Colleges, do your homework

Knowledge just for the sake of knowledge? Na, not anymore.
Ask David Levinson, senior careers adviser in the Newcastle University, he would say: As everywhere else, education is witnessing a sea change in the UK as well. “Gone are the days of narrow mindedness and traditional thinking, now, educational institutions are changing to teach students how to apply the knowledge acquired and are preparing them for careers.”
Levinson explains: “Earlier, it used to be like, people study English literature and become clerks, politicians or whatever they want to. That trend is waning.”
 
It starts from day one
One thing which Indian institutions fail to provide, career counselling starts the day the course begins in the UK institutions. “We give due importance to that.”

Terming it a process that should happen in parallel along the course, he explains it: “We first identify students’ skill set and strengths to make them aware. Then we suggest ways to hone them. We offer information on the job opportunities that are available for the course the students have taken up and let them choose based on their skills and interests.”

“We then help them choose a career. You must understand that there’s no one career that would best suit everybody. We also conduct regular studies and surveys to identify what kind of skills do the employers here seek.” One has to be self-reflective, besides being aware of one’s own self and the opportunities available to make the right choice. Moreover, the students should be aware of the changing job scenarios.

“Gone are the days where one chooses one particular career and remains in it for life. I can quote a recent study that finds that people, on an average, look at 13 distinctly different jobs in a lifetime. So, you will not get stuck with a job and can change your domain multiple times. Skills that contemporary workhouses look out for are flexibility and adaptability.”

Students need to also learn to articulate skills and market their employability. “Be very careful while getting influenced by other successful people and trying to emulate them, analyse whether that would suit your needs and style.”
 
Education in UK
“As I am familiar with the educational systems in several countries, I can say the system in the UK is different in many a way. In some countries, I see education and evaluation boiling down to showing the institutions that yes, you have read the book prescribed.

Exams just look at that. But here in the UK, we encourage the students to read widely and discourage them from getting stuck with a single textbook. We tell them to go through at least four or five sources and then compare and contrast. We see them criticise the textbook sources in the evaluation papers. And, the main focus is on self-learning.”

Changing scenario
Education institutions, modern universities and even the traditional ones in the UK, are shifting their focus on research and industrial training. “That is what the demand of the industry is. Just academic education will not do.

“Students need to know how the world works to raise their employability when they are done with their courses. Institutions also need to keep a tab on emerging technologies and the changes happening on the industry front to come out with holistic education and approaches. In plain words, educational institutions need to get linked with the industry.”
 
On new visa rules
International students are a worried lot due to the latest changes in the visa rules in the UK. “So, those migrating into the UK for study need to be more focussed that ever before. The government has cut down the 2-year post-study work (PSW) right, so the student has to fetch a job related to the course earning at least 20,000 pounds within a year after the completion of the course. But that’s below the average payscale in the UK. Besides, one good thing is that the government has lifted the cap on the number of employees. That opens up opportunities.”

Employment opportunities are limited in the number of fresh graduates coming out of universities is much higher each year.”
The UK government is cutting its spending on education by denying subsidies that it offers to universities and hence the tuition fee is bound to skyrocket. “But that’s only for the local students, who now will have to pay up on a par with international students.”

Learning from each other
No one country, at this given time, can claim to have the best education system in the world.

Education in each continent and country is evolving with each passing day for the better. “Even England can’t claim it provides the best of education. If a country thinks it has the best, then it’s time to rethink. World scenario is changing and educational institutions need to acquire global knowledge about what’s happening in the field to propagate quality education. Countries need to collaborate in ways possible to share and learn from each other.”
 
Education in India
Education is well respected in India. “As far as I see, the government too is focussed and into bringing out reforms. I am amazed over the number of corporate tie-ups that Indian institutions acquire… and, not to mention, the campus placements that are hugely popular in this country. In other countries, that includes the UK, campus placements are not as they are here.”
 
PG courses in UK
One advantage of taking up post-graduate courses in the UK is that they are of one-year duration that saves much time. Of course, covering the portions and allocating adequate time for research and allied activities is a challenge.”
 
Change I would like to see
Starting career counselling at the school-level is the need of the hour. “Children should start thinking of careers at an early stage and prepare for it… if she/he wants to make something big. That’s how the world is changing at the present scenario.”