A new study by researchers at Bournemouth University reveals that Indian students are woefully unprepared for workplace. The findings was based on views of 270 higher education leaders, educators, students, employers, policymakers, and non-governmental organisations in India. Published in report 'Global Talent in India: Challenges and Opportunities for Skills Development in Higher Education', the report reveals a substantial gap between what is taught at university and surveys.
Of all the academics questioned for the research, 65 percent agreed that students in Indian higher education are unable to demonstrate that they have had the opportunity to apply graduate-level skills and competencies and gain industry exposure. One of the researchers, Sonal Minocha said, “There is a very clear higher-level skills gap in India, which is estimated to cost the Indian economy as much as £6.2 billion in lost productivity. Our report offers preliminary findings for consideration by educators, employers, and policymakers in tackling India's graduate-level skills development challenge.”
Just one third of employers and industry representatives believed that students and graduates have the necessary high-level skills and knowledge that they are looking for in their industry. Findings are also reinforced by students with just 37 per cent agreeing that Indian universities offered relevant and up-to-date training-development opportunities.
“There was a huge recognition that a number of our graduates and youth in India will be going itno self-employment. So they felt that there was a lot of emphasis on embedding research in the curriculum and in universities, perhaps not as much importance given to enterprise,” Minocha said.
