FPJ 98th Anniversary: Why Colleges Must Embrace Skills, Scholarships & CSR Beyond Degrees

Colleges produce lakhs of graduates but many lack employability skills, creating a widening gap between degrees and job readiness.

NEP 2020 emphasizes integrating education with skills, as industry now demands job-ready graduates in AI, cloud computing, data analytics, and fintech.

CSR under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, mandates companies above a threshold to spend 2% of net profit on social causes, including education and vocational skills.

CSR partnerships can establish future-skills labs, fund scholarships, create industry relationships for internships, and support faculty development programs.

Education and skilling already account for the largest share of India's CSR expenditure, representing a significant funding opportunity for colleges.