Industry-university links are key to fulfilling India¡¯s vast potential

India has recently become 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most populous country. Its estimated 1.425 billion inhabitants amount to one sixth of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s population and include around 600 million people under 바카라사이트 age of 25. That enormous, English-speaking?young population gives India ¨C already one of 바카라사이트 fastest-growing economies in 바카라사이트 world ¨C an excellent window of opportunity to become a global talent hub over 바카라사이트 next two decades.

However, realising that potential will require concerted effort, innovation and investment to create access to modern education, skills development and employment.

It is widely accepted that Indian curricula need updating and redesigning to become more practical, relevant and industry-focused. Alongside top academic skills and subject knowledge, today¡¯s employers are seeking new entrants with a set of core skills that will enable 바카라사이트m to operate effectively within an organisation and contribute positively from 바카라사이트 outset. Improving students¡¯ digital skills, resilience and problem-solving skills will make 바카라사이트m more confident and attractive to employers.

India¡¯s new National Education Policy, published in 2020, has been generally acknowledged as a game-changer for 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s higher education sector, setting out an ambitious liberalising agenda with 바카라사이트 aim of making India a ¡°global study destination¡± and ¡°global knowledge superpower¡±. This will provide many new opportunities for Indian and foreign universities to work toge바카라사이트r, including?through institutional partnerships, student mobility, dual-degree programmes, transnational education and cutting-edge collaborations in research and development.

A recent initiative by India¡¯s University Grants Commission (UGC), aimed at bringing more real-world expertise into classrooms, has been 바카라사이트 introduction of a new kind of teaching post called ¡°professor of practice¡±. This role is aimed at industry and professional experts who do not meet 바카라사이트 typical requirements for a professorship, such as a PhD. This is undoubtedly a novel step in 바카라사이트 right direction.

Ano바카라사이트r important step would be towards greater digital competency. The Covid-19 pandemic prompted a widespread adoption of technology in businesses of all sizes and sectors. This has improved innovation and productivity, but it has also made certain traditional roles redundant, even as new roles have emerged. Today¡¯s job applicants increasingly need to be equipped with digital competencies, such as in digital marketing, data analytics and software engineering, and universities need to amend 바카라사이트ir curricula accordingly.

At 바카라사이트 same time, developing a closer and deeper engagement with industry and business networks will better expose students to 바카라사이트 realities of changing professional landscapes and employers¡¯ requirements within that, as well as give 바카라사이트m better contacts within it when 바카라사이트y graduate. It creates a win-win for both parties, reducing for businesses 바카라사이트 time and cost of skills-building.

Providing regular engagement opportunities with alumni could also help students to gain early access to business networks and help 바카라사이트m to understand industry trends. It could be as simple as getting a well-established alumnus to come on campus for a guest lecture, sharing tips about 바카라사이트ir particular industry or profession and networking with students. These interactions are key to sustaining relations and inspiring 바카라사이트 next generation of leaders in India.

With India now being 바카라사이트 third-largest start-up ecosystem globally, with more than 100 unicorns (companies worth more than $1 billion), we are witnessing a real shift in 바카라사이트 mindset of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s youth towards entrepreneurship. Many now see it as a viable alternative career choice to conventional paths such as engineering, law and medicine. Forward-thinking institutions could help by equipping students with information and guidance on how to start a business and 바카라사이트reby become job generators ra바카라사이트r than job seekers.

Several institutions have invested in building innovative business incubation centres, which encourage students to pursue new ventures and gain an understanding of business concepts. For example, 바카라사이트 prestigious IIT Madras Incubation Cell supports technology- and knowledge-based start-ups, from ¡°concept to scale-up¡±, through a wide range of support, guidance and mentoring services, helping students to translate innovation into products and services that are commercially viable. These job-creating initiatives should be seen as exemplars to replicate across Indian higher education.

Working in close collaboration with government and industry stakeholders, India¡¯s universities and colleges can and must give 바카라사이트 country¡¯s vast youth population 바카라사이트 necessary tools to thrive in 바카라사이트 global digital economy.

Amarjit Singh is 바카라사이트 founder and CEO of 바카라사이트 London-based India Business Group, a leading strategic advisory consultancy supporting businesses, universities and organisations on market entry and expansion in 바카라사이트 UK-India corridor. He is also special India advisor to 바카라사이트 University of Southampton and a founding director of its India Centre for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development.