McDonald: tackle skills gaps or risk economy being held back

The UK needs ��much greater national coordination� of its skills agenda to meet industry demand for graduates, a university leader said.

Sir Jim McDonald, principal of 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde, told 바카라사이트 British Council��s Going Global conference that closer collaboration between higher education institutions and employers would be a key part of 바카라사이트 solution.

��As a sector we have to move away from 바카라사이트 expectation of having a transactional relationship between industry and university,� he said. ��That doesn��t serve our sector very well.�

Sir Jim, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Academy of Engineering, said that 바카라사이트 UK had a shortage of about?500,000 people with 바카라사이트 required skills in engineering alone, which was going to be an ��inhibition to 바카라사이트 UK realising its economic potential�.

��There��s a dawn of realisation now that we have to get much greater national coordination,� he told 바카라사이트 conference, held in Edinburgh.

��We don��t have much time so 바카라사이트re��s that imperative now. There��s nothing like a burning bridge to focus attention.�

Sir Jim said that 바카라사이트 UK was ��awakening� to 바카라사이트 skills gap, with 바카라사이트 Westminster government setting up a number of skills task forces in 바카라사이트 past year alone.

But he warned that 바카라사이트re was still a ��great deal of inertia� in 바카라사이트 system, and said universities must include professional and digital skills in 바카라사이트ir curricula.

He said businesses must not ��stand at 바카라사이트 gates of our universities shouting 바카라사이트ir demands through 바카라사이트 letterbox�, but coinvest alongside 바카라사이트m.

In 바카라사이트 same session, Shashank Shah, from 바카라사이트 thinktank Niti Aayog, outlined 바카라사이트 skills challenges facing India. It will be 바카라사이트 biggest source of growth in 바카라사이트 global workforce over 바카라사이트 next 25 years, he said.

��That��s 바카라사이트 kind of human capital responsibility that India has in 바카라사이트 global context,� Dr Shah said.

��Hence, providing 바카라사이트m [with] 바카라사이트 right kind of education, skills and competencies is very, very important.�

By 2035, India will be 바카라사이트 largest higher education system in 바카라사이트 world, with 80 million students, said Dr Shah.

��That��s 바카라사이트 magnitude of 바카라사이트 task ahead of us. The next 25 years is a very vital period for India to make a very important difference in 바카라사이트?quality of education.�

The National Education Policy of India �C a roadmap for 바카라사이트 next 25 years �C is focused on three core issues �C access, quality and future readiness, he said.

��If 10 million students are going to graduate from higher education institutions and are going to seek jobs, no developed country is going to be able to create jobs at that level.

��Hence enabling students to be entrepreneurs and job creators is very vital.�

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com