Management

In a significant step towards strengthening employability and industry readiness among students, the Odisha government has launched an apprenticeship-embedded undergraduate degree programme that integrates academic learning with hands-on workplace experience.

The innovative programme combines traditional classroom education with a structured, paid apprenticeship during the third year of study. The initiative is aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes experiential learning, skill development and stronger links between higher education and industry.

Under the new model, students will spend the first two years pursuing academic coursework before undertaking a one-year apprenticeship with industry partners, enabling them to gain practical exposure while completing their degree. Officials believe the approach will help bridge the gap between academic knowledge and workplace requirements, improving employment prospects for graduates.

The programme offers students flexibility in choosing their academic pathways. Learners can select from 11 disciplines and combine major and minor subjects in accordance with the multidisciplinary framework promoted under NEP 2020. The flexible curriculum is expected to allow students to tailor their education to their interests and career goals while acquiring industry-relevant skills.

Higher education experts have welcomed the initiative, noting that apprenticeship-integrated programmes are increasingly being adopted worldwide to enhance graduate employability. By providing real-world work experience before graduation, such programmes help students develop professional competencies, workplace ethics and practical problem-solving abilities that employers often seek.

The Odisha government has opened admissions through the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) portal. Interested candidates can submit their applications until June 10. According to the admission schedule, the first merit list for selected candidates will be published on June 17.

Officials say the programme represents a major shift from conventional degree structures by embedding skill-based learning directly into the academic journey. The initiative is also expected to strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions and industry partners, creating opportunities for students to gain exposure to emerging sectors and workplace practices.

As India continues to focus on enhancing youth employability and workforce readiness, Odisha's apprenticeship-embedded undergraduate programme could serve as a model for other states seeking to integrate academic education with practical training and industry engagement.

A story of perseverance, career reinvention and resilience has captured attention on social media after a Hyderabad-based technology professional shared the remarkable journey of his IIT Madras graduate flatmate, who found success in trading after spending more than a decade pursuing the UPSC dream.

According to the viral post, the graduate turned down a campus placement offer worth ₹10 lakh per annum in 2012 to focus entirely on preparing for the prestigious Civil Services Examination. Like many aspirants, he viewed the UPSC as a pathway to public service and a meaningful career. However, his journey was marked by repeated setbacks. He failed to clear the preliminary examination in his first attempt and was unable to progress beyond the mains stage in his second.

Seeking a new direction, he briefly shifted his focus to competitive badminton, hoping to build a career in the sport. However, disillusionment with the system and challenges within the sporting ecosystem eventually led him back to UPSC preparation. Over the years, he continued to make multiple attempts at the examination but was unable to secure the breakthrough he had hoped for.

After nearly 12 years divided between civil services preparation and badminton, the graduate found himself at a crossroads. Rather than giving up, he began exploring financial markets and taught himself trading through online resources. Without formal coaching or mentorship, he dedicated time to understanding market trends, risk management and investment strategies.

His efforts gradually paid off. Today, he works as a SEBI-registered investment advisor and reportedly earns around ₹2 lakh per month through trading activities, though his income varies depending on market conditions. The transition from UPSC aspirant to financial market professional represents a dramatic shift in career trajectory, driven largely by self-learning and persistence.

The story has resonated with many social media users, who described it as a reminder that success does not always follow a conventional timeline. Several commenters praised the graduate's willingness to adapt and rebuild after years of setbacks, while others noted that career paths are increasingly becoming non-linear in a rapidly changing world.

For many young professionals and competitive exam aspirants, the story serves as an example that resilience, continuous learning and the courage to embrace new opportunities can eventually open unexpected doors, even after years of uncertainty.

Undergraduate admission trends across Mumbai are reflecting a major shift in student preferences, with traditional Arts and Science programmes witnessing declining cut-offs while professional and industry-oriented courses record sharp increases in demand.

As colleges released their first merit lists for the 2026-27 academic session, institutions reported that students are increasingly opting for specialised, career-focused programmes aligned with emerging industries, artificial intelligence, healthcare technologies, finance, and entrepreneurship.

At St Xavier’s College, one of the city’s most sought-after Arts colleges, the BA programme cut-off dropped to 87 per cent from 90 per cent last year. A similar trend was visible at Ramnarain Ruia College, where Arts cut-offs declined from 90 per cent to 85 per cent.

However, professional programmes at the same institutions recorded significant jumps. Ruia College’s Biochemistry course saw its cut-off rise sharply from 64 per cent last year to 81.17 per cent this year, indicating growing interest in science-linked professional careers. At St Xavier’s, the Bachelor of Accounting and Finance (BAF) programme remained highly competitive with a cut-off of 91 per cent.

College administrators say the shift reflects changing employment aspirations among students and the broader transformation of higher education under the National Education Policy framework, which encourages multidisciplinary and skill-based learning.

Ruia College principal Anushree Lokur said students now have wider undergraduate options and increasingly view professional programmes as pathways to faster employability. In response, the college has introduced new programmes, including a BSc in Psychology and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Energy Science.

The college has also launched the Ruia Professional Development Centre, which will offer certification programmes in specialised healthcare and technical sectors such as Operating Theatre Technology, Medical Imaging Technology, and Dialysis Technology, alongside regular degree courses.

Meanwhile, R A Podar College is expanding its professional offerings with new programmes such as BSc in Finance and Artificial Intelligence and BCom in Management and Entrepreneurship. The institution had earlier introduced a BBA in Shipping and Logistics to address rising demand for industry-trained graduates.

Principal Vinita Pimpale noted that while traditional courses continue to offer broader academic understanding, students today are increasingly prioritising profession-oriented education linked directly to specific industries and emerging job markets.

The evolving admission trends highlight how colleges in Mumbai are rapidly redesigning undergraduate education to balance academic learning with employability, technical skills, and industry readiness in an increasingly competitive job landscape.

Scottish Church College has applied to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for autonomous status as the historic Kolkata institution plans a major academic overhaul focused on curriculum redesign, interdisciplinary learning and emerging technology-driven courses.

The 196-year-old college submitted its application on Monday following recommendations made by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2022. The institution has also approached the University of Calcutta for a no-objection certificate (NOC), a key procedural requirement for autonomy.

Principal Madhumanjari Mandal said the college acted on NAAC’s recommendation before the end of the current accreditation cycle.

College authorities said autonomous status would provide greater academic flexibility, enabling the institution to redesign syllabi and introduce new major programmes aligned with evolving industry and student demands.

Among the proposed academic expansions are major programmes in sociology, psychology and statistics, alongside growing emphasis on contemporary fields such as artificial intelligence and data science.

Officials stated that curriculum reforms and introduction of new-age courses would begin only after formal approval from the UGC.

The institution is also undertaking infrastructural expansion through a second campus at the Ogilvie campus near its main premises in Kolkata. Departments such as commerce and BBA are expected to shift to the new facility after construction is completed, while additional future-oriented programmes may also operate from the expanded campus.

The move reflects a broader shift among higher educational institutions in Kolkata towards autonomous governance structures that allow colleges to introduce flexible, industry-oriented and multidisciplinary curricula more rapidly than under traditional university systems.

Recently, Loreto College also applied for autonomous status after receiving an NOC from the University of Calcutta. Meanwhile, Behala College secured autonomous status last year and subsequently launched programmes in cyber security, multimedia, web development, design and Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA).

Education experts believe the growing push for autonomy among colleges reflects increasing pressure on institutions to modernise academic offerings and equip students with skills suited to changing employment markets shaped by digital technologies, artificial intelligence and interdisciplinary industries.

For Scottish Church College, autonomy could mark a significant transition from its traditional academic structure towards a more flexible and innovation-driven educational model while preserving its longstanding legacy in higher education.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras has opened admissions for its BS programmes in Data Science and Applications and Electronic Systems without requiring JEE Main or JEE Advanced scores, creating a new pathway for students to access IIT education.

Applications for the programmes are open until June 5, 2026, through the institute’s official admission portal. The initiative is aimed at expanding opportunities for students who may not have pursued or qualified through the highly competitive JEE route.

Instead of entrance through national-level engineering examinations, applicants will undergo a four-week online foundation course that covers basic mathematics, English and coding skills. Students who successfully clear the qualifying examination after the course will gain direct admission into the BS programmes.

The institute has also stated that there is no cap on the number of seats, making the programme significantly more accessible compared to traditional IIT undergraduate admissions.

The initiative aligns with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasises flexible, inclusive and multidisciplinary higher education models. The programme structure allows multiple exit options depending on the duration of study completed.

Students can receive a foundation certificate after one year, a diploma after two years, a bachelor’s degree after three years, or continue for the complete four-year BS programme that grants IIT Madras alumni status.

Eligibility extends to all Class 12 graduates from recognised boards, while even Class 11 students can apply in advance and begin the preparatory process early. The BS in Electronic Systems requires students to have studied Physics and Mathematics, whereas the Data Science programme is open to students from all streams with a basic mathematics background.

Education experts believe the initiative could significantly diversify the student demographic at IIT Madras by attracting learners from smaller towns, remote regions and non-traditional academic backgrounds. The flexible online structure is also expected to benefit working professionals and students unable to relocate for conventional campus-based programmes.

Observers note that if the model proves successful, it may encourage other IITs to introduce similar non-JEE admission pathways in emerging technology domains such as artificial intelligence, electronics and data science.

At the same time, traditional JEE-based admissions are expected to remain the primary route for flagship BTech engineering programmes across the IIT system.

The Indian Institute of Information Technology Nagpur has achieved a major milestone in campus placements, with its Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) branch recording 100 per cent placements for the 2024-25 academic session. The institute reported that the highest package offered to a CSE student stood at ₹60 lakh per annum, reflecting growing industry demand for skilled technology graduates.

According to official data released by the institute, the Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) branch also posted strong results with a placement rate of 97 per cent. The highest salary package offered to ECE students reached ₹42.26 lakh annually.

The institute further reported impressive average salary figures across both branches. While CSE students secured an average annual package of ₹15.41 lakh, ECE students received an average package of ₹14.19 lakh, indicating a significant improvement over previous academic years.

Established in 2015 with approval from the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, IIIT-Nagpur initially functioned from the campus of Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology before shifting to its permanent 100-acre campus at Waranga near Nagpur.

Data accessed through an RTI application filed by activist Sanjay Thul showed that during the 2023-24 academic session, placement rates stood at 91.09 per cent for CSE students and 89 per cent for ECE students. During that cycle, the highest package recorded was ₹47 lakh for CSE and ₹20 lakh for ECE students, highlighting sharp year-on-year growth in recruiter interest and salary offerings.

The ongoing 2025-26 placement season has also begun on a positive note. So far, 30.25 per cent of CSE students and 15.38 per cent of ECE students have already secured placements. The highest package offered in the current cycle has reached ₹32.6 lakh for CSE students, while ECE students have received offers up to ₹80 lakh per annum. Average salary for ECE students has also climbed to ₹19.11 lakh.

Apart from placements, the institute has expanded academically. For the 2025-26 session, 619 admissions were recorded against an approved intake of 648 seats. Faculty shortages have also reduced, with vacancies declining from 18 to eight. Additionally, the Board of Governors has approved 47 new teaching posts, pending final clearances from the Union Finance Department and the Ministry of Education.