South Region Graduate Employability Workshop Focuses on Addressing the Education and Skills Disparity

As a part of the three-year Graduate Employability project launched in India by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), and its regional centre in Asia, the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA), a three-day Graduate Employability Framework development workshop was held from 11-13 March 2025 at Kollam in Kerala, India, in partnership with the Sreenarayanaguru Open University (SGOU). The workshop saw the participation of Vice Chancellors (VCs) from SGOU and Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU), alongside faculty members, and staff from SGOU, TNOU, Karnataka State Open University, and Dr B. R. Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad.   

During his presidential address, Professor V. P. Jagathy Raj, VC, SGOU, outlined a comprehensive vision for establishing a graduate employability framework within open universities. He highlighted the potential of these institutions to equip students for sustainable and fulfilling careers by enhancing industry partnerships, embracing technological advancements, promoting international cooperation, and integrating vocational training. “This three-day workshop has taken on board the mission of redefining open university education and creating a professional future for graduates,” he said.

Professopr S. Arumugam, the VC of TNOU, emphasised that enhancing the employability of graduates should be a central goal of open university education. Professor Arumugam stressed the importance of open universities taking an active role in developing strategies, sharing insights, and implementing frameworks that align with industry needs. 

Providing an overview of the workshop and its objectives, Dr B. Shadrach, Director, COL-CEMCA, underscored the initiative’s focus on creating a more job-centric education system by identifying skill shortages, updating curricula, and aligning academic programmes with industry demands. “The collaborative efforts of four South Indian open universities to pool resources, share expertise, and implement structured strategies will drive a meaningful and lasting transformation. Over the next two years, this initiative aims to bridge the gap between education and the job market, redefining graduate employability in open and distance learning,” he stated. 

Dr Shadrach also outlined five key objectives of the workshop as defining graduate employability for OUs, identifying reasons for low employability, strategising to bridge the skills gap, realigning curricula to meet market demands, and fostering collaboration among OUs to share open educational resources. He discussed the need for curriculum redesign, interdisciplinary departmental support, and the creation of learner-centric courses to enhance job prospects.

The technical sessions of the workshop were facilitated by COL-CEMCA consultants from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Netaji Subhas Open University, and SGOU. They took the participants through various aspects of developing the graduate employability framework, and assessing their respective institutions against identified parametres and standards.

Hence, with visionary leadership and collaborative strategies, the initiative would transform open and distance learning, thereby empowering graduates with sustainable career opportunities and addressing the gap between education and employment.