In a quickly evolving international financial system, the companies sector has emerged as a big participant, contributing 53% of India’s Gross Worth Added (GVA) versus the 28% of the {industry} sector. This dominance, of companies, can be evident in employment distribution — 31% of employment is generated within the companies sector versus 25% in industries. This large development is fuelling the demand for entry-level workers throughout the spectrum of the companies sector. This development isn’t just restricted to IT companies, however is extra broad based mostly. The organised Indian service sector, that contains retail, telecom, consulting, hospitality, banking and well being care, has been rising constantly. Additional, for every of those sectors, India can be the offshore hub, delivering these companies for your complete world by means of captive and third occasion shared companies and World Enterprise Providers (GBS).
The market actuality
This large service {industry} wants steady provide of expert manpower which is being fulfilled from a reasonably uncommon schooling stream — engineering. In line with Statistica, solely 57% of engineering graduates are employable. An All India Council for Technical Schooling commissioned report highlighted that lower than 60% of accessible engineering seats have enrolment. One other {industry} report claims that about 80% of graduate engineers find yourself in a non-technical job which is unrelated to their discipline of schooling.
It isn’t stunning to seek out quite a lot of engineering graduates in India steering in the direction of the companies sector not merely as a consequence of an excellent alignment of expertise and job demand, however propelled by the dynamic and burgeoning nature of service-oriented alternatives and a scarcity of related jobs for his or her expertise of their core sector. In consequence, over the past decade, numerous engineers are employed in non-technical sectors akin to banking, insurance coverage, hospitality, well being care and retail throughout quite a lot of roles akin to gross sales, customer support, again workplace operations, logistics and provide chain administration.
This shift highlights a nuanced actuality. Engineers are more and more discovering employment not solely based mostly on a exact match of expertise however as a result of adaptability and problem-solving mindset ingrained of their schooling. Employers, who’re confronted with a dynamic market, are recognising the transferability of engineering expertise, even when the roles themselves usually are not conventionally engineering-centric. Vital pondering, downside fixing, creativity, innovation, coping with ambiguity, adaptability and adaptability are a few of the most related expertise required to reach these fashionable organisations. The analytical prowess, problem-solving talents, and structured pondering ingrained in engineering graduates make them extremely sought-after in sectors that will not historically be perceived to be engineering-centric. The rising prominence of the companies sector has opened avenues for these professionals to be gainfully employed in white-collar jobs.
The necessity for a generic course
This pattern prompts a vital reflection on the evolving nature of job markets and the function of schooling in making ready graduates for a various array {of professional} challenges. As engineers seamlessly transition into roles akin to gross sales, customer support and finance throughout all kinds of sectors, it turns into crucial for the academic ecosystem to evolve and tackle this want from the service {industry}, and recalibrate their strategy in the direction of curriculum design and pedagogy.
At present, services-oriented instructional programs are solely obtainable in area of interest domains akin to well being care or hospitality. There isn’t any generic course to cater to the wants of the companies sector. In consequence, companies are consuming engineers, and to some extent administration graduates/postgraduates, into entry-level jobs. Quite than specializing in bridging the hole between current engineering schooling and job demand, there’s a urgent must develop generic services-oriented programs that may equip college students to thrive in white-collar service environments. Simply as an engineering schooling equips the coed with the essential expertise to discover a vocation in an industrial setup, we want an equal companies ability schooling that instils the required competencies to excel within the service-oriented panorama.
Such a course can supply a holistic mix of technical proficiency, smooth expertise, and industry-specific data important for achievement in service-centric roles. These programs shouldn’t solely emphasise technical proficiency but in addition domesticate smooth expertise, enterprise acumen, and industry-specific data which are important for achievement within the service sector.
By integrating cutting-edge applied sciences akin to Synthetic Intelligence and the Web of issues (IoT) into the curriculum, these programmes can improve college students’ employability, notably in rising sectors akin to fintech and edutech. Such a course would foster a cadre of execs adept at navigating the complexities of contemporary service-oriented industries, with expertise round course of reengineering, downside fixing and consumer administration.
Structured round a various curriculum, this course might embody important topics and expertise tailor-made to satisfy the calls for of as we speak’s dynamic service panorama. Professionals enrolled on this course would acquire a strong basis in service supply fundamentals, overlaying core sector overview and nuances of service supply in a bodily in addition to digital atmosphere.
Moreover, they might obtain coaching in service administration rules, course of enchancment methodologies akin to Lean Six Sigma, and significant pondering frameworks, empowering them to optimise service processes, drive operational effectivity, and deal with advanced challenges with confidence. An emphasis on consumer administration, communication expertise and moral conduct would foster a tradition of professionalism and integrity amongst professionals, essential to construct robust consumer relationships and keep belief in service-oriented roles.
As a development booster
The introduction of such a course — allow us to name it “service engineering” — holds transformative potential, providing a pathway to enhanced employability, improved service supply, and sustained financial development. Graduates would emerge as extremely sought-after professionals, geared up with the data, expertise, and mindset wanted to excel in white-collar service environments throughout quite a lot of industries. Furthermore, the affordability and accessibility of service engineering programs would make them a horny possibility for college students from tier 2 and three cities. The latest Periodic Labour Drive Survey (PLFS) 7 reported the ladies’s participation within the workforce to be 37%. Since companies usually supply higher flexibility to workers, such a course can even assist allow a supportive atmosphere for girls to steadiness work and household commitments whereas contributing to the workforce.
Not like standard engineering programmes that require in depth arduous infrastructure, service engineering programs would leverage digital platforms and digital studying environments, considerably lowering prices and eliminating geographical boundaries to schooling. This democratisation of schooling not solely fosters inclusivity but in addition unleashes the potential of aspiring professionals from numerous backgrounds to contribute to India’s burgeoning services-driven financial system. By investing within the growth of a talented workforce tailor-made to the wants of the companies sector, India can place itself as a world chief in service innovation and supply, driving prosperity and competitiveness within the services-driven financial system of the long run.
Milind Kumar Sharma is Professor at MBM College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Sharad Sharma is Senior Affiliate Director at KPMG, Gurgaon. The views expressed are private
