Today, 80 to 85 per cent of engineering graduates do not get the job they are meant to do due to a mismatch between the technical knowledge they possess and what the industry looks for. Lack of soft skills is also a factor going against them. Besides skilling and upskilling the engineering graduates, there is case for taking a re-look at the academic system. The system of academics that is currently used to make students job-ready engineers, needs a complete overhaul. The curriculum needs to be made more relevant to the dynamically changing business ecosystem.
Traditional classrooms should give way to those that simulate real-life problems they may face at the factories. They should be taught how to resolve these issues through a practical approach. Here, the emphasis on theory is limited and simulation-based problem solving is of paramount importance. The student is trained to think out-of-the-box and yet apply the concepts found in the textbooks.
We have to wake up to the reality of automation. Today, a robot could do your job. The World Economic Forum’s “Future of Jobs” study predicts that 5 million jobs will be lost before 2020 as artificial intelligence, robotics and nanotechnology will replace much of the need for human workers.
That’s an alarming number. The good news is that those same technological advances will also create 2.1 million new jobs. But filling those new roles requires new skills. Most new jobs will lie in specialized areas.
Customized skillsets
Single skillset jobs are on the wane. One of the studies shows that workers who can successfully combine mathematical and interpersonal skills will find many rewarding and lucrative opportunities. The enterprising client today looks for engineering graduates who have customized skillsets and will be productive from day one of their job.
Time for Engineer 2.0
Engineer 2.0 is driven by smartphones, learning through mobile technology. Engineers today have to be constantly updated through continuous information flow, adapt to the technological changes in the IT world, be proactive and solve problems differently. Engineer 2.0 is mobile and can go to any part of the world to resolve the issues there.
Skill development
There is a peripheral industry that is focusing on skill development. The question is: Why should it be peripheral to education? Why can’t it be built into the education system?
This article is contributed by Ravishankar, executive vice-president at HCL TalentCare
