India’s largest IT challenge: lack of practical learning concepts

Ahmedabad : : On average, it takes roughly 9 months for an IT organisation to fully onboard a new hire before they reach full productivity. The educational programmes do not work in tandem to provide students with relevant knowledge and skills.

Despite the fact that many Information Technology and Computer Engineering majors graduate from colleges and universities each year, there is a persistent shortage of qualified IT professionals who can take on client projects on their own. Especially when working with international clients.

Niraj Gemawat, CEO and founder of The Gateway Group, one of Gujarat’s largest homegrown IT companies, says, “the problem may be summed up in simple words as a discrepancy in Learning Versus Doing. If the gap can be closed, it will offer the country far more clout in the global market for information technology solutions.

Prominent IT expert Vilas Nagar claims, “Local IT organisations wind up with significant investments and experiencing hefty loss recruiting and upskilling employees.” Local enterprises have access to students who may or may not be extremely proficient and those from newly founded engineering colleges, whereas star students from top universities receive an opportunity at MNCs and prominent corporates that give enormous packages and bonuses. Soft skills, communication, and problem-solving abilities are also lacking. If India is to take the lead in reducing the IT workforce gap, this void must be filled. These soft skills are highly recognised in the IT industry and are becoming just as essential as technical expertise.

To ensure that future workers are prepared to meet the demands of the labour market, it is critical that educational institutions update their curricula to reflect the evolving needs of the IT industry. As Vilas points out, “technology develops virtually every day on this small globe, whereas updating university curricula might take years.”

Dr. Nirav Bhatt, the department head at R.K. University, claims that the school has been making every effort to adapt to the needs of the business world by soliciting and considering the opinions of experts in the field. Students must be able to adapt to the varying mental demands of classroom work and real-world projects as they progress from one level to the next. Current trends show that during the final semester of school, most employers spend at least six months providing free training to graduating students. Only when the pupils have completed the training will they be allowed to work for the clients. He says, “It has been my experience that students who work for organisations that provide services to international clientele, particularly those in the United States and Europe, have greater opportunities for professional development and exposure.”

Gemawat, who leads Ahmedabad-based Software Engineering Company Gateway, which services 20 Global Fortune 500 clients through its offices and development centres in 30 countries, says, “to address these gaps, it will be important for the GenZ’s entering the workforce to continually invest in their education and skill development, as well as for employers to provide opportunities for training and professional development. Universities should try and work in close coordination with IT companies and explore more ways for students to get industry exposure from the time they complete two years of the curriculum.”

Industry trends indicate one of the key areas that are likely to see a gap in the field of technology is artificial intelligence and machine learning. As these technologies become more widespread, there will be a growing demand for employees with advanced skills in these areas. This will require universities to update curricula more frequently.

Another area where the skills gap may emerge is cybersecurity. As cyber threats continue to evolve, there will be a growing need for experts with advanced skills in protecting against these threats and responding to and mitigating the consequences of attacks.