Overview

During my recent visit to colleges, I had the opportunity to interact with two Training and Placement Officers (TPOs) to discuss our i-merit program. I went in with the expectation that they would resonate with the idea of bridging the skill gap and preparing students for the evolving job market. However, their perspective was quite different.

As we sat down for the discussion, they acknowledged the importance of upskilling and employability for fresh graduates. But they were quick to clarify that they weren’t looking for another program that merely "fills the gap" with generic training modules. “We understand the concepts of industry readiness well,” one of them remarked. “What we don’t want is students being overloaded with unnecessary courses that don’t directly add value beyond just meeting the entry criteria for jobs.”

Their words struck a chord. While technical certifications and training programs are widely available, they often miss the real challenge - ensuring that students gain practical, market-relevant skills rather than just ticking off checkboxes on their resumes.

However, they did acknowledge that introducing students to emerging technologies is essential, given how rapidly the tech landscape is evolving. They agreed that current academic curricular are not aligned with industry demands, and offering students exposure to new-age technologies can provide them with a broader understanding of career possibilities

As our conversation deepened, we identified a more pressing need-upskilling shouldn't be limited to coding alone. The IT industry offers a vast array of roles beyond programming, including business analysis, technical writing, cybersecurity, cloud management, product support, and digital marketing. Fresh graduates often miss out on these opportunities simply because they lack awareness or the necessary confidence to crack interviews.