The fact that Experiential Learning is gaining popularity in the Indian jobs market, particularly in jobs and skills-oriented education, cannot be overlooked. The market research report published in 2021 shows that the Experiential learning market in India is predicted to register a CAGR of 17.1% in the next fifteen years.
Caused by a fast-changing industrial environment, the talent war gains momentum steadily. The concept of experiential learning, which is based on acquiring hands-on skills and practical application of knowledge, has become a widely recognized and sought-after pedagogical method of generating HR-ready skills.
This method provides a way to meet the industry's educational requirements. It encourages the trainees to think deeply, solve problems, and become adaptable to constantly changing environments, which is valuable to the potential employer.
Sustainability experiential learning is gaining recognition and contributing to the investment of various sectors, including educational providers, training institutions, and corporate bodies, for practical learning integration into the curricula.
Organizations are expected to keep the trend of the importance of individuals' skill development, especially to be competitive in an ever-changing market. Furthermore, the forming of this new market for enhancing employability based on experiential learning is ready for a continued growth course, providing all promising chances for innovation and cooperation across the professions. Let's take a closer look at how we can enhance employability through experiential learning.
Practical Application of Knowledge
The experiential learning method is one of its distinctive features, and it plays an important role in applying theoretical knowledge in direct situations. Thus, it helps people to achieve the highest level of comprehension of the theory and to gain practice skills. The chip design method adopted in the engineering education field is an example. Institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Meric (MIT) America have been active in project-based learning, which puts students in practical engineering issues.
For example, At MIT, students enrolled in the renowned "MIT 2.009: In "Product Engineering Process teamwork will design, prototype, and manufacture new products following all the procedures related to engineering. By involving engineering practices in tackling complex problems while effectively working within budget and time limitations, students cannot only sharpen their technical abilities but also develop critical thinking skills, team spirit, leadership, and communication proficiency, which are among the most favorable sets of skills to companies in the market.
Internships and Work-Based Learning
Internships and real-world learning activities are platforms that connect educational learning in colleges with practical experience in the work environment. Thus, they show the way out for the individuals arriving at the destination. One such company is IBM, a big technology company with a reputation preceding it; it is most likely the first to come to mind when it comes to its internship programs tailored to further develop these skills and turn the trainees into future leaders.
For instance, IBM's "Extreme Blue" internship program researches artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity challenges with the assistance of a mentor and a project team. The interns work on the frontline projects and interact with professional, experienced mentors who allocate quality time to train them while in the program. Through their internships at the tech giant, interns receive training in technical matters and learn about work environments, industry tendencies, peer etiquette, and other job-related skills. Thus, their likelihood of getting a job gets higher in the process.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Through experiential learning, people tend to develop an entrepreneurial outlook and a culture of innovation by allowing them to examine new concepts, try out risks that make sense, and appreciate failure as a necessary part of that learning process. The Babson College in Massachusetts, US is an example of the latter, and through its unique entrepreneurship program - the Babson Build - it has raised its reputation to become a go-to institution for quality entrepreneurial education.
For example, the team, formed by students with different majors, already has the necessary tools to run a tight ship. They must decide on everything needed to deliver their desired product. Aimed to create an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional menstrual product, our app-based eco-friendly period tracker and sampler platform will help women redefine how they experience their periods. Students realize where their past mistakes have occurred through practical investigations and can correct the errors when they make them for themselves. They gain entrepreneurial skills, resilience, adaptability, and creative problem-solving, indispensable for succeeding in the modern job market.
Lastly, experiential learning is essential in acquiring job skills and exceeding one's job reputation through practical skills, industry experience, and an entrepreneurial mindset. Different educational curricula can be made more useful by integrating, among other things, hands-on assignments, internships, and innovation initiatives. In this way, higher institutions and organizations can enable their students to excel in the workplace and innovate in their chosen fields. Along with the growing demand for smart workers, it becomes a strategic priority for the future job market to invest in experiential learning, assisting individuals in conquering all diverse challenges and benefiting from the opportunities.
