Connecting youth with livelihood: Dr Swati Mujumdar

The Symbiosis University of Applied Sciences, Indore, which is India’s first skill university, is creating curricula resulting in employment for the students. One of the main reasons for unemployment is that the youth have only bookish knowledge with no practical know-how and on-the-job experience.

In order to resolve this grave issue, Symbiosis University has developed courses in retail management, banking financial services and insurance, automobile engineering, mechatronics engineering, computer science and information technology engineering.

Symbiosis University Pro-Chancellor Dr Swati Mujumdar said, “We are trying to connect the students directly to employment. Various facilities such as a Mock Bank, Financial Plaza and Excellence Centre have been set up on campus. Seventy per cent of the students’ time is spent in learning through practice. We also ensure that every student gets an opportunity to intern.”

“Currently, 322 students are interning in banking, financial services and insurance industries, 144 students in retail and 354 students in engineering. Bank of India, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Shoppers Stop, Tata Motors, BHEL, Grasim, Ford Motors, Volvo etc. are some big names where our students are doing internships. Not only this, some students are getting stipends of up to Rs 20,000 per month,” she added.

“Reliance Capital, HDFC Bank, Future Group and Mahindra & Mahindra are knowledge partners of Symbiosis University, Dr Mujumdar said adding, “We are preparing our students to face the challenges of the future, with both a degree as well as requisite skills. And for this, Symbiosis University has signed several MoUs with leading companies in various sectors.”