Font size:
Print
Gamifying India’s skilling initiatives
Context:
Unemployment remains a pressing challenge in India’s economic landscape, necessitating robust strategies to create jobs and equip the workforce with relevant skills.
More on News
- The Economic Survey 2023-24 highlights the urgent need for 7.85 million new jobs annually in the non-farm sector until 2030 to cater to the burgeoning workforce.
- A critical solution lies in addressing the widening gap between the skills of job seekers and the evolving requirements of industries.
India’s Skilling Conundrum
- Limited Success: Despite a well-established institutional framework for vocational and technical training, India’s skilling efforts have yielded limited success.
- The Periodic Labour Force Survey 2022-23 revealed that only 21% of youth aged 15-29 years received any vocational or technical training, with a mere 4.4% receiving formal training.
- Further, only 51% of India’s graduates are considered employable, reflecting concerns about the quality and industry alignment of current skilling programmes.
- Government’s Approach: To address this, the government has prioritised skilling outcomes and industry-aligned training under the Prime Minister’s 2024-25 Budget package for employment.
- However, the rise of Industry 4.0 (I4.0)—characterised by advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of Things—poses a new challenge.
- Over two-thirds of Indian manufacturers are expected to adopt digital transformation by 2025, yet only 1.5% of engineers and 40% of the MSME workforce are equipped with the necessary digital skills.
- While initiatives like SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0 aim to prepare industries, significant gaps in workforce readiness persist.
A New Approach
Gamified and Simulation-Based Learning: Incorporating gamified and simulation-based learning into skilling programmes offers a transformative solution:
- Gamified Learning: Gamified learning integrates game elements, such as points, badges, and leaderboards, into training, making the process interactive and enjoyable.
- This approach improves engagement, knowledge retention, and motivation, encouraging participants to strive for excellence.
- Instant feedback and clear milestones help trainees track their progress and focus on improvement.
- Simulation-Based Learning: Simulation-based learning, on the other hand, uses virtual environments to mimic real-world scenarios, providing hands-on experience without real-world consequences.
- Trainees can experiment, make mistakes, and learn critical thinking, problem-solving, and practical skills.
- The immersive nature of simulations enhances understanding and knowledge retention.
- Countries: Countries like Singapore and Germany have successfully integrated these methods into their skill training systems, demonstrating their efficacy.
Integrating Innovation in India’s Skilling Ecosystem
- Training Quality: Adopting gamified and simulation-based modules in government skilling programmes can significantly enhance training quality and outcomes.
- Customised Approach: These modules can be customised to address specific skill gaps, offering trainees realistic professional challenges that adapt to their progress.
- Reining Skills: By simulating actual workplace scenarios, trainees can apply theoretical knowledge and refine their decision-making skills.
- Ready Talent Pool: At a decentralised level, educational institutions can leverage these tools to provide students with real-world project experience and internship opportunities, creating a ready talent pool for industries.
- Platforms like SWAYAM and the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), which already host extensive technical courses, can incorporate these advanced training modules.
- With SWAYAM enrolling over 40 million participants and SIDH attracting 7.63 lakh candidates as of June 2024, these platforms demonstrate the immense demand for technical education and their potential as hosts for innovative skilling solutions.
Building a Skilled Future
India’s skilling challenge demands a multi-faceted approach combining innovation, policy alignment, and industry collaboration. By leveraging digital platforms and aligning training with industry needs, India can create a skilled, employable workforce ready to drive economic growth and technological advancement.
