Emphasis on Short-Term Courses and Skill Development in Accordance with Changing Job Market Needs

In today's rapidly changing job market and era of technology, there is an urgent need to make major changes in the education system. Professor Indranil Manna, current vice-chancellor of BIT Mesra and former director of IIT Kanpur (2012-2017), emphasizing this matter, has stated that a review of the methods for preparing the nation's workforce anew is imperative. According to an 'Aaj Tak' report, he has clarified that although short-term courses and periodic re-skilling help employees acquire the necessary skills for specific types of jobs, the foundation of education must always rest upon fundamental principles.

Modern technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now influencing businesses across every sector. In this context, Prof. Manna believes that the main question is not whether the era of degree programs has ended, but rather whether we are making our youth and professionals capable enough so that when their current skills prove insufficient, they can adapt themselves to changing circumstances. If individuals are given a strong understanding of basics, they can be imparted short-term training to learn skills that are relevant at that time considering technical changes.

Explaining the difference between education and training, Professor Manna said that if a specific machine is to be operated or maintained, diploma or certificate courses are sufficient for that. Giving the example of the manufacturing and hardware sector, he stated that generally in such industries, along with one engineer, 5 to 6 diploma holders and 10 to 12 certificate-level workers are needed. However, a person who wants to understand the system deeply, wants to develop it, or wants to prepare themselves according to changes in its design, needs a strong conceptual foundation. He warned that short-term training programs should never be considered a substitute for a degree.

Talking about the necessity of re-skilling, Prof. Manna said that it cannot be expected that any single skill will remain relevant throughout a person's entire career. Industries keep changing, hence employees should have the opportunity to acquire education again and update their knowledge. He added that there is no guarantee that those whom you are training today will always have useful skills. Therefore, it is necessary to keep updating oneself periodically. This learning process should not be limited only to technical skills, because one discipline is rapidly learning from another discipline.

Professor Manna, himself an IITian, explaining the growing relationship between physics and biology, illustrated why professionals need to break out of the limitations of traditional discipline. He said that now physics understands biology much better, hence physicists and biologists will have to connect with each other or remain in constant touch. He also cited medical practice as an excellent example of this kind of synthesis.

Professor Indranil Manna is a well-known Indian educationist and scientist. He has served as the former president of the Indian National Academy of Engineering. In his career, he has also served as the director of IIT Kanpur, where he played an important role from 2012 to 2017. He is known for his academic and research expertise and continuously provides guidance to bring about reforms in the country's higher education system.