Students need to invest in both life skills, technical skills to be successful

The current set of college graduates are all ‘born digital’. They have been exposed to digital tools and applications right from their early childhood in some form or manner. They are a natural fit to acquire the skills required by the industry. Incorporating a ‘digital’ curriculum that includes real-world exposure to the technologies and workflows is the best way to accelerate skill development.

“Most corporates are now investing in upskilling programs in anticipation of the demand. TeamLease EdTech has curated a series of immersive learning ‘degree apprenticeship’ programs to help the trifecta of universities, corporates and students. Through this unique program, students learn real-world skills while working with corporates and the theoretical framework from the best universities in the country. The end product is a ‘skilled graduate’ who is real-world ready on day 1 itself,” says Jaideep Kewalramani - Head of Employability Business & COO, Teamlease Edtech in an exclusive interview with Bizz Buzz.

Can we address the need for digital skills among growing professionals?

The demand for digital skills is fast outstripping the supply of skilled professionals with the unprecedented rate of advancement in technology. The world we live in is one where digital technology is the norm. It has an impact on every facet of our life at a level that was unheard of a decade ago. Each development builds upon the one before it, quickening the pace of change. By 2030, it is predicted that 85 per cent of the job roles available haven't been even created yet! This simply signifies the need to continuously upskill and early skill development - a credible way to bridge the gap between demand and supply.

The current set of college graduates are all ‘born digital’. They have been exposed to digital tools and applications right from their early childhood in some form or manner. They are a natural fit to acquire the skills required by the industry. Incorporating a ‘digital’ curriculum that includes real-world exposure to the technologies and workflows is the best way to accelerate skill development. Most corporates are now investing in upskilling programs in anticipation of the demand. TeamLease EdTech has curated a series of immersive learning ‘degree apprenticeship’ programs to help the trifecta of universities, corporates and students. Through this unique program, students learn real-world skills while working with corporates and the theoretical framework from the best universities in the country. The end product is a ‘skilled graduate’ who is real-world ready on day 1 itself.

Which skills are relevant and important for students to learn in this day and age?

This day and age if categorised will be a mix of VUCA elements i.e. volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. Today students need to invest both in ‘life skills’ and ‘technical skills’ to be successful. Learning life skills is crucial for a steeper learning curve since they enable you to handle problems at work in an efficient manner. These are equally important as academic abilities. As a result, businesses today look for applicants who have a variety of life skills under their belt. Life skills can actually help young students/job aspirants to navigate work life quite smoothly. With the correct life skills, you can effectively manage your time, analyse your emotions, and communicate with others; especially in leadership and management positions.

Coming to digital space, skills like user experience, design thinking, conversational AI, workflow management, data analytics and visualization and app development are in huge demand. As we drift towards a more and more data-centric workplace with customisation as the main priority, experience in these skills can come in handy. Living in the digital age brings with it a great demand for digitally competent individuals, and as working conditions change and more businesses strive to have an online presence, the value of digital skills in the workplace is at the fore.

The trend for the upcoming five years will be upskilling. What steps could institutions take to enhance skill development?

Universities and learning institutes now need to include practical knowledge apart from theoretical syllabus. As upskilling has been identified as the key to a better career, the following three steps are a good place, to begin with:

l Industry tie-ups - Deepen industry linkage to identify and introduce relevant skill development programs. Universities and institutes need to go beyond the traditional seminars rather exploring workshops and industry interaction to understand the job requirements in real time. Having a robust industry connection can provide a deep insight to craft/choose the most suitable skill development program.

lImmersive learning - modify the pedagogy to introduce 30 per cent to 50 per cent immersive learning. Immersive learning promotes inquiry, where students pick up problem-solving techniques, learn by doing, and gain information.

l Use technology - adopt new learning technologies that integrate AI, Metaverse and Web 3.0. Through the use of technology, it converts passive learning into immersive learning that allows students to study and traverse their subjects and truly live inside them.

How do you see technology evolving in the education space in the next few years?

The Indian education system can take giant leaps with the adoption of existing and emerging technology. With digital tools, education can become boundary-less and truly inclusive. The democratization of high quality affordable education is the only way to improve the GER (Gross Enrolment Ratio). The current tech stack for a university that offers online education will evolve to include Metaverse tools, AI enabled adaptive learning, virtual labs and NLP powered student support. Universities will adopt cloud based tech stack to enable boundary less learning. Blockchain based degree certifications – these immutable records that can be access by students and future employers in a secure environment eliminating the need for university background verification checks.

When it comes to incorporating technological innovations, the education sector typically lags behind the business sector. But the future of educational technology is highly promising, particularly when it comes to the potential of lesson plans using augmented and virtual reality. Future students will have access to the internet's massive knowledge base along with the most advanced AR and VR tools, making their education more engaging, immersive, and limitless than ever.

What are the upcoming trends in the edtech space?

The edtech space is poised to bring in a paradigm shift in the education industry. The disruption brought on by the epidemic in the previous two years has greatly aided the development of edtech. By the end of 2020, the Indian edtech market was worth $2.8 billion, and by 2025, it is expected to increase 3.7 times to $10.4 billion. Some of the trends that will dominate the industry in next few years include:

l ‘Learning-by-doing’ blended programs emphasing and fostering real-world experience with corporates for students while continuing to learn theory from universities' classroom programs.

l Micro and nano learning, a form of byte-sized learning method mostly driven by strings of sequential content driven by adaptive self-learning.

l Metaverse enabled (AR/VR/Web 3.0) learning to create experiences beyond theory.

l Accessible learning on the back of 5G technology. Broadband penetration in India is the poorest at 6 per cent, 5G offers a chance to access high-speed internet from the remotest corners

l AI-enabled adaptive learning where the pedagogy will adapt to the learner's style and environment