Degrees Must Translate Into Employability, Says Vice-President
Mumbai: Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Saturday challenged India’s educational institutions to go beyond “paper qualifications”, arguing that academic degrees are only as valuable as the employability they provide. Speaking as Chief Guest at the maiden convocation of Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University (MSSU), the Vice President told the inaugural graduating class that their achievement marks a critical milestone in India’s ambition to become a “global hub” for skilled human capital.
At the ceremony held at the Durbar Hall in Lok Bhavan, the Vice President emphasized that the rapid pace of technological change leaves no room for stagnant curriculum. He noted that during his previous tenures as Governor in many states, the gap between classroom learning and industry requirements remained a persistent problem. To counter this, he called on universities to treat “new age technologies” as essential components of modern education rather than optional extras.
“Universities and academic institutions must constantly update their curricula to meet modern challenges and align education with industry requirements. Degrees are meaningful only when they translate into employability,” the Vice President said.
Seeing the central government’s “Skill India” mission and the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Skill Development as a catalyst for a nationwide shift in vocational education, Mr. Radhakrishnan also praised the efforts of the Maharashtra government, stating that the state has now positioned itself to compete directly with leading global economies through such specialized institutions.
Addressing students as ambassadors of Indian talent, the Vice President warned that the country’s “demographic dividend” is a double-edged sword that needs to be constantly sharpened with the right skills. He reminded the meeting that the late Ratan Tata represented a legacy in which industrial growth and social responsibility were inseparable; it was a standard that graduates were challenged to live up to in their professional lives. He also said that the University named after Rata Tata bears a deep responsibility to bridge the gap between education and employability while producing socially responsible individuals.
The Vice President also launched the “Say No to Drugs” campaign and visited the exhibition set up by industry partners as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other senior state officials attended the event.
