Page 45 - Mayo College November 2025

ANNIVERSARY ESSAY

Rethinking higher education in

an evolving paradigm

S.P. MISHRA

N THE NOT-SO-DISTANT PAST, THE PROMISE OF From Silicon Valley to Bengaluru,
higher education was simple and reassuring: earn a
degree, secure a job, and build a stable life. This linear university graduates are grappling
Ipath was the cornerstone of middle-class aspirations with under-employment, evolving job
worldwide, particularly in emerging economies such as In-
dia. But today, that promise is unravelling. markets and the rise of automation. It's
Higher education no longer guarantees gainful employ- time to rethink the purpose of higher
ment. This is not just an Indian reality — it’s a global phe-
nomenon. From Silicon Valley to Bengaluru, university education and what it should promise
graduates are grappling with underemployment, evolving
job markets, and rise of automation. It’s time to rethink the man — body, mind and spirit.” Gandhi’s philosophy of nai
purpose of higher education — and what it should promise. talim propagated learning through productive work, self-
India certifies over 10 million graduates annually, sup- reliance, and moral development. His vision has become
ported by a youthful population and a vast higher education strikingly relevant today, urging us to move beyond rote
system with 43 million students enrolled in tertiary pro- learning and credentialism toward a model that nurtures
grams. Yet, the formal jobs sector — defined by organised, character, creativity, and community. The British educa-
salaried positions with benefits — accounts for only 5-10 tionist Sir Ken Robinson echoed this sentiment: “The great
percent of total employment. end of education is to discipline rather than to furnish the
The International Labour Organisation’s India Employ- mind; to train it to use its own powers, rather than fill it
ment Report 2024 confirms this imbalance. While formal with the accumulation of others.”
jobs saw an uptick of 1.45 million in March 2025, the overall India’s demographic dividend can be a powerful asset —
labour market remains dominated by informal work. Un- if efficiently harnessed. But this requires a shift in mindset.
employment among graduates is alarming: independent Students must be encouraged to become job creators, not
estimates suggest rates as high as 51-57 percent in early just job seekers. If every student entering college becomes
2025, far exceeding the official figure of 5.6 percent. aware that a degree isn’t the ticket to a multinational job,
India’s struggle is part of a broader global trend. The she would approach learning differently — not as a check-
World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 proj- list, but as a toolkit for life. Students’ focus would be on
ects that by 2030, the global labour market will undergo a mastering their subjects, building networks, and exploring
22 percent churn—displacing 92 million jobs while creating real-world applications.
170 million new ones. That’s a net gain of 78 million job ith the tradition of a formal job leading to retirement
roles, many of which don’t yet exist and will be driven by Wfading, Unesco stresses that lifelong learning is es-
AI, sustainability, and digital innovation. sential for employability in a fast-changing dynamic world.
Compounding this technology revolution are rising geo- With AI and sustainability trends driving transformation,
political tensions. Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the future demands agility. Pioneer automobiles tycoon
US-China trade wars, and the rise of far-right leaders in Henry Ford captured this perfectly: “Anyone who stops
Europe have created a fragmented global order. The WEF’s learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who
Global Risks Report 2025 ranks cyber warfare and econom- keeps learning stays young.”
ic fragmentation among the top threats to global stability. In India, the job market is projected to grow by 9 percent
In India, this manifests in policy shifts like ‘Make in In- in 2025, led by IT and retail. Yet success will depend not
dia,’ which aim to boost domestic manufacturing but also on degrees, but on the ability to learn, adapt, and apply
expose the vulnerabilities of global supply chains. EY’s 2025 knowledge.
Geostrategic Outlook highlights economic sovereignty and It’s time for a new narrative. Instead of promising ‘em-
national jingoism as growing challenges. Ironically, while ployment,’ higher education institutions should pledge to
communication technologies and global businesses expand, ensure students are “gainfully engaged.” This means equip-
societies are becoming more insular. ping them with skills for entrepreneurship, freelancing, in-
In this rapidly changing and fragile world, education in- novation, and social impact.
stitutions must adapt and evolve. Their role is no longer just Against this backdrop, education institutions must have
to impart knowledge and facilitate industry placements. the courage to tell students and parents like it is. They de-
They must prepare students for uncertainty, complexity, serve transparency. Institutions bold enough to embrace
and lifelong learning. this paradigm change will be the ones that truly prepare the
The great and under-estimated seer Mahatma Gandhi next generation — not just for jobs, but for life.
wrote in Towards New Education (1937): “By education
I mean an all-round drawing out of the best in child and (Dr. S.P. Mishra is Founder, India Career Centre, Hyderabad)

NOVEMBER 2025 EDUCATIONWORLD 45