[MTC Global] Re: Focused Discussion​-- Skill Gaps

Hi,

 

I would like to address 2 points mentioned by Ms. Shaila as I have experienced several situations with regard to the placement related scenarios as also Retail Management courses  -

 

- Organisations visiting colleges for placement can sit together to work out a solution.

 

The sad reality is that most colleges are only interested in interacting with industry experts for placements and not for any academic inputs. In that context maybe the comment by another member that "they are afraid of industry people" is very correct and relevant. As a Retail Industry expert with close to 2 decades of experience I readily offer to share my learning to any institute interested in the same. Most of the time I am approached for a guest lecture and usually the interaction starts and ends with how many placements I can help with.

 

Inputs about the industry and what is required is hardly the focus area. Nowadays, I clarify upfront that if the unsaid agenda is placements, I am not interested in participating.

 

- Boom in Retail Industry and number of courses in retail.

 

Retail by nature is a very hands on subject which is why the stand alone kirana store manages to thrive even while chain stores have closed down. Sure, there are Retail Management courses being offered in several institutes and I teach in a select few where I know that the knowledge I bring to the table is valued.

 

The larger question is regarding the content and who is teaching this course. My experience is that most syllabus have been prepared with very little industry perspective and it is taught by people who have no Retail experience/ exposure.

 

I receive mails from people pursuing PhD in Retail as it is now booming and the mails shows these candidates in a very poor light in terms of what they are doing and what they expect to do. The sad reality is that most of these candidates will soon get their PhD and shortly start teaching Retail. I shudder to think of what the students will end up learning.

 

In short, both my comments again illustrates the absolute isolation of academics from industry in most cases.

 

Bye

VR 

 

 

 

 

"Shaila" <shaila@kfourmetrics.com> Jul 27 02:32PM +0530      
 
      Dear all,
 
As much as we deliberate 'skills' or the lack of it, it is the responsiblity of the colleges to churn out students fit to work, - 'productive',as much as the industry has an equal responsiblity to partner with the colleges to help identify the 'skills' required from students.
 
In the college I work as a visiting faculty, couple of organisations regularly visit the college for placement without fail, year on year. 
 
Can a solution be worked out with the college and the organisation sitting togather to work out what is required of the students to find jobs in their respective organisations?
 
If there is a boom in retail industry, there are any number of courses in retail management!!!
 
I suggest,  a student should be good at the fundamentals - be it HR, finance etc etc., the add ons courses comes in the form of what organisations require - communications, soft skills etc etc.,   This is what a college is supposed to do.  An organisation is suppose to train their employees to their respective needs.
 
Regards,
Shaila
 
 

 

 

On Sat, Jul 28, 2012 at 12:11 PM, Rajesh V - Office Use <vr.office@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi,

The whole space of skill gaps needs to include employability skills, life skills, soft skills, conceptual skills, organisational skills, etc. This is the topic which has been extensively detailed in "Out Of Syllabus".

For example when one is discussing employability skills it includes simple things like whether a person knows how to operate the various office equipments. Do they know how to create a document with an auto generated content table? etc. This is one of the most glaring gaps today because no institute even ventures anywhere close to this topic.

As someone from the industry and having interviewed and recruited many young adults I have always followed the maxim "Hire for Attitude and Train for the job". Now, the challenge is to find out whether the person has the right attitude in the few minutes of interview especially when everyone is on their best behavior.

This is where the employability skill checking has been very relevant. When asked about certain very basic things like "Do you know filing" the response clearly shows the person's attitude in terms of willing to learn and dirty their hands.

My view is that this is what is crucial and needs to be taught at every institute starting from the 11th standard itself.

Bye
VR

 

Retail Consultant, Trainer & Author,

"Out Of Syllabus" & "The INDIAN reTALEs"

 Avl at Flipkart,  Kindle & iTunes 

 

Click here to visit my site

--

Bye
VR

 

Retail Consultant, Trainer & Author,

"Out Of Syllabus" & "The INDIAN reTALEs"

 Avl at Flipkart,  Kindle & iTunes 

 

Click here to visit my site