Need to create talent pool to bridge the gap between education and career

Besides refining the mind, the major role any education system has to ensure is employability. We are living in an awakened and informed time now, therefore all stake holders need to focus on bridging this gap between education and career.

The global data already states that by 2030 the nature of jobs would have changed drastically, hence what we need to ask ourselves is -- “Are our kids future-ready?” . They would be if we are training them in acquiring skills that are necessary for the future job markets.

Besides conventional education, we need to provide them guidance regarding pursuing additional certifications and courses that aid the structural classroom learning. We also need to lay a lot of emphasis on the connectivity vis a vis the school, college and university education. Unless and until we integrate it, weave it in a common, collaborative fabric, our students will always find a disconnect. We need to make them industry ready. And this has to happen inside the portals of every education system. There is a dire need for strengthening workforce and education systems.

Despite the economic growth around the world, we see too many people are still being left behind, and one of the biggest challenges faced is that the incumbents have the shortage of desired skills sets which they need if they want to sustain themselves in the jobs, especially the high wage jobs.

I strongly believe as an educator that the surest way to open the doors of opportunity is to equip them with education and skills which will create a demand for them and also eventually fuel the economic growth clubbed with great mental health, an outcome of a perfect balance between work and home depending on the levels of jobs satisfaction.

So what we need to understand is that all of this is inter-connected. We need to understand in-depth, new skills required at work places, and accordingly make amendments in our education systems across, in case we need to bridge the gap. We have no choice but to address it. The sooner we do, the better it is.

The already employed also need to undergo, robust training programmes that enable them to stay abreast. After all we have to be lifelong learners. More time and energies need to be channelized towards CPD (Continuous Professional Development).

The rapidly changing economy increasingly relies on workers with specific and enhanced skills, required in various industries across the globe, not only in a particular country. We need to have a data base, which totally supports informed decisions about education, job training and most importantly employment. Education systems have to create the ‘talent pool’ that would be in demand in the coming decades. It goes without saying that a lot of focus needs to be put on AI , ML, Data analysis, coding etc , as individuals after leaving the portals of formal educational institutes, will require them to fit into the demands of the job markets.

Without robust data and structured channels of communication with various stake holders like researchers, businesses, etc it would be difficult. Addressing these gaps, obstacles will ensure seamless placements of square pegs in square holes, resulting in economic growth: and shift in global economy.

Therefore a vision with clarity is what is needed to address it. I end with a quote -- “Driving collaborations and bridging divides is the way forward”.

Dr. Ragini Kaul, principal, Maxfort School,Paschim Vihar. Views expressed are personal.