News Europe

How a UK degree can boost your employability in India

Industry in India, as across the world, is changing rapidly, with just 45% of new graduates from Indian universities considered employable according to recent research. So what skills do you need to bridge the employability gap in India today, and how will you acquire them at a UK university? Let’s explore this issue, and hear what recent Indian graduates from UK universities have to say.

The Mercer Mettl Graduate Skill Index

The Mercer Mettl Graduate Skill Index 2023 is derived from research carried out at 2,500 Indian campuses among 440,000 learners. It compares the top skills in demand by industry with the job-readiness of new graduates seeking roles.

Key findings include:

45% of Indian graduates are employable for top in-demand roles and skills.

53% are employable for non-technical jobs – and such skills are also more in demand.

44% are employable for technical jobs.

Technical skills in demand are diverse, but individual skill demand is low.

There is high demand as well as high employability in non-technical skills including MS Office (61% employability) and numerical ability (57%).

There is high demand but lower employability in analytical ability and problem-solving (41%), C programming (41%) and abstract reasoning (44%).

The highest employability rate is for applied mathematics (72%) but demand is relatively low for this skill alone (but it is useful for AI).

There is relatively low demand and low employability in big data (36% employability) and machine learning (33%).

The report also offers fascinating insights into which skills are required for which job roles, making it a useful guide for any graduate seeking work in India today.

Let’s take a deeper look at just a few of its findings, along with insights from Indian graduates of UK universities.

AI and automation

The employability rate for AI and machine learning roles among Indian graduates is 48%. The Index highlights the fact that AI and automation are rendering many jobs and skills obsolete, but are also creating job opportunities that require new skills.

In terms of technical skills required, there will be less demand for Core Java and SQL in the future, and more for Python, robotics design, and deep understanding of AI technologies.

Business graduate Akhil, who now works in wealth management, told Gradlink: “The finance sector is getting increasingly automated. I would say half of the processes in the industry are already automated because of the recent fintech innovations that have been introduced. I therefore did my research in finding out what course would equip me for this.

“The Masters at UWE gave me the comprehensive understanding I needed for a fintech career. In terms of breadth it covered the end to end of the industry, including who the current players are, how the trading works, and the tools we will be using. And just as importantly, the course gives the depth of knowledge needed, and in particular, the depth of technical knowledge. For example, using Python, data mining, and blockchains.”

Critical thinking and problem-solving

But even more crucially, the rise of AI and automation is creating a greater need for workers with non-technical cognitive skills.

Simin Askari, a senior vice president at the DS Group, told the Mercer Mettl researchers: “Human centric skills like critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and cognitive thinking will become highly valued in AI driven workplaces and so would be the need for upskilling and reskilling as well as developing a mindset for lifelong learning. Education institutes will have to work closely with the industry to revamp their curriculum to be able to provide for these skills.”

In fact, the Index finds that analytical ability and problem-solving is the most in-demand skill in India today – yet employability stands at just 41%.

Haritha, who graduated from UWE Bristol and is now a project manager at the Aries Group, says: “Having an MBA from a UK university provided me with a strong foundation in project management principles, leadership skills, and business acumen. The UK education system's emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication prepared me well for the challenges of the role.”

University and industry partnerships

In his foreword to the Index, Siddhartha Gupta, CEO of Mercer Mettl, says: “This is a golden opportunity for academia to equip learners with the relevant skills of the future, aligning them with industry needs.”

Fortunately, UK Universities are already on it! They have long forged research partnerships with industry, shaping their curricula to equip students to meet workplace demands.

Plus, they enable students to find work placements or even year-long internships in industry, where they acquire the skills they’ll need in their future careers.

Mohan, a UWE Bristol Engineering graduate who now works as manufacturing engineer for Alten Ltd, told Gradlink: “My course covered the aerospace cornerstones needed for my role. For example, I learned about design, manufacturing and systems during my MEng, as well as aspects such as project management. My role is so varied and I work in so many different departments at Airbus, that an ability to integrate several areas of knowledge is key for coming up with the best solutions. My course gave me the range of knowledge needed to take this integrated approach.

“In addition, the engineering placement I did with Airbus as part of my course was exceptional in terms of developing a wide range of skills. During the first six months I worked for additive lay manufacturing, and in the second, I worked with business improvements or Airbus operating systems OS. I enjoyed this experience so much that I can honestly say it was the best year of my life!”

Register for Gradlink today

Workplaces are changing rapidly, so it’s essential to boost your employability. A UK degree will equip you with the skills you need to succeed in your career, in India or elsewhere. You can get further support from Gradlink, which offers free global advice, an employer database, a jobs board and news for international students. Register with Gradlink today.