THE WEEK Education Conclave | Experts discuss changes needed to bridge the education-employability gap for future workforce

The Week Education Conclave on Wednesday saw voices from academia, banking, industry, and policymaking come together to address one pressing query: What changes are needed in our education system to make students truly job-worthy? 

From aligning curriculum with industry requirements to financing higher education and providing platforms of innovation on campuses, the speakers offered diverse insights to bridge the gap between degrees and employability.

'Students must understand what and why they are studying'

 “We are at a crucial juncture, today we’re building quantum computers," said Prof Dr Rajiv Ganguly, Dean of Science at the University of Engineering and Management, Kolkata. “We conduct a 15-day orientation program for first-year students, giving them exposure to future possibilities. They must understand what they’re studying and why. Technology is evolving rapidly, and we should revise our syllabus bimonthly to ensure relevance and skill infusion," he added, emphasising the importance of orienting students early.

Er. Onkar Bagaria as trustee & CEO, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, blurs the lines between academics and skill training. “New-age universities must focus on innovation and entrepreneurship. We must create ecosystems where students can build startups that solve real-world problems. That’s the only way to bridge the gap between academia and industry.”

Dilip Chenoy of the National Skill Development Corporation points out the urgency of change. “Learning is no longer linear. Knowledge doubles every day, but teaching hours remain the same. We must scale up. Many engineering courses don’t match market demands. The first two years of college don’t translate into hands-on skills. If we want graduates to be industry-ready from day one, we must revamp our systems accordingly."

'NEP 2020 should have been implemented long ago'

Underscoring the importance of Indian education, Dr Lata Suresh, Head of the Knowledge Centre, Government of India, says much of the educational strength is returning to India. "The NEP 2020 should have been implemented long ago. It promotes a multidisciplinary approach—something we practiced in ancient times," she added, criticising the rote-learning model introduced by Macaulay’s system and emphasising the NEP’s potential to be revolutionary. “What industry needs today is creativity, innovation, and skills. We must embed research and development into the curriculum right after 10+2. The curriculum must be aligned with industry needs,” Dr Suresh asserts. 

'Prepared to cater to demand for education loans'

Anil Kumar, General Manager of Union Bank of India, highlighted the bank’s proactive approach in supporting students with dedicated loan officers stationed across 140 locations. “We have a specialized team to engage with students, understand their financial needs, and offer tailored education loans,” he added. Talking about the measures to support students pursuing education abroad, Kumar mentioned that the bank is fully prepared to cater to the growing demand for education loans, both domestic and international.