Higher Education and Skill Development Key to Retain Talent, says MoS Bittu

In a compelling address at the Dataquest Higher Education Conference & Awards, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Minister of State for Railways & Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, highlighted the pivotal role of higher education and skill development in shaping India's future. 

The event focused on the transformation challenges and opportunities presented by the digital revolution in the field of higher education. Experts explored topics like bridging the talent gap through innovative digital learning solutions, the role of government policy in fostering digital transformation, equipping engineering graduates for the digital age, the rise of EdTech, and creating modern learning infrastructures for experiential learning.

Minister Bittu emphasized the significance of higher education in equipping individuals with advanced knowledge and specialized skills necessary for professional success across various fields. "Higher education equips individuals with advanced knowledge and specialized skills needed for professional success in various fields," he noted. He pointed out that higher education opens doors to numerous career opportunities and higher-paying jobs, contributing to economic stability and growth for individuals and the nation.

Addressing the issue of brain drain, he questioned why India's talented youth are seeking opportunities abroad. "Today, our young minds are going abroad, brain drain, they are being utilized by other countries for their developmental works and research works. Why not in India?" he asked. 

He acknowledged the allure of greener pastures and higher salaries but stressed the need to retain talent within the country. "Under the able leadership of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India is becoming a global brand," he said, highlighting the government's focus on higher education and skill development.

The minister called on the industry to focus on skill development and link higher education with the demands of the corporate sector. He referred to the recent union budget, which emphasized employment, skilling, MSMEs, and the middle class. The budget includes the Prime Minister's package of five schemes aimed at facilitating employment and skilling opportunities for 4.1 crore youth over five years, with a central outlay of ₹2 lakh crore. Additionally, there is a provision of ₹1.48 crore for education, employment, and skills, aiming to skill 20 lakh youth over five years and upgrade 1000 ITIs with new courses for emerging needs.

Minister Bittu also mentioned about the financial support of loans up to ₹10 lakh for higher education in domestic institutions, with e-vouchers for annual interest subvention of 3 percent of the loan amount to be given directly to 1 lakh students each year.

Concluding his address, Minister Bittu congratulated Dataquest and the CyberMedia Group for providing the industry with a significant platform and lauded all awardees and participants. The awards were presented by Minister Bittu along with Pradeep Gupta, Chairman of CyberMedia Group, and N S Kalsi, Board Member of KaramYogi Bharat & Former Chairperson of NCVET, Government of India.