Industry-academia gap behind rising unemployment: Pro VC Aditya University

The Private School Association J&K (PSAJK) on Thursday felicitated the meritorious students who topped in the JKBOSE and CBSE exams, the result of which was declared earlier this year. The felicitation was done during a career counseling and appreciation function organised by PSAJK at Green Valley Educational Institute (GVEI) Srinagar. The career counselling programme was attended by educationists, school heads, students and parents. During the function, the speakers collectively emphasised the need to transform students into future entrepreneurs and job creators capable of driving economic growth rather than merely seeking employment. In his address at the occasion, pro Vice Chancellor Aditya University Dr. Thangjam Ravichandra who was the chief guest at the occasion stressed the need to bridge the widening gap between higher education and industry. He urged the students to become job creators rather than job seekers, saying conventional degrees alone are no longer sufficient to secure employment in an increasingly competitive job market. Dr Ravichandra said India's demographic advantage could turn into a liability unless educational institutions align academic programmes with industry requirements. He said India has the world's largest youth population, with nearly 60 per cent of its population below the age of 25, describing it as the country's biggest demographic dividend. He however, expressed concern over declining employability among graduates. Quoting recent data, he said only around 54 per cent of Indian graduates are employable, with nearly one out of every two students completing higher education remains unemployed despite holding a degree. "The issue is not merely about earning degrees. Universities have focused for years on traditional classroom teaching without adequately equipping students with industry-relevant skills," he said. The Pro VC said that while skill development remains important, "industry relevance" has emerged as the defining factor for employability. He said there continues to be a significant disconnect between what industries require and what higher education institutions produce. " India has nearly 1,200 universities and around 12,000 higher education institutions, yet graduates continue to struggle for employment because the expectations of industries and the output of educational institutions are not aligned," he added. He called upon students to explore emerging career opportunities beyond conventional professions such as civil services, medicine and engineering and said career choices should be guided by aptitude and evolving industry demand rather than social perceptions. He also highlighted the growing role of entrepreneurship, innovation and industry partnerships in shaping future careers, urging young people to aspire to become employment generators. "Our youth should imagine themselves as leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs who contribute not only to their own success but also to the development of the country and the region," he said. President PSAJK Dr Nazrul Islam Baba said that felicitation ceremony was a small step of the association towards empowering the students. In his address, noted environment lawyer Nadeem Qadri said that schools should strive for better future of the students.