Education & Employability: Ying Yang of Professional Success

14 years in to the 21^st century, dynamicity seems to be the only thing that is stationary, business leaders face unprecedented challenges. Markets are becoming increasingly competitive and globalized and society is becoming more multi- culturally diverse than ever. Advances in information and communication technology are reshaping the market structures and demanding entirely new business strategies. To be successful in the changing business environment, tomorrow’s business leaders more than ever before, must have ground-breaking knowledge in all functional areas.

The transformation from regulation to liberalization and integration with International markets, and rapid advances in IT and communication Technologies, exponential growth and the reach of internet, social media and consumer advocacy have all created immense scope and increased requirement for trained professionals to manage effectively in the complex business environment. The Business Schools are competing and struggling to develop professionals who can lead and foster creativity and innovation in a dynamic and technological environment.

Conventionally Kerala has been a prominent supplier of skilled human resource to the rest of the world. But, now in accordance with the requirements of the fast changing world, though Kerala has an amazing pool of Human Resource, the overall employability is calculated less than 30 percent.

It is a fact that there is a huge gap between students’ perceptions of their abilities and the employers’ perceptions of those same skills. The students should overcome the problems of functional application and skills in the chosen field. This process can certainly be enhanced through regular interactions or exchange between academia and industry, in the form of aligning and improving the curricula to meet industrial needs and by providing much needed work experience to students.

The Business schools should impart knowledge of the best practices in the industry and build core competencies such as learning skills, communication and collaboration, leadership, creative thinking, analytical and problem solving skills. Business schools also have a responsibility to the student body to keep students abreast of real time technical skills and to utilize the expertise of industry veterans to groom the upcoming slew of young professionals.

When we boast of being the first state to achieve 100% literacy, we do not take in to account the fact that the employability factor is too low. The students in Kerala are good in theories, but, the problem with unemployability of these young adults is the lack of proper communication, out of the box thinking, and application. This should start right from the primary levels in schools. Save for a small fraction of students who were privileged to acquire education in CBSE and ICSE schools others are victims to Government’s policy of aversion to English. It is disheartening to find that English is still treated and taught as a ‘subject’ in the school curriculum rather than a serious communicative tool. The approach to education has to change; it is not a two year quickie to lifelong comfort, but a phase where the horizons of your mind are broadened, where you learn the basics of networking and a place where the challenges of the real professional world are simulated so a student can find his ground.

The students should realize that employability skills are the passport to the world of all preferred jobs and the place of English is an imperative in grabbing the best jobs in India and abroad.