The UGC’s recent order allows autonomous engineering colleges in India to introduce new certificate and Diploma courses and programmes without prior approval from the parent university, as long as they fulfill certain minimum standards and obtain the necessary approvals from statutory bodies and councils. This order provides colleges with greater autonomy and flexibility to design and implement courses that are more relevant to the needs of the industry and the job market, and thereby bridge the quality skill gap that currently exists in higher education.

Dynamic Curriculum: The Need of the Hour

To bridge this gap, institutions need to design courses that provide students with a more dynamic curriculum that is updated regularly and makes them industry-ready from day one. These courses must also incorporate professional skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, leadership, and communication, in addition to technical skills. By doing so, colleges can produce graduates who are not only technically proficient but also possess the professional skills that are in high demand in the job market.

Moreover, institutions need to work closely with the industry and employers to identify the specific skills that are in demand and design courses accordingly. This can be achieved through partnerships, internships, and other collaborative initiatives that provide students with hands-on experience and exposure to real-world challenges. By doing so, colleges can produce graduates who are not only technically proficient but also possess the skills that employers are looking for.

The UGC order provides colleges with an opportunity to bridge the quality skill gap in higher education by providing greater autonomy and flexibility to design and implement courses that are more relevant to the needs of the industry and the job market. Institutions must take a proactive approach to designing courses that incorporate technical and professional skills and work closely with the industry to identify the specific skills that are in demand. Only by doing so can they produce graduates who are not only technically proficient but also possess the skills that employers are looking for.

Here are some examples of companies in India that have taken steps to address the skill gap and promote workforce development:

1. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): TCS is one of the largest IT services companies in India and has taken several initiatives to bridge the skill gap. It has launched various programs such as the National Qualifier Test, which helps identify and hire top talent from engineering campuses across the country, and the Ignite My Future in School program, which provides educators with resources and training to teach computational thinking skills to students. Additionally, TCS has partnered with educational institutions to develop curricula and provide training to students.
2. Robert Bosch: Robert Bosch is a multinational engineering and technology company that has established several initiatives to address the skill gap in India. It has launched the Bosch Vocational Center, which provides vocational training in technical fields such as automotive engineering, and the Bosch Technical Center, which offers training in software engineering and other IT-related fields. Additionally, Bosch has partnered with educational institutions and government organizations to promote skill development and provide training to students.
3. Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS): CTS is a multinational IT services company that has taken several steps to promote workforce development in India. It has established the Cognizant Academy, which provides training and development programs to employees and students in areas such as IT, consulting, and business process services. Additionally, CTS has partnered with educational institutions to develop curricula and provide training to students in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science.
4. Infosys: Infosys has collaborated with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to provide scalable and high-quality vocational training to more than 1.5 lakh youth in the next two years through its Foundation program.
5. Wipro: Wipro has established the Wipro Academy of Software Excellence (WASE) to provide industry-specific training to its workforce. It has also partnered with the NSDC to provide vocational training to more than 10,000 candidates across India.
6. HCL Technologies: HCL Technologies has launched HCL TalentCare, a subsidiary that offers job-oriented training programs to graduates and engineers. It has also collaborated with universities to design specialized courses that cater to the needs of the industry.
7. Mahindra & Mahindra: Mahindra & Mahindra has launched the Mahindra Pride School to provide vocational training to underprivileged youth. The school offers courses in various domains, such as automotive repair, hospitality, and healthcare.
8. Larsen & Toubro: Larsen & Toubro has established the L&T Institute of Technology to provide technical training to its workforce. The institute offers courses in various fields such as construction, power, and metallurgy.

In addition to the IT firms listed above, the following businesses have also made efforts to bridge the quality skill gap among Indian graduates.

1. Banking and Financial Services: Companies such as ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank have partnered with educational institutions to offer training programs that equip students with the necessary skills for a career in banking and finance.
2. Retail: Retail giants such as Reliance Retail, Future Group, and Tata Group have set up their own training institutes to provide skill development programs to their employees.
3. Healthcare: Healthcare companies such as Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Healthcare, and Manipal Hospitals have set up their own training institutes to provide specialized training to doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
4. Hospitality: Companies such as Taj Hotels, Oberoi Hotels, and Marriott International have set up their own training institutes to provide training in various areas of hospitality, such as hotel management, culinary arts, and housekeeping.

In order to close the quality skill gap and produce talented graduates with strong professional skills, it is now time for the institutions to identify local collaborators and get engaged in designing dynamic curricula for training and certificate programmes for the graduate and post-graduate students enrolled.

Courtesy: India Skills Report 2023

Dr Suresh R K

rk.suresh@learnglobe.in