Chennai: Skill development is no longer a matter of choice but a necessity, as students are expected to acquire industry-relevant competencies during their undergraduate studies itself, an academic expert has said.

Dr R. Devi Priya, Principal of KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, said the traditional approach of acquiring skills after completing a three- or four-year degree programme is no longer relevant. Students must now graduate with a comprehensive set of domain-specific skills alongside their academic qualifications, she noted.

Highlighting the changing dynamics of education, she said the boundaries between educational institutions and industries are increasingly blurring. “In the coming years, neither academia nor industry can function in isolation. Industry presence within campuses is essential to provide students with real-time, practical exposure during their course of study,” she added.

Dr Priya emphasised that educational institutions must evolve beyond being mere centres of teaching. Instead, they should transform into hubs of innovation and experiential learning, where students actively engage in creating and applying knowledge. This shift from “teaching centres” to “learning experience centres” is already being adopted globally, she pointed out.

Referring to industry expectations, she said employers today prefer graduates who can be immediately productive, similar to a 'plug-and-play' model. This calls for students to continuously upgrade their skills in line with evolving technological and professional demands.

At the same time, she cautioned against overdependence on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. “Technology should assist us, not control us. While relying on technology is inevitable, we must ensure it does not dominate our abilities or decision-making,” she said.

She stressed that awareness and control over technology are key to ensuring that it does not adversely impact employment opportunities or human rights. “When we lead technology, it cannot harm us,” she added.

With companies increasingly prioritising candidates with specialised skills, continuous skill development has become essential. “In today's competitive environment, acquiring and upgrading skills is no longer optional—it is mandatory,” she said.