Post COVID-19, trends like digital marketing, data sciences, AI, machine learning, and MBAs in digital social media management are taking over the other conventional disciplines, says DEEPAK GOEL

The higher education landscape has been transforming due to the present market dynamics. There is no doubt in accepting the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has tremendously increased the dependency on technology and digital media due to social distancing and travel restrictions.

Since digitisation and technology have become the fore runners of the economy, it is imperative to understand how they are reshaping the trends in the higher education landscape. After the outbreak of the ongoing pandemic, trends such as digital marketing, data sciences, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and MBAs in digital social media management are taking over the other conventional disciplines.

In today’s business scenario, leaders lay more emphasis on statistical numbers and predictive analysis to make informed decisions. Thus, it makes data sciences one of the most powerful arenas to provide value to a company to a large extend. According to a recent report, close to 97,000 positions in the field of new-age technology remained vacant due to lack of talent. The surge in demand for data science professionals captivates the mind of students in taking up programmes that can advance their careers from the present job outlook.

With the exponential growth in data sciences and new age technologies, there is a widespread adoption of IoT that is recognised as a significant growth factor in shaping the digital economy. The IoT is leading at many fronts that many students and professionals are identifying programs for upskilling and take up challenging roles from a career perspective.Though IoT is not a new term, it is already anticipated that the black swan event of coronavirus spread makes it a pandemic proof solution that every sector is now adopting.

In India, it is anticipated that Digital Social Media, Data Science, and IoT are churning the education landscape. This has resulted in demand for comprehensive and advanced programs such as alternative MBAs that help the learners acquire strong skillset and make a promising career ahead.

During the present uncertainties and the guidelines of New Education Policy ( NEP), students enrolling for MBAs and B-Schools are now sceptical about the institutions’ commitments to provide placement assistance.

On the other hand, B-schools have cut their trimester and course duration to manage the completion of the curriculum online. That means there is a reduction in knowledge that could not be beneficial for students in the long-run.

Today, every business sector is remodelling its operations and services as per the changing consumer perceptions and behaviour. To deal with the present market dynamics, companies are preferring to hire candidates based on knowledge and exposure than qualification. They are looking for "profession ready " students.

This has encouraged alternative MBAs to replace traditional MBA degree programmes as students no longer find it useful to stick to such courses just for the sake of obtaining degrees. Additionally, the young working professionals seeking to hone their skills to acquire a better or new job role in their organisation are also considering alternative MBAs along with their job to update and educate themselves with specialisation in digital social media, data science and IoT.

Moreover, the recent formulation of NEP emphasizes the fact that degree programs are just the duration extension of diploma and certificate programmes. As per the newly proposed NEP, Under the four-year programme students can exit after one year with a certificate, after two years with a diploma, and after three years with a bachelor's degree. Also under NEP, the AICTE and the UGC have been merged and further guidelines are still awaited.

This could make the present MBA/PGP redundant in coming years and adding more uncertainties to the career of students with such qualifications.

Thus, alternative MBAs have become a lucrative option with tremendous scope in areas like digital media, data science, and IoT. Also such MBAs are more NEP compliant.

Though it is still on a nascent stage, a few institutions are coming forward with such programs that are focusing on providing industrial exposure to students and still preparing them for digital age employment.

The writer is CEO of iMET Global