The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Call to encourage interactive learning among students

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Sunday, Dec 09, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Call to encourage interactive learning among students

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: C. Chandramouli, IT Secretary, on Friday called for changing classroom pedagogy techniques to address the mismatch between “what a student learns and what the industry needs.”

Addressing faculty and students at the inauguration of ‘Loyola Career Expo 2007,’ jointly hosted by the Students’ Service Centre and the Loyola Alumni Association of Loyola College, Mr. Chandramouli said institutions should encourage self-study, interactive learning and skills of expression to produce graduates who are industry-ready.

Pointing out that with nearly three lakh arts and science graduates passing out in the State annually, he said it was not as much the dearth of candidates that worried hiring companies but their employability.

Collective initiatives

The official called for collective initiatives to address employability concerns of candidates who came out with degree from some of the most reputed institutions.

Noting that India needed to grow out of the current outsourcing business model, Mr. Chandramouli pointed out that the next level of job opportunities flowing into India would be in knowledge processing where the skill sets would involve higher analytics and deep research.

The quality of education will gain increasing relevance and colleges need to upgrade into centres of excellence with a strong research orientation, he said. The Government of India was giving shape to a massive skills development programme nationwide and Tamil Nadu too would soon receive funds in this regard.

Pointing to the increasing digital divide as the flip side of the IT revolution, Mr. Chandramouli urged leaders of the IT industry to give back to society and aim for an inclusive growth. The government, industry and academia should launch collective efforts to take the IT growth story to the next level, he said.

Sriram Rajagopal, director, HR, Cognizant, advocated close and creative industry-academia engagements to make students more employable. Cognizant was willing to strengthen its ongoing MoU with Loyola College to cover curriculum redesign and development, he said.

B. H. Kothari, chairman, Kothari group, urged students to have self-belief and remain focused on the goals they aspired to achieve. Around 50 companies are participating in the career expo.

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