT Dental College)
- Indian Medical System (Ayurveda)
- Medicine & Health Sciences
- Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences
- Nursing
- Physiotherapy
- SGT College of Pharmacy
Non-medical:
- Agricultural Sciences
- Behavioural and Social Sciences
- Commerce & Management
- Education
- Engineering & Technology
- Fashion & Design
- Hotel & Tourism Management
- Law
- Mass Communication & Media Technology
- Science
The university has very competitive fees and transparent admission processes for its programs. Students can explore the various undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered and check the corresponding fees as well as admission requirements before applying.
Candidates stand to benefit greatly from the excellent academic infrastructure, hands-on training opportunities, and support from highly qualified faculty members. This makes SGT University one of the foremost destinations for skill-based learning in North India.
SGT University’s Approach to Bridging Skill Gap
The prominent industry leaders praise SGT University for its targeted strategy, which aims to close the skill gap between supply and demand. It does so by highlighting integrated training.
Some highlights:
Industry-Aligned Curriculum: Each program incorporates emerging concepts, tools, and frameworks reflecting current industry practices thanks to an exhaustive consultation process involving sector experts and leaders. This keeps the curriculum dynamically updated.
Apprenticeship/Training: Tie-ups with 200+ leading hotels, hospitals and companies facilitate apprenticeship and intensive workplace training opportunities across various programs offered.
Applied Learning: Centers of Excellence focused on healthcare simulation, aviation, luxury, and hospitality provide specialized applied training aligned with industry needs. High-end infrastructure across domains is backed by technology, equipment, software, etc used in respective industries. Industry and domain experts actively participate in program and curriculum design, guest lectures, seminars, doubt clearing sessions, etc. lending invaluable perspectives on prevailing skill expectations.
Specialization: A flexible credit framework allows students to choose multiple domain electives and specializations, enabling them to develop niche skill sets.
Diversified Recruitment Avenues: The university has a dedicated placement cell (Corporate Resources Center) hosting hiring drives by leading recruiters. Memoranda with industry players also bolster hiring prospects.
By embracing industry linkage as an integral academic pillar, SGT University helps students attain sectoral proficiency as per dynamic needs and transition smoothly into workplace roles.
Conclusion
India holds tremendous scope for growth across diverse sectors, implying vast career opportunities in the coming years. However, industry demand for skilled workers continues to be largely unmet. As crucial providers of employable human capital, academic institutes have a vital role to play in addressing India’s skill gap.
Integrated learning experiences focused on furthering industry-academia collaboration, competency and curriculum enhancement are indispensable to unlocking students’ potential and aligning their expertise as per industry requirements. As a pioneering academy centered on skill-based learning outcomes delivered through industry partnerships, SGT University offers the right platform for students to evolve into valued professionals.
