India needs industry-led, skills-first education models to address employability crisis: Experts

Ahead of World Youth Skills Day education and industry leaders have called for stronger industry academia collaboration.

Medhavi Skills University (MSU) hosted a workshop centered on theme, “Industry-Led Skill-Based Education: A New Paradigm for Atmanirbhar Bharat,” event underscored need to reimagine traditional learning frameworks. 

Employability Crisis: A National Concern

Pravesh Dudani, Founder & Chancellor, MSU stated, “Industry continues to evolve at a fast pace that traditional education struggles to match. Over 60% of Indian graduates are not job-ready due to lack of practical training and workplace exposure. Industry integrated, on-the-job learning models present a viable way- enabling learners to gain real-world experience and earn through innovative industry-academia collaborations."

According to India Skills Report 2025, only 54.81% of Indian youth are considered employable, and the figure is even lower in high-demand sectors like electric vehicles, renewable energy, and semiconductors. This skill mismatch is not just an educational issue; it directly affects India’s productivity, innovation capacity, and long-term economic competitiveness.

Bridging Industry-Academia Divide

Stressing the critical need for deeper industry-academia convergence, Kuldip Sarma, Co-Founder & Pro-Chancellor, MSU, said: “The real breakthrough will come when industry stops being just a recruiter and starts becoming a co-educator. Educational institutions must move beyond theory-heavy teaching and focus on work-integrated learning where students are hired as trainees from day one, learn while working, and graduate with both a degree and 2-3 years of work experience. This pragmatic link between industry and academia equips youth with future-ready skills while expanding access to quality, affordable and work-relevant learning.”

Dr. Lalit Narayan, Dean, Academics & Skill Integration at MSU, said: “NEP enables us to shift from rigid degree models to outcome-based, learner centric pathways. Through mechanisms like the National Credit Framework (NCrF), Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), we can recognise and reward practical learning, including workplace experience. This is not just reform, it’s a revolution in how we see learning and livelihood.”

Stressing upon importance of changing societal perceptions around skill-based learning, Jassi Dimple, Vice President & Dean (Academic Affairs), MSU, said: “We must shift the narrative from ‘degree is destiny’ to ‘skills are the new currency.’ Students and parents must see vocational pathways not as second-best, but as equally prestigious and future-ready.”