Editorial: Professional courses in J&K must be tailored to job market needs

13 October 2024

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The recent review meeting chaired by J&K Chief Secretary on the admission processes for professional courses in J&K has revealed both success and concerns. While the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) has successfully filled 100% of MBBS seats, along with near-full enrollments in courses like BDS, MDS, BAMS, BUMS, and B.Sc Nursing, the less enthusiastic uptake of B.E/B.Tech and B.Ed programs should prompt introspection among educational authorities and policymakers.

The admission figures — 410 out of 600 B.E/B.Tech seats and 229 out of 330 B.Ed seats filled—indicate a gap between the available academic infrastructure and student interest. This discrepancy raises an important question: Are these professional courses sufficiently aligned with the job market’s evolving demands?

In today’s rapidly advancing technological landscape, especially in fields like engineering, the relevance of curricula is paramount. Modern engineering disciplines are increasingly driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, data science, renewable energy, and biotechnology. Many traditional engineering programs, however, continue to follow outdated curricula that fail to meet these new demands, making graduates less competitive in both national and international job markets. This reflects in the high number of unemployed engineers around. The perception that these engineering courses do not fetch jobs is one major factor for why youngsters are reluctant in taking up such kind of courses.

For J&K’s engineering institutions, this calls for a major overhaul in both curriculum design and infrastructure development. Courses must be updated to reflect the latest trends in emerging technologies, and institutions should forge partnerships with tech companies, startups, and research institutions to provide hands-on experience and exposure to students. The government’s role in incentivizing such reforms is crucial. Scholarship programs, internships, and incubators could help bridge the gap between academia and the industry.

Equally, in education fields like B.Ed, the curriculum needs to be responsive to the evolving needs of modern teaching, with a focus on digital pedagogy, inclusive education, and skill development. However, there is another dimension to this reluctance to take up B. Ed. courses. Teaching jobs are fewer now. Private teaching jobs get woefully low salaries. These are the areas which require more attention. Enhancing teaching infrastructure and faculty development programs can attract more students to these fields.

Finally, raising awareness about the value of these fields—both engineering and education—is critical. Students often opt to leave J&K in search of better opportunities, reflecting a perception issue as much as a quality issue. J&K’s education policymakers must actively promote the local potential of these courses, making them more relevant to job market needs, while emphasizing their alignment with job creation and sustainable development here.