Bridging the Qualification Gap between Academia and Industry to mitigate youth unemployment in Bangladesh
1. Analyzing the situation got some underlying problems which are
2. The job sector isn’t increased according to the number of graduate students
3. The disparity between expectations of recruiters and fresh graduates
4. Lack of soft skills among students
5. Lack of application of theoretical knowledge in student life
6. The curriculum is not up to date
7. Lack of placement policy and poor skill development initiatives
And for the above reasons, it’s creating a symbiotic relationship between industry and academia. So, the friction between youth and industry is increasing day by day. As a result, the unemployment rate is increasing at an alarming rate whereas the recruiters are not getting their desired candidates. Although they are hiring some potential candidates it takes time to make them habituated with corporate culture.
So, the core problem is the gap between knowledge and employability
We find out the problem and now we have to think about a constructive solution. To alleviate the gap the university and the industry have to come forward
To solve the problem suggesting a smart goal that will help to create a bridge.
"Mitigating gap among faculties, students and industry through online and offline activities to increase the awareness about real-life skills in student life within a one-year-long campaign"
This one is the smart goal because
Specific - Mitigation of the performance gap
Measurable - Through online and offline activities
Attainable - Increasing the awareness
Realistic - campaign
Time-based - one year
To accomplish the goal some initiatives can be launched which will ultimately work for achieving the smart goal.
These initiatives are designed for reducing the gap among students, faculties and industry where this group will work together to create a bridge.
To execute the initiatives here is some execution plan
Number 1 initiative is "Signing Memorandum of Agreement"
At first, company or organizations should sign a memorandum with the University authority based on a beneficial relationship. Interaction among students, teachers and recruiters will increase. It will mitigate the lackings of teachers about industrial exposure. Indirectly industry people will be able to involve in updating the curriculum of academic.
Number 2 initiative is "Industry Institute Partnership Center"
According to the MOA respective industry will set up an interim centre to conduct the activities in the individual campus where potential students, faculties and HR members will maintain a symbiotic relationship to create awareness about real-life skills for youth development to tackle youth unemployability.
Number 3 initiative is "Gig Hub"
The industry will provide freelancing towards the selective students through partnership centre instead of incentives throughout the year. By these students will be able to know about the corporate culture from their student life and industry will be able to make their work done.
Number 4 initiative is "Learning Climate"
As a training phase with the help of an interim centre the company will design an artificial learning environment where students will get a chance to act as a member of their respective industry and their assessment will be measured by their facilitation, appreciation and error allowance. The company will provide data and resources as facilitation. Students will get different types of appreciation according to their work. Error allowance environment refers to provide a chance to do error because learning by doing is also based on learning from the mistake.
Number 5 initiative is "Student Congress"
Arranging open discussion two times a year between students and executive members in the presence of faculties where students will be able to do questions about job requirements, skills, lackings of fresh graduates. Ultimately this kind of discussion will help students to grow their skills and faculties will be concerned about real-life skills along with theoretical knowledge.
Number 6 initiative is "Company open days with faculties"
Visiting corporate office or industry with faculties will be effective for students to know about the corporate culture and faculties will clear the implementation of theoretical learnings in real life and students will be able to connect the learnings with a real-life scenario.
Number 7 initiative is "Live projects from industry"
At the end of the training Under the supervision of the Industry Institute Partnership Center, the industry will provide projects to the students like campaign, research on individual products or service upon the individual group to evaluate the learning process of the campaign.
Promotional Channels:
For promoting this kind of initiative Campus Ambassador, Social Media, University News Group can be some effective channels for promoting the campaign.
Measurement Scale:
And lastly, measuring the success of an initiative is very important to justify the outcome of the initiative. To measure the success of the initiatives this kind of measurement scale can be followed -
By the gig hub measuring the tech skills and soft skills.
Conducting a soft skill measurement test through Symbiotic Partnership Center.
Learning Climate will measure the performance and willingness of the students.
Live projects will work as an indicator of the real-life behaviour of the students.
As a youth, it is our responsibility to do something about this uprising problem and I believe if the above initiatives will be taken the ultimate smart goal will be achieved which will ultimately bring a change to remove the core problem of youth development.
Tasnima Yakub Tarin
Department of Marketing
Session – 2018-19
