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Acquiring In-Demand Skills for Aspirants Studying Abroad for Enhanced Employability Chances
Sia, an aspiring young student, stood at the crossroads of her life, deciding whether to pursue her dream of higher education abroad or to stay here and be a part of the ordinary. Full of apprehensions and many unanswered questions, it was then that she decided to silence the voices around her and gather relevant information via reliable sources.
She was all in awe upon gathering practical information about young students wishing to study overseas; however, she acknowledged that there were certain imperative skills that she needed to work on to be able to fulfill and sustain her dream of settling and studying abroad. In-depth research presented her with astounding facts and figures, which further made her determined to pursue her passion of studying overseas.
Few worldwide facts surrounding overseas educational aspirants:
- As of 2023, there were approximately 850,000 Indian students enrolled across major countries for educational purposes.
- A report by Gradding estimated direct expenditure at around $47 billion (2022),which is expected to rise further and reach $70 billion by 2025, includes tuition fees, accommodation, and other living costs.
- India, the second largest sending country, reached an all-time high of 2,68,923 international students in 2022/23.
- In the Fall snapshot survey 2023, for all places of origin, India continues to be the highest priority for undergraduates.
- International students accounted for 6% of the total US higher education population and contributed nearly $38 billion to the US economy in 2023.
These facts present a clear picture that studying abroad is a golden gate ticket for Indian students as it offers diverse avenues on a global platform. On the contrary, a lack of skills lowers the chances of any aspirant studying and eventually getting employed.
Unaddressed skills gap and its immediate negative effects
If left unattended, the skills gap is bound to have a negative impact on both the individual and the employer. The lack of skills in the global workforce can vary depending on geographical location, industry, and economic factors. Covering these particular gaps requires a multi-faceted approach involving governments, educational institutions, businesses, and individuals in tandem.
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Identifying and filling these gaps has been of eternal importance for enabling aspirants to stay competitive and gain an edge over others. We help you explore what exactly these are and how you can keep on top of your career and personal development.
Highlighted below is the imperative need to bridge the skills gap:
- To foster lifelong learning: up-skilling and re-skilling through workshops, seminars, and online courses helps individuals lead a satisfied life by promoting lifelong learning.
- Addressing the gap between education and industry needs: Addressing the skills gap through educational programs to provide students with practical skills and workplace readiness is the need of the hour.
- Social unity and inclusion fostering a sense of inclusiveness reduces inequality by providing individuals from varied backgrounds with the necessary tools to succeed globally.
- Job creation through employability manned workers are able to procure secure and well-paying jobs, leading to increased household income and economic stability.
- Confidence facing global challenges workplaces require individuals to develop the tact to address societal issues facing communities worldwide.
- Adaptability to change: evolving work scenarios present individuals with opportunities to thrive in a variety of roles and industries. It helps the aspirants stay relevant and competitive by playing versatile roles that cater to changing job requirements.
Lucrative benefits of studying abroad
An individual experiences diverse cultural, social, economic, and technological advancements once abroad, thanks to the numerous opportunities available. Thus, it becomes imperative to develop certain skills that make an individual prominent and distinct.
Employers from a variety of industries place a high value on these skills, which can lead to excellent pay in the workforce.
Develop these life-transforming skills and gain an edge in academic settings and beyond:
- Ace the communication: Studying abroad helps you develop your listening and speaking skills, as well as your ability to understand and adapt to different communication styles. Such skills are essential for jobs that involve teamwork, collaboration, or individual performances on a daily basis.
- Develop the problem-solving attitude: an individual develops problem-solving, adaptability, and resilience while studying abroad. Employers are often looking for employees who can handle challenges in a fast-paced and technology-based environment.
- Adopt and adapt: Studying abroad is often viewed as a sign of independence, resilience, and adaptability, as students navigate unfamiliar environments, adapt to new routines, and overcome challenges independently. Cultural and social immersion is an imperative step towards living peacefully.
- Learn new language skills: Bilingualism, or multilingualism, is increasingly valued in globalized industries. A direct immersion in a foreign language speaking environment is seen as one of the most effective ways to learn a new language or even improve existing language skills.
- Network and leverage: by building a strong personal and professional network through valuable connections, an individual opens doors of subtle immersion into the culture and people around them. Learn to rightfully leverage your network in any scenario.
Studying abroad helps students develop cross-cultural understanding by:
- Self-awareness and resilience
- Acting on leadership qualities
- Taking calculated risks
- Developing critical thinking skills
- Honing intrapersonal and interpersonal skills
Acclimatize yourself with these traits to excel in education or at the workplace worldwide:
- Experience new places and cultures at large.
- Make new friends from around the world.
- Gain a global perspective on day-to-day simple activities.
- Study at a comprehensive hub related to your field.
- Widen your horizons by traveling far and wide.
- Learn new approaches to handling different situations at the workplace.
- Ace time management skills for overall productivity
Conclusion
It can be rightly stated that investing in education, training, and lifelong learning opportunities empowers individuals and communities to reach their full potential. This, in turn, contributes to a promising and sustainable future, especially for students. Addressing the lack of skills in the world’s workforce is mandatory for an individual to grow on both the personal and professional fronts. A direct result of bridging these gaps is that the young aspirant becomes highly competitive and confident worldwide.
