Calling for an urgent overhaul of higher education systems, the Vice-Chancellor of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has stressed the need to provide education that aligns closely with industry expectations to prevent the growing creation of unemployed and underemployed youth. Addressing academicians, students, and policymakers, the Vice-Chancellor warned that a widening mismatch between classroom learning and workplace demands is emerging as one of the biggest challenges facing India’s demographic dividend. With thousands of engineering graduates passing out every year, the focus, he said, must shift from merely awarding degrees to ensuring employability, adaptability, and long-term career relevance.
The Employability Crisis Among Graduates
India produces one of the largest numbers of engineering graduates globally, yet a significant proportion struggle to secure suitable employment. The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that many students possess theoretical knowledge but lack the practical skills, problem-solving ability, and professional exposure required by industries. Employers often report spending months retraining new recruits, leading to frustration on both sides. This gap between education and employment, he noted, results not only in joblessness but also in wasted time, resources, and talent. The issue, therefore, is systemic and demands immediate structural reform.
Degrees Versus Skills
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the education system has long prioritised syllabus completion and examination performance over skill development. While grades and degrees remain important, they no longer guarantee success in a rapidly evolving job market. Industries today seek graduates who can communicate effectively, work in teams, adapt to new technologies, and apply knowledge in real-world contexts. Unfortunately, many students emerge from universities without these competencies. He emphasised that universities must redefine success metrics, placing skills, innovation, and employability at the centre of academic outcomes.
Industry Expectations Are Changing Rapidly
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted that technological advancement has transformed industry expectations at an unprecedented pace. Fields such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, automation, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing are reshaping job roles. Traditional curricula, often revised slowly, struggle to keep up with these changes. As a result, students graduate with outdated knowledge. He argued that continuous curriculum updates, guided by industry trends, are essential to ensure students remain relevant in a competitive global economy.
Need for Stronger Industry-Academia Collaboration
One of the key solutions proposed was strengthening collaboration between universities and industries. The Vice-Chancellor stressed that industries should not be seen merely as recruiters but as partners in education. Their involvement in curriculum design, guest lectures, internships, live projects, and assessments can provide students with real-world exposure. Such collaboration, he said, helps students understand workplace expectations early, reducing the shock of transition from campus to corporate life and improving overall employability.
Internships as a Core Academic Requirement
The Vice-Chancellor advocated making internships a compulsory and meaningful component of all technical programmes. Short-term or superficial internships, he warned, do little to prepare students for employment. Instead, structured, long-term industry engagement should be integrated into academic calendars. Internships allow students to apply theoretical concepts, develop professional discipline, and gain confidence. They also help employers identify talent early. Without this exposure, graduates often enter the job market unprepared for its demands.
Faculty Development Is Equally Crucial
Reforming student education alone is not enough, the Vice-Chancellor said, stressing the importance of continuous faculty development. Many teachers, particularly in technical institutions, may not have direct industry exposure. As technologies evolve, faculty members must be trained and upskilled to deliver contemporary knowledge. Industry sabbaticals, training programmes, and collaborative research projects can help faculty stay updated. Empowered educators, he noted, are essential for producing industry-ready graduates.
Encouraging Problem-Solving and Innovation
The Vice-Chancellor criticised rote learning and examination-oriented teaching, calling for a shift towards problem-based and project-based learning. Students should be encouraged to identify real-world problems and develop practical solutions. Innovation, critical thinking, and creativity must be nurtured from the early stages of education. Hackathons, design challenges, research projects, and startup incubation initiatives, he said, can help students move beyond textbooks and develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
The Role of Soft Skills in Employability
While technical knowledge is important, the Vice-Chancellor emphasised that soft skills often determine long-term career success. Communication, teamwork, leadership, adaptability, and ethical responsibility are increasingly valued by employers. Many graduates, however, lack confidence in expressing ideas or collaborating effectively. Universities must integrate soft skill training into regular coursework rather than treating it as an optional add-on. These skills, he said, are essential not only for employment but also for professional growth and leadership.
Bridging the Rural-Urban Divide
Addressing concerns about inequality, the Vice-Chancellor noted that students from rural and semi-urban backgrounds often face additional challenges in meeting industry expectations. Limited exposure to technology, language barriers, and lack of mentorship can disadvantage them. Universities must provide targeted support through bridge courses, language training, and mentoring programmes. Ensuring equitable access to quality education and opportunities, he said, is critical to preventing unemployment from becoming concentrated among already marginalised groups.
Aligning Education With Local and Global Needs
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the importance of aligning education with both local industry needs and global trends. While global competitiveness is important, local industries require skilled professionals who understand regional challenges and opportunities. Universities should tailor programmes to support local economic ecosystems, including manufacturing clusters, startups, and emerging sectors. At the same time, students should be equipped with globally relevant skills to remain mobile and adaptable in an interconnected world.
Promoting Entrepreneurship as a Career Path
Employment generation, the Vice-Chancellor said, should not be limited to placement alone. Universities must actively promote entrepreneurship as a viable career option. Many students possess innovative ideas but lack guidance, funding, and risk-taking confidence. Incubation centres, mentorship networks, and startup support within universities can help convert ideas into enterprises. By nurturing job creators rather than only job seekers, educational institutions can play a direct role in reducing unemployment.
Assessment and Evaluation Reforms
Traditional assessment methods, focused heavily on written examinations, often fail to evaluate practical competence. The Vice-Chancellor called for reforms in evaluation systems to include project work, presentations, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving. Continuous assessment, rather than one-time exams, can better reflect a student’s abilities. Such reforms would also reduce exam-related stress and encourage consistent learning, ultimately producing more confident and capable graduates.
Technology as an Enabler of Reform
Digital tools, the Vice-Chancellor noted, offer immense potential to modernise education. Online platforms, virtual labs, simulation tools, and blended learning models can enhance access and quality. Technology can also help bridge gaps between institutions and industries, enabling remote mentoring and collaboration. However, he cautioned that technology must be used thoughtfully, with a focus on learning outcomes rather than mere adoption for its own sake.
Responsibility of Students in Shaping Careers
While institutional reform is essential, the Vice-Chancellor reminded students that they too bear responsibility for their employability. Passive learning and reliance solely on college curricula are no longer sufficient. Students must take initiative to learn new skills, seek internships, participate in projects, and stay informed about industry trends. Lifelong learning, he said, is no longer optional but a necessity in a rapidly changing job market.
Policy Support and Regulatory Flexibility
The Vice-Chancellor also called for greater policy support and flexibility from regulatory bodies. Universities should be allowed to update curricula quickly, introduce interdisciplinary programmes, and collaborate freely with industries. Excessive bureaucracy, he warned, can slow innovation and adaptation. A supportive regulatory environment is essential for institutions to respond effectively to changing economic and technological realities.
Addressing the Psychological Impact of Unemployment
Beyond economic consequences, the Vice-Chancellor acknowledged the psychological toll of unemployment on young people. Prolonged joblessness can lead to loss of confidence, stress, and social frustration. By ensuring education leads to meaningful employment, universities can contribute to social stability and individual well-being. Career counselling, mental health support, and realistic career guidance should be integral to campus life, he added.
VTU’s Initiatives Toward Reform
Highlighting steps taken by VTU, the Vice-Chancellor pointed to curriculum revisions, industry partnerships, skill development programmes, and faculty training initiatives. The university, he said, is working to embed internships, emerging technologies, and outcome-based education into its programmes. While challenges remain, these efforts reflect a commitment to aligning education with real-world needs and reducing graduate unemployment.
The Way Forward for Indian Higher Education
The Vice-Chancellor concluded by stressing that India stands at a critical juncture. With a young population and growing economy, the country has immense potential. However, without industry-relevant education, this demographic advantage could turn into a liability. Universities, industries, policymakers, faculty, and students must work together to build an ecosystem that values skills, innovation, and adaptability. Education, he said, must empower youth not just to earn degrees, but to build sustainable and meaningful careers.
Conclusion
The call by the VTU Vice-Chancellor underscores a fundamental truth: education cannot exist in isolation from the realities of the job market. As industries evolve, universities must evolve with them. By aligning curricula with industry expectations, strengthening practical exposure, and nurturing holistic skills, higher education can play a decisive role in reducing youth unemployment. The future of India’s workforce depends not on the number of graduates produced, but on how well they are prepared to contribute, innovate, and lead in a dynamic world.
Follow: Karnataka Government
Also read: Home | Channel 6 Network – Latest News, Breaking Updates: Politics, Business, Tech & More
