In this part of the discussion, Dr. Amrita Dass – Founder & Director, Institute for Career Studies puts some facts showing how our demographic dividend is becoming demographic disaster. she further recommends students to go for interdisciplinary specializations.
#FutureJobs #FromSTEMtoSTEAM #MixedStreams #NewAgeJobs #Oneindia #oneindianews
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#FutureJobs #FromSTEMtoSTEAM #MixedStreams #NewAgeJobs #Oneindia #oneindianews
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00:00We guide students to make informed decisions. 85% specializations 10 years from now don't exist today.
00:08Pankaj, the shocking fact is that 85% graduates are unemployed or underemployed. I can say we are
00:17heading for demographic disaster. You know, 8000 students from IIT were unemployed this year.
00:27I have given the call. The call is let's move from STEM to STEAM. Before I let you go, please
00:34tell us about Institute for Career Studies. I mean, how are you contributing and what does
00:41the Institute exactly do? So the Institute for Career Studies pioneered career guidance and
00:47counseling. Next year, we will be 40 years old. So we guide students to make informed decisions
00:56about their future courses, campuses, careers, we empower them to build on their employability
01:04skills. So the objective is to ensure that every student is empowered to make choices that align
01:12with what they're best at and what they're passionate about. Because at the intersection
01:19of that, there are a lot of jobs that the world needs. So we need to know
01:25what are going to be the requirements because 85% specializations 10 years from now don't exist
01:32today. So we do a lot of futuristic projections and advise students how to be future ready,
01:40how to future proof their careers starting now. So we have a large network of schools, we have
01:47highly trained career counselors and mentors who visit these schools across the country.
01:52We do plenty of webinars. The recent one we did was on interdisciplinary STEM fields. The national
02:01education policies talked about demolishing the silos of art, science and commerce, but it's not
02:07happening. The boards allow it. So we are still thinking in terms of streams of science, arts,
02:15it's still a linear equation of PCM equals engineering, PCB equals medical, commerce
02:22equals account and very little beyond that, when there are numerous career possibilities.
02:29I also believe that today's Gen Z can look at leveraging their talents today. So I call it the
02:38power of now. And I tell them that you can be that writer, that anchor person, the app developer,
02:47the entrepreneur, the scientist, the inventor today and their opportunities, and we connect
02:54them with those opportunities so that they can have an early start. I was reaching out
03:03across the board. The shocking fact is that 85% graduates are unemployed or underemployed.
03:13We talk about demographic advantage, but I can say we are heading for demographic disaster.
03:21If we don't ensure employability for all, I was in now recently, reaching out to students in
03:29rural areas, and I was talking to the district magistrate, the different people in that government
03:36sector, and also to principals there. And I gave the call of let us work towards employment for all.
03:48And that can happen if we empower these students with the requisite knowledge and employability
03:54skills. And it is possible that they then will be part of the jobs that are being created,
04:01rather than waiting for jobs that are being eliminated. 8000 students from IIT were
04:13unemployed this year. And that's the figure given by the right to information. Now, if that's happening
04:20to the IITs, similarly, thousands in IM, can you imagine what's happening at the ground level?
04:26So it's leading to social unrest. And the social unrest will lead to a demographic disaster.
04:34We have to convert it to a demographic dividend. And there's lots that can be done. And perhaps we
04:40could have a discussion with different stakeholders on this, because it is possible
04:46to predict future trends and bring that kind of training right into our schools.
04:53Dr. Amritadas, well, this is futuristic, definitely. And I am sitting here and I'm wondering that
05:00thanks to people like you, who are thinking ahead of the times, you are absolutely right,
05:07that the traditional workforce or work system or work culture will will not be there 25 years later
05:14and hence we have to prepare ourselves to suit the needs at that time.
05:19Absolutely. So Pankaj, very quickly, I have given the call. The call is let's move from STEM to
05:26STEAM, from just a focus of science, technology, engineering, math to science, technology,
05:32engineering, arts and math. So I'm talking about that, if AI is to serve humanity,
05:42as Microsoft said, in its study, future computed, then every person of technology will have to know
05:50some liberal arts and vice versa. And there are more and more interdisciplinary specializations,
05:57Pankaj, like economics and psychology and finance has a new specialized area, which is called
06:05behavioral finance, behavioral economics, where you need to understand human behavior,
06:10history and mathematics has an amazing combination, leading to clear dynamics, which is
06:21accurate ways of predicting future trends, through the exactitude of mathematical calculations.
06:30Because history is a study of the past to understand the present and predict the future.
06:36If you bring in mathematical calculations and computing algorithms, you'll be able to
06:42plan A, B and C, there's medical humanities. And there's so much more today, which people don't
06:49know about. So the idea is to reset our mindset. We have a different kind of an approach to being
07:00able to pivot and change tracks. And there's so much to talk. But thank you for asking. I'm glad
07:06I could share this with you. Well, I'm thinking that, you know, our discussion on the coaching
07:12centers and this part can go independently. And I'm saying this during the show also,
07:18because both of them carry equal importance. And thank you for putting that all important
07:25A in STEM, because yes, the students should also not feel left out if they're an art student.
07:32And this kind of communion, ma'am, personally being an arts graduate, a literature student,
07:37I believe that yes, there's much needed that humane part is much needed. You know, if an IITian
07:45goes to become an author, then he should not be the only one in the club. There should be more of
07:50that. And if an author. Yeah, many more definitely.
07:54True. And I say, so therefore, I say high touch before high tech,
07:59a human touch before high tech is going to make a difference. And for anyone appearing for
08:06competitive exams, I believe everybody should have a safety net of if not, then what? And
08:13they're wonderful opportunities to actually tap into your potential and do something that will
08:20give you meaning in life, purpose in life, recognition, remuneration, all of that. So
08:26it's possible if we plan in advance. Absolutely, ma'am. Thank you so much for taking time out this
08:33afternoon for One India. We would love to hear from you more. We'd love to host you more on our
08:39education based shows. That's a promise from One India.
08:43It would be such a privilege and a pleasure and I've enjoyed our conversation. As you can see,
08:48I'm so excited. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Amrita Das, the Director and Founder of
08:54Institute for Career Studies. Thank you so much. Don't miss out. Follow One India for real time
08:59updates.