A question we often ask is what do the next generation students want out of education? Probably decent employment. Knowledge, values and citizenship are all complementary. Decent living will get them everything else. So, going forward, what skills will be required? Can there ever be a future proof career? Though core engineering disciplines like Civil, Mechanical and Electrical have an extremely important role in driving the industry, their potential to generate new job opportunities is low compared to disciplines like IT or Computer Science. The technology in most of the products whether used by consumer or by defence services, are a mix of mechanical, electrical, electronics, communications, computer science, materials besides a host of other disciplines. The new graduate must understand the interplay between them, as much as understanding each one of them. Therein lie the opportunity for new job roles.
Skill sets required at entry level jobs seem to be changing due to Automation. We all know what Robotics Process Automation (RPA) has done. A discussion paper of the McKinsey Global Institute in May 2018 reports that automation will accelerate the shift in required workforce skills over the next 15 years.
A pyramid like job structure is changing into an almost vertical pipe like structure. The base of the pyramid is shrinking. Today, we need lesser numbers at the base but with higher order skills. Even the shelf life of skills is coming down with every technology intervention. A student often asks, where the employment opportunities are, whether the current jobs would be in the same form by the time he graduates in four years’ time and the kind of skill-sets required then?
Automation is everywhere for sure. Let’s analyse a few opportunities. Automation testing in software industry, Business Process Automation, Industrial Automation, Control and Robotics Process Automation (RPA) are all areas to reckon with for they will extensively use AI and the new technologies in future. Be it the online shopping site or the online credit card application processing, transaction-based activities, software testing, regression or large-scale automation, RPA is the answer. Entire KYC is RPA driven. Hence, requisite skills for RPA are important.
Another question students often ask is if their skills would be a waste since the employment markets have been so dynamic. No skill will ever be a waste. But the change in the environment must not be missed. What one may have correctly recognised is that ‘data science’ is required in every sector for problem solving. However, what they do not is that hiring standards require much higher skills in data science than those acquired in the universities. Python skills, working with Jupyter notebooks are all important. Starting with a more conventional “scikit-learn” type data science role and migrating to deep learning later will enhance one’s life cycle. Demand for full-stack developers is so high that companies sometimes end up asking data science experts to toggle for the new requirement.
Industry 4.0 requires labour 4.0. AI, Machine learning, Deep learning, Robotics, Cloud technology, data analytics, blockchain are all important. Cyber-physical system (CPS) is everywhere. The physical entities are controlled by collaborating computational elements. An era of alignment between man and machine on levels that were only depicted in sci-fi films is dawning on us. People will start communicating with machines instead of just operating them, creating an effective hybrid of the Internet of People (IoP) and the Internet of Things (IoT). Acquiring such skill-sets will prove useful. If they cannot be acquired in the universities, they must be from outside the universities.
An emerging market is the Gaming Industry, be it PC gaming, or Console gaming or Mobile gaming where, unlike movies, the player himself is the hero. Tremendous opportunities in programming skills exist. Knowledge of Java, Swift, Python, Objective-C, Ruby, HTML5, Kotlin and Android are all game changers.
In 2018, the video games market generated $131 billion, with Mobile gaming outpacing revenue made by PC and Console gaming. A 2019 report of Global data says, the video games market could become a $300 billion industry by 2025, with the growth of Mobile gaming and Cloud gaming. The skills acquired here help in programming online quizzes, simulations to teach mathematical concepts like randomness, and even automated email replies. This needs students not only to skill, but reskill and upskill all the time.
The future could see an upsurge of jobs in areas like cybersecurity, data science, healthcare, marketing, communication, design, delivery / logistics management, human resources, and gig-economy.
If the skills cannot be learnt in the university, they must be learnt outside it. Certifications of EdX, Coursera, LinkedIn or Udemy or similar in applied areas must be pursued for good placements. Value added courses, experiential learning, hands on skills, conceptual expertise, exposure to international practices, internships are all required.
As the NEP proposes, unbundling credits, new certifications and collaborations will be required. From a university perspective, they will need to drive technology innovation, evolve academic pathways and include alternative credentials. Collaborations between institutions/universities will be increasingly important to pool not only resources but best practices. Research and analytics must help drive improvements of learning outcomes. A flexible personalized platform connecting students to tutors, use of intelligent analytics and AI will build credentials-based learning. Similarly innovative evaluation methodologies too must be adopted.
Besides the technical domain specific skills, one must also excel in complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management and coordination with others, negotiation and cognitive flexibility. Further, industry seeks a high level of emotional intelligence, good judgement and decision-making capabilities. All said and done, if domain skills are found wanting, everything said above is futile.
The country is transforming into digital economy. As the technology marches ahead, the contours of existing jobs are continuously changing. While some have become obsolete, new opportunities have emerged in hitherto unknown sectors. Communication skills along with collaborative and adaptable mindset to cope with a rapidly-changing workplace is important. I must say I did not have all these skills when I graduated. I can only envy the current lot sometimes and be nonplussed at their plight other times.
The future is uncertain and one is likely to encounter setbacks no matter how much one prepares or plans. Cultivating an ability to weather disappointment, and turbulence, being resilient, working with purpose, strengthening the personal support base, concentrating on improving health and well-being are all necessary.