Higher Education Must Better Align With Jobs, Entrepreneurship Needs: FM Sitharaman

New Delhi, Aug 17 (KNN) India’s higher education system needs to better prepare students for employment and entrepreneurship, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, highlighting a gap between academic qualifications and workplace requirements.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Sitharaman noted that many university courses provide students with degrees but do not adequately equip them to enter the workforce, start businesses or handle professional responsibilities.

She emphasised that higher education systems in developed countries generally offer greater flexibility in choosing areas of study and provide clearer pathways for applying acquired skills in the workplace. India, she said, needs to adopt a similar approach by making education more closely aligned with market requirements.

Her comments come amid broader concerns over the transition from education to employment and the need to better align higher education, skills development and workforce requirements.

The interview was conducted on the sidelines of the BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting held in Jaipur on August 12-13.

Focus on Government Schools

Sitharaman also highlighted the need to improve the quality of government schools, saying investment should extend beyond physical infrastructure to teaching quality, learning outcomes and the availability of suitable teachers.

She noted that teachers posted in rural areas also require adequate housing and other support to make such assignments more sustainable. Local language requirements and the availability of teachers with the necessary skills are other factors that need to be considered, she added.

Private Sector Has Key Role in Job Creation

On employment, Sitharaman said the government can encourage private-sector investment but cannot compel companies to create jobs. Private investment, she said, ultimately depends on market demand and the availability of opportunities that can generate returns.

She highlighted that the government's role should be to create conditions that encourage investment and ensure that people with the required skills are available to meet emerging demand.

AI Skills Becoming Increasingly Important

Sitharaman also advised young people to develop familiarity with artificial intelligence as technology changes the nature of work across sectors.

She said AI skills would increasingly be expected across professions and could help workers improve efficiency.

(KNN Bureau)