India’s vast population stands at a crossroads with more than 65 per cent of its population below the age of 35. However, with technology rapidly reshaping industries and job roles, the traditional approach of formal education is no longer sufficient. Disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence and automation have changed the nature of the workplace and the skill sets needed to be successful today. The low employability of job seekers is a worrying factor. Skilling and apprenticeship programs have emerged as important tools in bridging the skill gap, empowering individuals and driving economic growth.
The way technology is disrupting the way we work, many new jobs are being created that require new skill sets and we need to find new ways to build a skilled workforce for our future needs. need to be installed.
In a recent report from the World Economic Forum, more than 60 percent of employers believe that candidates today lack the necessary technical skills. By most estimates, India’s workforce will require cross-skilling and upskilling to meet the demands of emerging industries and secure sustainable employment.
Apprenticeship programs play an important role in gaining the professional skills and on-the-job experience that are critical to succeed in today’s technology-driven workplace. Furthermore, apprenticeship embedded programs provide an opportunity to develop specialized skills in a number of sectors such as manufacturing, construction, financial services, health care, agriculture, information technology, etc.
Unlocking the full potential of India’s next generation of workforce will require a multi-pronged approach to skilling and apprenticeships:
learning by doing: A combination of classroom learning along with on-the-job-training (OJT) learning will provide students with an opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge parallely, making them more employable. The Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Program will open many doors for the students, prepare them for the “real world” and enable them to learn industry-relevant skills and understand the “world of work”. For employers, this is a great opportunity to invest in their future workforce.
Employment Gateway: Today’s educational universities have realized the urgency of ‘Employability’, and have started collaborating with corporates with open arms revealing our research. While many have started to integrate with industry by including these skills in their curriculum, there is also a huge influx of employers who are now partnering with universities and content platforms to provide their workforce with Develop customized learning programs to train you for a new job. Occasion.
Culture of lifelong learning, collaboration and excellence: By establishing a mindset of continuous learning, companies will seize the opportunity to create a sustainable competitive advantage by reimagining their people, supply chains and creating a culture of learning. Such organizations will experience immense benefits in addition to unprecedented improvements in employee productivity and retention.
Implementation of NEP: Universities should align their policies, curriculum and teaching methods with the principles and goals of the NEP. This includes modifying existing programs and developing new ones that foster interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
They should be able to provide flexibility and multidisciplinary learning opportunities to their students.
Collaboration among stakeholders: There is a need for collaboration of the government, educational institutions, private sector and academia at large to design and implement effective skilling and apprenticeship programmes. This collaboration should ensure that training programs are relevant, accessible and in line with industry needs.
Investment in infrastructure and technology: Investment in strong infrastructure and advanced technologies is absolutely necessary to scale up the skill upgradation efforts. Online platforms, virtual reality simulations and digital learning tools can enhance the reach and effectiveness of skilling programmes, especially in remote areas.
Apprenticeships, upskilling, reskilling and new skilling are critical to building the workforce of the future by providing practical experience, industry-relevant skills, adaptability, employer collaboration, reducing the skill mismatch, facilitating transition to employment and promoting lifelong learning . Governments, industry and educational institutions should collaborate and work towards scaling up apprenticeship and skilling programmes, encouraging all stakeholders to participate and help build the workforce of the future for India.
– Written by Niti Sharma, Co-founder and President, TeamLease Edtech