Employability in Higher Education: Problems and Prospectives

Abstract

About 3.5 million graduates, on an average, every year 22,000 graduate students are coming out from Higher Educational Institutions in India, but all of them are not getting employment. Thus, the country has more than 50% able-bodied unemployed (300 million) between the ages of 18 to 50 years and they do not have required skill sets. Recruitment companies say that many of the students, who are coming out with degrees, do not have requisite employability skills to secure employment. It is estimated that by 2025, about 300 million educated youth will be waiting for jobs/ employment in the country. However, employers in India are facing a huge shortage of skilled manpower. Thus, there is little connection between education and employability of students. Ensuring the employability of students is an intrinsic part of good education and is a government priority. It is reflected in the performance indicators of educational institutions and it is likely to become increasingly important to prospective students in their choice of course and required budget for providing good infrastructure. Increasingly, our graduates have to compete for jobs with talented youth outside the states or even outside the country. To secure employment, the students must develop communication skills, self-confidence / high aspirations, transact the course curriculum effectively, involve in extra-curricular activities, aware of job opportunities, develop career related experience, linkages with the providers of employment, aware of selection procedure, face the interviews boldly etc., are important. The present paper entitled ‘Employability in Higher Education: Problems and Prospects’ discusses about the concept of employability, status of employability of students and problems faced for the employability of students. The paper also explains about the need for employability of students and pre-requisites for employability of students. Further, the prospects in the employability of students in higher educational institutions will be discussed.