Incorporating Hands-On Learning to Unlock Students' Potential
Sumed Marwaha, Managing Director of Unisys, in an exclusive interview with Higher Education Review magazine, shares his insights on how businesses can tailor technical project competitions to provide relevant learning opportunities, the strategies businesses can use to ensure that technical project competitions provide an inclusive and equitable learning, how businesses can ensure the efficacy of up skilling initiatives, and more.
How can businesses tailor technical project competitions to provide relevant learning opportunities and real-world experience for students in the field?
Over the last 14 years, Unisys has evolved from a traditional IT firm to a provider of digital solutions and services. It has kept up with technological innovation, developing cutting-edge products and services for its clients. The primary focus now is on providing the most comprehensive, innovative, and efficient solutions to help the clients succeed. Unisys Innovation Program (UIP) was introduced to complement the student innovation and technical innovation program. Students were asked to come up with innovative solutions to a genuine business obstacle that was presented by customers and other stakeholders. They were exposed to real world business problems to a larger group to get wide exposure. This helped the students gain experience in problem-solving skills while also interacting with industry leaders and experts.
What strategies can businesses use to ensure that technical project competitions provide an inclusive and equitable learning and employment experience for students from diverse backgrounds?
We emphasize on equal representation of female students. It was initially made mandatory that female students be included in the projects. However, the imposition was relaxed a bit, there should still be a good mix of female and male students. And so diversity is not only about gender, it is also about the reach. That is why we organize road shows and travel to cities, educating and reaching out to more students. We do not restrict this to only Bangalore; we actually open it up for everybody. In fact, the students who have come in from outside, we provide them a stay in guest houses, along with food in boarding and lodging, everything is sponsored by Unisys. We encourage people from different backgrounds, different cities, students from different cities, and smaller colleges to come and participate in this program. Whether it is a small college or a large one, we just want brilliant minds to arise. There are no criteria based on gender or state. There is no restriction on who can attend.
What specific technical skills are essential for India's youth to be equipped with in order to succeed in a future job market?
By actively engaging in learning new skills and technologies, students can gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. Learning new skills can open new career opportunities, and staying informed of the latest technologies can give students a competitive edge. Technology has the potential to improve and enhance our lives, so it is important to stay informed and knowledgeable. It is never too late to start learning, and the rewards that come with it are invaluable.
There is no way to predict which technology might become obsolete as soon as a new technology comes along. This is why it is important to stay on top of the latest advancements, so that you don't get left behind. For example, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning have been around for some time now, and will likely remain a staple of the tech world for years to come. However, other technologies, such as 5G, Edge Computing, and Cloud Computing, are emerging on the scene. These are more recent developments, and their effects are being felt by businesses and individuals alike.
On the other hand, BARD is a current and upcoming technology that is set to revolutionize the way we use technology even further. It promises to make human life easier by providing users with different kinds of inputs and features that can help make their lives more efficient and productive. It can also be used to automate certain tasks, which could save time and energy. This technology is certainly worth keeping an eye on, as it could have a huge impact on the way we use technology in the future.
All in all, it is clear that technology is constantly evolving, and it is important to stay up to date with the latest advancements. This way, you can ensure that you don't get left behind and that you are making the most of the technology available to you.
How can educational institutions and industry stakeholders design and implement effective training programs that provide hands-on experience and exposure on emerging technologies?
Training programs provide students with exposure to industries via internships, through many sources. It is important to connect students to the industry so they can begin working in it. It's a great way to invite industry leaders. You just have to keep an eye on the industry. It's also important to equip students with the right skills to succeed in the industry. Soft skills such as effective communication and problem-solving, as well as technical skills are essential for students to be successful. Mentoring and providing feedback can go a long way in helping students become successful professionals.Moreover, technical skills such as coding, analytics, digital marketing, and software development are also important for students to be able to compete in the industry.It is important for students to have a good understanding of the industry they are entering and the trends that are shaping it. By providing students with the right skills and knowledge, they can be better prepared to succeed in the industry.
How can businesses ensure that the up skilling initiatives are effective and provide employees with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in global roles? And how can we measure the success of these initiatives
In terms of the global goal, social up skilling can be understood in a two step process. The technical part of it requires you to learn new technologies. It is mandatory to know how to use the software component, and the cultural part also requires you to learn how to react to certain situations. For example, if you are going to work with customers in the US or Europe, or in Europe, in Australia, you also need to be culturally sensitive. Often, we have our service desk, and those who conduct customer service around the world, they are interacting with customers even though they are sitting here. So, from time to time, we also give them cultural sensitive trainings. The importance of training employees, not only in technology, but also in software aspects and cultural sensitivity, is very important for businesses.
What role do technologies and digital tools play in upskilling employees for global roles? And how can businesses incorporate these tools into their upskilling initiatives?
Almost all training takes place online with so many new portals. Consequently, lots of those trainings are available on our mobile phone. Technology can be an incredibly useful resource for us to utilize during our leisure. ChatGPT has become a widely used and accepted tool due to its comprehensive results. It is just as beneficial for training and writing as it is for other purposes. We should take advantage of all the various technologies available to us, particularly with the ever-growing prevalence of smartphones. This allows us to access these technologies no matter where we are. It gives us the opportunity to learn and grow on our own. ChatGPT is a great example of this, as it can be used for emails, and an array of other tasks. It can also be used as a platform to connect with people from all around the world, making it a great tool for communication and collaboration. By utilizing the available technologies, we can unlock a world of learning and knowledge that we can access at any time.
