The percentage of graduates and their possibility to get jobs is a concern which deserves to? The need to retrain students as per career requirement should be some of vital concerns of the present day education system, writes Akash Tomer for Elets News Network (ENN).

Placement is one of the most important yardsticks for assessment of higher educational institutes. Better placement guarantees better ranking of the institute. As far as placement of government institutes of India are concerned, it has the best in the country. However, private universities and institutes have to toil hard for placement of their students. Placement of a student on an appropriate position requires a quality and mandatory student assessment and advising system. Academic and personal support services are needed for every student at the beginning of their careers to success. Appropriate level of developmental course structured as per the industry requirements and services ensure placement of the students in their respective fields. and tailored academic and affective support commensurate with student skills and abilities.

According to a study conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) Education Committee (AEC) for 2014-2016, only 7% of the pass-outs are actually employable in India excepting graduates from IIMs.

The study further reveals that on an average each student spent nearly Rs 3 to Rs 5 lakh on a two-year MBA programme but their current monthly salary is a measly Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000. The report says that the quality of IIM/IIT students passing out now has dwindled as compared to last 15 years. It is happening due to deteriorating quality of school education in these institutions. Low education quality coupled with the economic slowdown, from 2014 to 2016, campus recruitments have gone down by a whopping 45 per cent.

Of the 15 lakh engineering graduates, India produces annually, 20-30% of them do not find jobs and many other get jobs well below their technical qualification.

Growth rate of Indian economy and number of engineers are the same. IT sector absorbs approximately most number of engineers, between 50-75%. Graduating engineers have huge mismatch in their aspirations and job readiness. 97% engineers aspire for a job in IT and core engineering. However, only 18.43% employable in IT and 7.49% in core engineering, the study added

Importance of Placement and Training

Student Perspective
From a student perspective, high quality placements can bring a range of benefits and positive impacts. For a student, placements and training are extremely valuable as it helps them to enhance or learn industry centric skills beneficial for their future career growth. Best training and placement practices at a private university help students to alleviate barriers to employment for graduates and encourage them to grab all possible opportunities. The Wilson Review of higher education argues that both sandwich placements and student/ graduate internships hold considerable value for the personal and professional development of students. “Sandwich Placement” is a validated work experience opportunity which forms part of a university degree programme (usually the third year, of a four year course).

Improved Skills and Knowledge
Placements and training is an opportunity for students to gain subject-specific skills or industry- specific skills along with the employability skills. These skills help students to improve their knowledge of an industry or sector that further enable them to make better decisions during job or about future career choices. According to a research, carried out at University of Aston to explore the possible link between placements and academic achievement, it was revealed that placements do improve degree performance. The research also suggested that students with better grades are more likely to undertake placements in their first attempt and a successful placement automatically improves the academic performance of a candidate in the very next semester. Better understanding of work and improved personal maturity:

After placements, students are provided the opportunity to work in a team. The team-based working is totally contrasting to academic study where students follow individual-centric approach. This kind of experience helps a person to work collaboratively and enhances problem-solving skills gained at university with better self management. Another beneficial output for students from undertaking a placement is the ability to effectively provide evidence to their experiences present on their CV. Body language of students is a contextual proof for their skills and abilities coupled with documented reference.

Ability to Compete in a Turbulent Marketplace
Ability to Compete in a Turbulent Marketplace Completing a placement can sometimes lead directly to subsequent employment with the same employer following graduation. It can be “a foot in the door” that could lead to a temporary or permanent contract.

Interaction with other professionals while on placement can also bring strong effective in terms of networking. For example, engaging with professionals in their chosen career can provide a foundation of contacts on which to build and draw upon in future.

University Perspective
In universities, students often belong to varying streams, stratas and exposure of life. Some of them are from cities, towns, villages and urbanised villages and thus there is always a probability of them not being aware of expectations from them or exact nature of work. In order to make students aware about the real corporate scenarios and handle their problems, a placement cell is highly recommended in every university. The placement cell of a private university or an institute usually consists of an entire panel to help students during their graduation. The cell helps the students in getting a job, enrollment for a training or internship. One can go to them and they will help you out with placements after college.

Raising the Institution’s Profile
Providing placement opportunities enhances an institution’s reputation among aspiring graduates. Alluring placements are felt to improve student employability which enhances students’ satisfaction that benefits the institutes with better reputation among students and towards providing better quality higher education experience. In theory, this also translates into better performance in league tables based on student employment levels postgraduation. This could significantly improve the attractiveness of the institution to prospective students, who are increasingly mindful of the value of their studies to employers, and improving their job opportunities.

Increased contact with employers High-quality placements can improve a university’s broader engagement and relationships with business. High quality placement experience more likely compel the employers return year after year with additional placement vacancies. Moreover, the employers try to look for other opportunities to link with the university or the institution.

Business Engagement
Placements can pave the way to form constructive relationships with local, national and international organisations. Quality placement at any institute draws the attention of large organisations along with small and medium-sized enterprises. This is helpful for any institution to develop variety of income-generating mechanisms with the organisations. More and more engagement of enterprises helps the universities to knowledge transfer partnerships (KTPs), industry-specific trainings and consultancy and work-based learning.