Most employers and HR managers complaint that college students and freshers are unemployable. We find it easy to blame it on Colleges, government and Society at large.
We have a different perspective on this problem. Let us consider that we are Generation A and our Kids (or College students) are Generation B. Let us divide the society into these two groups.
Consider following points:
- They came to this Society after we came.
- Studied what we said them to study.
- They appeared in the exams set by us.
- Passed the exams according to the rules set by us.
- No one told them what is expected
from them.
College students did not design Syllabus, they did not design Exams and set the question Papers, they did not set standards for passing the exams, we did. How can we blame them for not being employable?
– skillxperience.org
And, Now we tell them that you are good for nothing? Isn’t this ironical? What is their fault? They did not create this education system, we did. How can we tell them that they are useless
The ideas discussed in this article might not be applicable to few prestigious institutions like IIT or IIM and other reputed institutions, But they apply to almost all other institutions.
There is a severe gap between what Industry Demands and what Education Supplies. This disconnect is the primary reason why college students are unemployable
– skillxperience.org
Can we put blame on Teachers and professors?
Probably not. We have to understand that most of the colleges have most of the
So the Professors and Teachers were never exposed to Real Industry or the real world. That may be the reason why they don’t appreciate the real importance of Real Industry relevance in Education.
Also, the Selling point of an educational institution is the infrastructure and not best teachers.
Can we put blame on Education Institutions?
Not Fully. Education Institutions are also commercial organisations and they have to see that they are viable commercially. Though they enjoy lots of benefits of being a Non-profit organisation. But still, they have to look after growth and costly real estate infrastructure.
This is because of increasing demand of better and costlier infrastructure from the Parents and students.
Can we blame the Parents?
Partially yes, because nowadays parents look at the College infrastructure more than the teachers in those institutions. Many parents want to make decisions based on their historical understanding of the Career options rather than evaluating current and future trend.
Can we blame Government?
We as Indians like to blame the Government for each and everything. Hence we see that most of the blame for lack of education infrastructure and lapses is put on Government. This cannot be always true. India is a huge country,
Instead of blaming Students, Professors, colleges, Parents or Government. Let’s try to do our bit to improve the situation
– skillxperience.org
70 Comments
viveck shukla
Very true.
Limesh Parekh
Thanks a lot for the reply. Please help to spread the word by sharing this content.
Jagdish
Yes. Immediate solutions is a stringent action against under infrastructure (Faculty,Labs.. Library playground)),schoolses and universities .deny permission.After this industrial projects should be a part of syllabus from the beginning not last international exchange program must also included by the concern institute.
Only government via responsible not people as govt have all authority to design devlop and maintain the same with full power.Why always we blame population,self discipline ..etc. as we know without penalty no one follow stratght line of Law..
Jagdish
Limesh Parekh
Thanks, Jagdish ji for the response. That is the reason, we are not blaming anyone, we are just trying to start changing what we want to change.
sandeep waghchaure
Totally agree with your view
Limesh Parekh
Thanks a lot for the reply. Please help to spread the word by sharing this content.
Vijender Yadav
I don’t think we blame students always. Its the entire ecosystem to blame for. I could have blamed facebook also. But I think it’s part of evolution of humans from “industry revolution” driven generation to “Data Revolution” based generation.
It’s evident that there are good colleges and there are average colleges. Likewise there are good teacher and there are namesake teachers. And this is why quality in IIT IIM NIC is better compared to other colleges.
But even IITs produce average students. And a unrated college in nashik can also produce a Google employee , rare though.
Ultimately personal interest and dedication
If an individual plays a significant role.
We do blame students for their lack of focus, while the colleges are blamed for not being flexible in their attendance requirements , internship, grading, etc and not motivating students to do more practical tech work than theoretical studies. A teacher in any college is still demanding 75% for each subject irrespective of the Learnability of students and teaching ability of the teacher.
Students however have too many distractions. The average student, want all shiney things with least struggle. The student attitude was still the same in our times but we did not know what we can demand for. There were no options. Jobs were less and the only way was to study hard to get the most paying job or get your dream company.
Now a student have access to so much data (for distraction along with education) on WhatsApp and Facebook and they believe that they can get job anywhere in the world so nothing to worry for at least few years of graduation. . They are not dependent on others to find job and that is good thing.
In general the aptitude level of students have increased only because of abundance of info. They are more outspoken. They know how to find the Info. But yes they are highly distracted as well.
But this evolution of human kind, something good will come out of this.
Limesh Parekh
Thanks a lot Vijender Yadav for your elaborated reply. It surely throws light on the subject and it will help us to mould our actions and policies in future. Thanks again. Please help to spread the word by sharing this content.
Jayesh Shah
My take on the Subject:
Blame is a negative word – responsibility is probably best suited here. I am listing it in the order of share of responsibility:
1. Govt –
It is the various boards/universities which decide the syllabi, largely under govt domain.
Teaching Staff qualifications again largely drcided by govt.
Evaluation process of students – again decided by varsities and largely grade based rather than knowledge based.
2. Industry –
For not emphatically insisting to participate in neither setting the syllabi in sync with changing times nor in the process of selecting educators. This domain should also be a part of their CSR
3. Parents –
For being mute watchers and demanders of reservation.
Solution –
1. Complete revamp of the system beginning by creating a bridge course for industry exposed people who love teaching and want to become educators can do so, and, make it mandatory for educators to intern in industry every few years – like a refresher course, to be relevant.
2. The industry has to be involved in creating the syllabi and continously updating it to stay with the times – and even ahead the times. This includes creating an environment for research & development.
3. Shift the focus of evaluation system completely from memory & recall to application & innovation
4. Abolish caste based reservation (my wishful thinking, i know) and provide level playing field to every student.
Limesh Parekh
Jayesh Shah Thanks a lot for the reply. Indeed a deep thought has been given to this topic by you. I like the ideas that you mentioned on the Industry part. Probably, we are working on the Industry Part only. We are working on the same, we will shortly publish more details of what we have been doing.
I agree with you, Industry Participation will change the scenario significantly
Please help to spread the word by sharing this content.
Manish Jain
Hi Limesh,
It’s really heartening to see your commitment and enthusiasm for this important issue.
There is lot to do for this important issue including right direction given to them which you are doing with this project.
Best wishes
Limesh Parekh
Thanks Manish Jain for your wishes and compliments. Please help to spread the word by sharing this.
Sanjay Agarwal
Well summarised big problem. We all are part and cause of this problem.
Limesh Parekh
Thanks Sanjay Agarwal, You rightly said that we are part and cause of this problem, But I think we can also be the solution to this problem. Let’s move towards solving it.
Thanks again for reading this and commenting here.
Vidyadhar Kamat
I somewhat agree with you. In past, industry used to take apprentice. . .Nowadays this word is missing. Atleast some startup in IT sector are focusing on this issue. They are helping IT industry to cater skill ready resources.
Limesh Parekh
Dear Vidyadhar bhai, thanks for the comments. Please help to spread the word by sharing this.
Yashhraaj
This educational systems were incorporated within the last century..
Now, the same is prevailing throughout the globe..
Changes in the system is overdue..
How & when is the question now?
Limesh Parekh
Yashhraaj Ji, you are absolutely right. But we cannot wait for Government to change. Maybe they are waiting for us to change 🙂
hence we have started to contribute in our own way, however small it may be. I request you to spread the word and figure out how we can change the scenario with your help. Thanks again.
Ajit Menon
You say – “Instead of blaming Students, Professors, colleges, Parents or Government. Let’s try to do our bit to improve the situation.” Pl elaborate on what would these be. I shall then comment further.
While you have pointed out part of the problem, I would want to say that this is highl simplistic view. The problem is severely deep-rooted, and has largely to do with 1) Juat about everyone being coerced into an education that they have no calling or aptitude for; and, lack of seriousness on the part of every single stakeholders about the whole education endeavour.
I shall comment further in greater detail when it permits. Until then, I thank you for having tables a essential topic for discussion. Regards,
Ajit Menon
Limesh Parekh
You are absolutely right, the problem is much deep-rooted. Looks almost impossible to solve. But we have to start somewhere. I am sure we find the way as we walk. I think Will is much more important here. I strongly believe in perseverance, Try, try and you succeed. Thanks for the encouragement and time for reading and commenting on this. Thanks again Ajit Menon.
Anand Mehta
We all have a responsibility and stake in our kids. I fully agree with Mr Jayesh Shah. Let us take the responsibility in whichever role that we are playing – as a boss , as parents and uncles, neighbours , office bearers in NGO ‘s , citizens , travellers , cine goers , customers
Limesh Parekh
Yes Exactly. With these same ideas, we have started skillxperience.org We also have a contribute section, where you can register yourself, we will keep you updated with the chances to contribute. Thanks a lot, Anand Mehta.
Shaji T Mathew
I think the whole system is responsible. The government must have visionary educational leaders and support system that focus on the need of the time. Just s vision alone will not do but a mission that achieves the vision is important. Government must set apart enough money in budgets to bring out changes.
Economic development is another important factor. Just producing skilled youth are not enough but opportunities are to be created. That depends on how the government and its agencies work.
Parents must change their attitude. If they look only at medicine and engineering as the future carriers and push the students only to such streams in class XII , the future of those students would be badly affected. We must decide on students’ interests and tastes, not on parents dreams. Encourage students to choose their on carrier options. What we must give them is proper guidance.
There are many young students who don’t have goals. They are not well oriented. They take life so easily that they don’t end up in success.
The education system must evolve fast with skill development and work education programmes based on practical life instead of age old theory based teaching learning. Students must be given opportunities to do and learn. More polytechnical schools must be opened. There must be work studios in schools and colleges where students can be encouraged to develop their interests and apply their skills. The way we have computer labs, we must have various work ststions/ studios where they touch, feel,handle, innovate, invent, create,experiment and learn and unlearn.
Limesh Parekh
Thanks a lot, Shaji Sir for your ideas. Yes, I agree that the whole system needs to be changed. We have started our own bit to bring about that change. I don’t think we can wait for govt to change future our Child. Let us start acting now and change the society for better.
Subbaram Gowra
I fully agree with you . We could overcome this situation by a joint collaboration B/W the industry (as a whole)
& Government/s , though this might take considerable time to succeed…..
Limesh Parekh
Thanks for the response Mr Subbaram Gowra. That is the exact point why we have started this project. Instead of waiting for the Government and other parts of society to change, let’s be the change ourselves.
Manish Kapasi
Dear Limeshbhai,
Its a crucial issue to have touched upon and requires much dedication from all of us to contribute to take this movement forward.
I would differ to put it as a blame on anyone , as I believe there are many parameters that make us be in any particular situation that we may be in , this one being one of them. As one of the respondents have replied, we have moved from the industrial revolution to a data revolution and that having said, the data revolution has been too fast for any “industry” like education/parenting to turn around so quickly , acknowledging the fact that the individual mentors/guides/teachers have their own hurdles to clear, while taking on these responsibilities.
My measurement of the situation starts from the simple indicator – that our institutions remunerate the kinder garden and junior standard teachers much less than what is done for the higher grade teachers. This is THE most critical AGE of an individual , where the BEST mentor/guide is required in these most crucial developmental years of an individual, nurturing him to identify his strengths and weaknesses and be good enough to work on them for any betterment required in necessary areas, without going down the inferiority complex path. Also to inculcate the idea in each child that no other individual is less. We have a measurement system which breeds competition with envy and jealousy , instead of a participating environment.
All in all , the changes will have to start at individual ground level and appreciate your working towards the same.
Limesh Parekh
I agree with you Manish Bhai, That is the reason, we have started the work according to our capacity. The support we have received from colleges and Industry is tremendous.
NILESH BHATIA
Hi Limesh,
Really a thoughtful initiative and the need of the hour. We should have done this 2 decades back. Here there can be a catch towards why the students are not even having basic maturity as our model is exam oriented not knowledge oriented . Most of the students just have a goal of clearing the exams just for the heck of it , if the way the institutions assess the students is also looked into it would help something better than what we get from them now.
But neverrhless this is great thought and a nicely compiled article.
Cheers ,
Nilesh Bhatia
Limesh Parekh
Thanks a lot Nilesh Bhatia. I don’t think there is a problem with Students.
Consider the following points:
They came to this Society after we came.
Studied what we said them to study.
They appeared in the exams set by us.
Passed the exams according to the rules set by us.
No one told them what is expected from them.
Shreyas Gandhi
Linkedin profile: Shreyas Gandhi
Education is not just cramming and a learning for exams thing….it is being able to have people able to work in an industry or become an entrepreneur. For this the Education system needs to employ maximum time of students for their proper grooming. All tuitions should stop. All homeworks should end. Everything should be done during 7 am to 7 pm SPORTS, PHYSICAL FITNESS, HOMEWORK, TRAINING AFTER STUDIES, INTERNSHIP….everything
Limesh Parekh
Thanks a lot Shreyas Gandhi. Your observations are right, there is a lot of work to be done. But we have to start somewhere.
Bhavin Trivedi
Limesh bhai,
you have taken a good subject and of immense contribution to society.
Better solution could be industry participation in educational field. Another way is introducing mandatory internship for student for relevant streams.
Moreover it has to do something with our culture where we have inherited concepts about White Collar and blue collar jobs.
Few years back every parent wanted their child to be either a doctor or an engineer as if rest of the streams are less respectable.
Introducing old Gurukul like system where we can promote specialisation about theory and practicals based on students interest and their capabilities.
I personally also rely on astrology to figure out above.
Limesh Parekh
Thanks a lot Bhavin Trivedi for your perspective. Yes, the problem is deep enough. We are doing what can be done at our level. Industry Participation is the key, you rightly observed.
Anup
Superb guidance useful for all ???
Limesh Parekh
Thanks a lot, Please help to spread the word by sharing this.
Swapnil Mahadik
Good Read, Thanks for Sharing!
We definitely should bless students, This blame demoralizes youth.
Please also consider that Job requirements usually come from business to HR so it’s mostly ‘business’ that defines parameters of a job, experience level & education required so my kind empathy will also be with HR manager who gets opposed merely for being face to the community,
‘Business’ can’t be blamed too. ‘Business’ also has to think about profit, competition, market & branding, internal environments within organization. while they decide intake of freshers so absolutely they go for the best alternatives to achieve organizational objectives,
India has been an economy that always had gap in number of jobs and number of qualified people looking for jobs, being densely populated, however we have made significant progress, Nobody can be blamed. we should work together and do our bit as you rightly said. Thanks!
Limesh Parekh
That is the reason, we are trying to avoid the blame game. The points that we have mentioned are generalised discussions that happen in our society, We are not trying to find – who is at fault. We just highlighted the problem and we have started to work towards it. Thanks, Swapnil Mahadik for the valuable comments and insight.
Jaydeep Sakariya
I am totally agree with you, but in my opinion for IT field, Technologies are rapidly changing,so teachers should be updated with new technologies knowledge and so they can teach students what actually industry demands.
Limesh Parekh
Jaydeep Sakariya, Thanks for the comments. Exactly Same thing we are trying to do by bridging the gap between industry and Education. Please watch our facebook page for more details of the events that we have been doing.
Hashan Tagari
True but we can’t blame on teachers. It’s up to students that they want to study or not.
Limesh Parekh
Hi Hashan Tagari, thanks for the comments. Your perspective is also valid. But what we need to do to resolve this situation.
Parth Goyani
Well said Limesh.
There is one more point in my mind. If the recruiter and employers will not give a chance to Fresher, Freshers will never can become experienced person. This situations will lead all to the day when there will be no experience person. Because at that day they will realize that they have not give chance to fresher to become an experienced person. so they will not get the experienced person.
In near future they will have to face the situation where they will not have any experienced person remaining.
At the other hand they are ignoring the new upcoming super talent.
In the next 5 years, they will have to suffer a big loss due to the lack of skilled workers, equipped with modern technology. Because they are not ready to change the trend.
– Parth Goyani
Limesh Parekh
Yes, but we need to do something about this. The question is not whether people are not ready to give chance to freshers or not. The question is that are freshers eligible for that Chance?
BTW, thanks a lot for your comments and perspective.
Nikhil Tailor
Great article, mention facts are true in nature.
Great work keep going ?
Limesh Parekh
Thanks a lot, Nikhil Tailor, Apart from being an article, this is what we are working on. So I just wrote, what we are doing. Thanks for wishes and encouragements.
Nikul Maniya
Thank you ,
If we have to start then how can we? I have some questions..
After completion whole study why most of student have to take some training?
We can imagine that after completion of bachelor and master (5 to 6 year) students have to take training, why? Obviously it is not fault of students, then?
Is it not enough practical?
Limesh Parekh
Nikul Maniya, what you have pointed out is very important point.
But, We have to understand that most of the colleges have most of the professors who have never had Industry Experience. They passed their education as students and then joined the Education system as educators. Their professors also had followed the same path.
Our Education system is designed by Britishers to prepare clerks for their BritishRaj, We have to come out and design our education system. But that’s a long and time taking task, Hence we started what we can start immediately.
Brijesh Jogani
You are right and now it’s time to become a confident skilled-learner. No one can give employment without any skill.
Limesh Parekh
Brijesh Jogani, you are absolutely right. That is the reason, we have started skillxperience.org and working towards making youth more employable.
Abhay Korat
Good thoughts. Every student doesn’t have Commercial environment they are totally confused so we can do something as society member to connect commercial Environment with Students at their college periods that are so many ways to attach company workflow with students knowledge. We can start meetups for students who are interested to get knowledge about work at Industries.
Limesh Parekh
Exactly that and many more things, which we have started to do at skillXperience.org
Rajendra Khale
Nice to have a platform to voice our opinions on one of the most pressing current issues.
We can partially blame universities and the recruiting authority that selects the faculty in the colleges for deciding the qualification and criteria – they insist on having candidates with Ph. D. (however irrelevant research topic that may be) rather than the one with basic minimum qualification and relevant industry experience. This is true for almost all AICTE accredited engineering and MBA colleges. Such faculty without any industry experience cannot be expected to inculcate the right approach (industry oriented) in their students. Then comes the age old syllabus, totally out of sync with the industry. Finally and mainly, the rote learning that emphasizes the ability to reproduce in the examination for score rather than the ability to learn and practice. If there is an active collaboration between the industry and academia where the industry professionals come to colleges as visiting faculty or project guide and the academic faculty work with the relevant industry for at least 8 weeks every year, we can hope for some positive change.
Limesh Parekh
Dear Rajendra Khale, Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts on this platform. Yes you are right, however the intention of this activity is not to raise the voice about out opinion. Its about bringing the change in the society that we want.
We request you to please help us bring the change by spreading the word.
aiyappan
Spot on Limesh Bhai-it’s time to live in the solution rather than resort to a blame game. This problem need to be addressed at multiple levels – on the demand and supply side. Articulating the context for education is critical. For e.g., we learn about components without a sense of the systems they help build. This is true across all fields of education. Hence it often leads to a situation of missing the woods for the trees – i.e the big picture is not clear.
The solution is broadly across 4 levels – Industry, Academia, Government and Parents. Sort things here and the student aspect will get addressed.
A constant interaction between faculty and industry is a must.
a) The Govt. can incentivise industry to permit staff on teaching assignments on the line of CSR activities.
b) Industry must proactively support staff to take up visiting faculty positions. Likewise, Industry should welcome faculty for stints to familiarise them with the “real world”. They must also encourage and promote apprenticeship.
c) Academicians and Institutions shall tweak the syllabus/ curriculum to include appropriate Industry- interactions as an integral part. Further, such interactions shall be made essential for academicians to progress in their career
d) Parents need to be given guidance on making their wards move from a bookish to practical learning. They must put pressure on academic institutions to embrace Industry.
To sum up, while there is always an essential element of theoretical study, the curriculum must reflect the world around us. This makes it easier for students to take up new jobs..
Limesh Parekh
Yes, We are working on things that are non-plicy matters. As we understand that changing the policies in the country would take time. Let us do what we can do.
BHADRESH SHAH
Good understanding for freshers
Or newly graduation
Limesh Parekh
Dear Bhadresh Shah, Thanks for lot for the compliments. Please help to spread the word by sharing this with your friends and groups.
Sagar Kapadia
Sir, Having interviewed candidates for software development positions, I have personally experienced this. It is a very urgent problem. However, what you say is very true. Please also elaborate the possible solutions.
Limesh Parekh
Dear Sagar Kapadia, Please read the next article on the blog, It explains one of the solutions.
Sandeep
Very Good Artical & Very True
We need to bridge the Gap between the current industrial skill needs, requirements & our education system.
Education system needs to more focused on practice industrial experience.
Thank You
Limesh Parekh
Thanks a lot Mr Sandeep, Please help to spread the word by sharing this.
Dr. Subodh Kulkarni
If colleges start providing 60 hours of training about Skills and domain with the help of industry faculty in the second last semester of Graduating Students then most of the students will become employable immediately after completing their graduation. But who will take the initiative? Academia or Industry?
amit
I think both Academics and Industry have to take initiative. Academics can provide more practical knowledge to students.
Basant Giri
One of the reasons, according to me is the varied streams that one wants to know and just learns the basics of them. In the end, the student knows many thinga but has not mastered any. In other words, jack of all and master of none. According to me, only two skills are needed. 1. Communication and 2. Specialisation in a specific area.
There is scope for each and every person who is knowledgeable. But we only want them to be either engineers or doctors or scientists. We never ask and find about the students preference.
Do not treat students as possible objects to be sold in the market.
Learning should be an art and teaching should be science and be considered noble and not marketed.
amit
Yes, you are definitely right. We agreed with your points. Thanks for providing your valuable review.
Abhijit Dabholkar
Education system will always provide raw material, which industry will have to convert in to finished product. Industry can not save training efforts and expenses.
Education system also needs a revamp and industry must provide inputs for the same.
Doing a bit is always good, it may not solve the problem as it is too large and complex, but someone has to take initiative.
Limesh Parekh
Thanks a lot, Sir. Your perspective is right on the dot.
Drupad Solanki
Really thoughtful and bul’s eye approach …
I believe key is bringing education and industry closer…
Industry need to be encouraged to take students as apprentice for 3 to 6 months during their study…And it need to be part of their curriculum…
I believe educators needs to be asked to get relevant industry experience for 1 to 2 years or so, during or prior to their teaching jobs…
Every curriculum needs to be designed with inputs from relevant industry expert and needs to upgrade in every 2 years…
amit
Yes Sir, upgrading curriculum every year can be well initiative with relatively experienced educators.