When FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) approached us recently to co-write a paper for their new 'Skills for All' initiative, it seemed simple. The heart of the concept of Skills for All is that any person who wants to undergo skills training is able to. So promoting it is just a matter of boosting supply (creating training centres of all shapes and sizes) and removing barriers for learners of all kinds to access this training, right? Well, not quite. As we prepared the paper we realised that this is only one side of the equation. There is certainly a need to improve the supply of skills training in India. But the demand side needs as much attention. So it doesn't just fall to policy-makers and training providers to address skills issues: all of us need to take responsibility for our own skills development. This way we will achieve our own personal goals and contribute to the creation of a new, high-skill Indian economy.
And by all of us I do mean everyone. There can sometimes be a misunderstanding about what we mean when we say 'skills development' or 'vocational education.' People can think it only applies to low-level qualifications, or that it is a codeword for unglamorous or low-paid work. Sometimes, even people who are in the business of promoting skills development can talk about it as if it were something that they themselves would never need to do.
In fact, we all need skills development, to develop our skills. It simply refers to those skills that enable an individual to do a job — whatever that job may be. It can refer to the simplest entry-level job training, or to highly advanced technical know-how. It can be undertaken by a school drop-out or by an international CEO, and by anyone in-between. And if it's working well, it can form the basis of a chain of progression in training that might one day enable that school dropout to fill the CEO's shoes.
Who benefits from skills development? We all know that companies need skilled staff and this is reflected in the size of many training budgets. Similarly, the investment the Indian government is making in skills development reflects the national economic interest that is at stake. But neither employers nor the government can make a success of skill development on their own. Learning needs a learner: an individual who is pro-actively engaged with their development, who has goals and objectives, who is prepared to invest their own time (and sometimes money) in their skills. Skills development needs you.
Ask yourself: what is the job I want to do? What are the skills required to do that job, and is my current learning giving me all those skills? Will I be employable when I emerge from university? Be honest with yourself. If you can, ask someone already working in the sector for their view. Write down those areas where you think you might need to develop your skills further. Focusing on the piece of paper you get at the end of the course is not enough — you need to understand what value the certificate is going to bring to your potential employers.
If you find yourself short in certain skill areas, don't despair. You're far from alone: Indian employers regularly report that graduates are often not work-ready, even from top institutions. There is plenty of research out there that sheds light on the skills that employers in different sectors value the most, and which skills are most lacking. By asking yourself these questions, you give yourself a headstart because you will already be thinking about what the employer wants. But to take advantage of that headstart, you need to take responsibility for building up your skills.
There are many ways to do this. Perhaps you might undertake a short course in IT, retail skills or customer service, or do a distance learning course to improve your writing skills. A workplace skills course can help you improve your chances of getting employment by helping you with personal grooming, interview and resume writing skills. You might undertake voluntary work that will build your people skills or your communication skills. Or, you might serve as the treasurer of a club or society to build up your financial knowhow. Go online or talk to your family and friends and find out how others have done it elsewhere. I promise you will find a method of skills development that suits you.
But my challenge to you goes further. India has big skills ambitions and it needs skills champions. As you go into your working life, encourage your colleagues to keep learning; support those for whom learning may be a bigger challenge; encourage your employers to invest in training; remind your bosses that they need to set the example by developing their own skills. And most importantly, never stop learning yourself. Creating the skilled future is a shared challenge, and each of us has a crucial role to play.
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