Investing in your future: Importance of skill development for career success India is showing prolific growth in every sector, making skill development one of the most critical aspects of India’s job market. It can contribute to economic growth and structural transformation by enhancing employability and helping individuals to become more competitive. Something as simple and convenient as an online course can significantly contribute to an aspirant’s skill development. Improving one’s knowledge in any specific field, especially one related to a growing job market, increases the chances of success in the industry. In this article, you will read more about why skill development is paramount for career success today and how one can do it. Objective and benefits of skill development The primary objective of skill development is to improve the marketability of an individual and make them more relevant to the current demands of the job market. However, skill development is not exclusive to those already in the industry. It is an excellent way for freshers to establish themselves as desirable candidates to prospective employers and stand out. The following benefits explain why building on your current skills is an excellent idea for freshers or those looking to advance or change their current job roles. Enriches your skill set With digitization, there has been an immense demand for professionals in jobs like digital marketing, SEO, etc. While some of these are skills that individuals don’t necessarily acquire during their regular college education, they can nevertheless be mastered through online programs. This will boost one’s skill set and make them more valuable to current and/or future employers. Increases job opportunities Developing new skills or improving existing ones can make candidates more enticing to potential employers, creating additional job opportunities. Employers value candidates with diverse skill sets who can bring value to their organization. An online course also comes with virtual job fairs, so after course completion, you get to network with industry leaders and mentors, increasing your reach. Increases your adaptability An employee must be capable of readily adapting to changing job requirements and industry trends. It’s an essential trait in today’s fast-paced work environment, and developing new skills helps individuals to do so quickly and effectively. It can also increase your chances of getting quick promotions within an organization. As AI has started to dominate the business world, various jobs are transforming with intensive technology and a minimal manual workforce. It makes it mandatory to stay on edge when learning new skills. Gets you paid more Skill development is the best investment for many reasons. One of the important reasons is that skills are non-depreciating assets that serve you for life. Equipping yourself with new skills can increase your earning potential, as employers are willing to pay above the average for candidates with specialized, in-demand skills that can help them achieve their business objectives. Fulfills your life ambitions Skill development can also lead to personal growth and fulfillment, providing an enriching experience that allows individuals to explore new interests and hobbies. You will no longer feel left out when the younger generations in your community or family stick to newer modes of work, communication, etc. As a parent, you can positively influence your children’s lives and guide them to fulfilling careers, as you will be able to connect with them better by keeping up with new trends. So, besides an exceptionally successful career, your overall life is bound to improve with skill development. Improves your buying decisions We no longer live in an era where being uninformed about financial decisions is acceptable. In fact, looking the other way can result in significant financial losses. You can avoid falling into scams and pyramid schemes by making yourself tech-savvy. Developing tech skills allows you to analyze technical specifications carefully, compare similar products’ prices, and make informed purchasing decisions. You’ll be in a better position to judge which investments are legitimate and can help you with profit-making. Helps you stay relevant and prepared for the future What’s relevant and cutting-edge today may become obsolete in a few years. You must continuously upskill yourself with the latest tools and technologies. Failure to do so could render one irrelevant in the job market. For example, the shift from physical stores to fully digital e-commerce platforms is happening rapidly. So, even as a storekeeper, you must have the basic knowledge to manage your web portal effectively, as developers are not always available 24/7. Adds alternative income sources to your portfolio Being tech-savvy can also help you develop an alternative income source and create passive income opportunities. You can effortlessly sell products or services over the web. The key is to identify high-demand technical skills with room for diversification. For instance, if one is proficient in video-editing tools, they can take freelance gigs in their spare time. In the creative field, they can create animated presentations with gifs, charts, and graphics using free Visme templates. Building up work experience can lead to a full-time career in this area. Conclusion Skills development facilitates structural transformation and economic growth by increasing employability and labor productivity. It is a vital aspect for individuals to have a successful and fulfilling career. Although possessing certain hard skills is absolutely important, developing soft skills like emotional intelligence, problem-solving abilities, communication skills, appropriate etiquette, negotiation skills, etc., is equally important to land a job. The benefits of skill development are numerous as it prepares you for a successful future, and with constant upskilling, possibilities are endless. Staying up-to-date with the latest job trends and upskilling allows you to maneuver your career according to your preference. Online Manipal provides various UGC-entitled and industry-relevant online courses that can help you upskill and build a strong base for a successful career right from the comfort of your home.
This International Women’s Day, get a chance to avail a 25% scholarship on our online degrees Every year, International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world on the 8th of March. This special day celebrates women’s achievements, raises awareness about discrimination against women and is a reminder to take action to drive gender parity. The continued fight for women’s rights is marked each year by this day. “Gender equality is a question of power. The patriarchy, with millennia of power behind it, is reasserting itself. The United Nations is fighting back and standing up for the rights of women and girls everywhere,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, outlining this as the priority mission for 2023. The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”. This theme is aligned with the fact that technology, innovation and education in the digital age can help achieve gender equality and the empowerment of girls and women. The United Nations strongly believes that bringing women and other marginalized groups to technology results in creative solutions and helps promote gender equality. On International Women’s Day 2023, Online Manipal is taking the opportunity to celebrate and honor passionate women who want to explore the career of their dreams. Today, technology in the education sector is helping people from every corner of the world study from the comfort of their homes. While Online Manipal is already giving access to hassle-free online degrees from premium universities, this International Women’s Day, we are happy to renew our continued efforts in empowering women by awarding a special scholarship. Through our #EmpowerHer campaign, a 25% scholarship on online undergraduate and postgraduate degrees offered by Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) will be offered to 23 women on the occasion of Women’s Day. The 25% scholarship is available for any online program offered by Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ). Women learners who haven’t currently enrolled for an online degree with MUJ are eligible for this scholarship. All you have to do is, visit our #EmpowerHer campaign page, choose the program you wish to apply for and state a reason as to why you should get this scholarship. Other terms and conditions to avail the scholarship have been detailed out here. MUJ’s online degrees are affordable, accessible and help in empowering women who wish to join today’s global workforce. This campaign aims to benefit women from all walks of life. Whether you are a homemaker, working woman, entrepreneur or looking to build a dream career, you can get access to flexible online degrees on Online Manipal without missing out on your personal commitments. Our degrees help you acquire the in-demand skills needed to compete in today’s competitive job market. You can pursue online degrees through Online Manipal without taking a career break and fulfill your aspirations parallelly. Online degrees have benefited our women learners in multiple ways. In 2022, women across India applied for scholarships for different online degree programs of MUJ. Here’s what a few learners who received the scholarship in 2022 had to say- “Being the daughter of a single parent led me to drop out of my dream MBA degree due to financial constraints. I was finally able to fulfill my dream through Online Manipal’s #EmpowerHer scholarship. I want to become financially independent and support my family,” said Ektaa Gautam, who is currently a student of the online MBA program from MUJ. Akansha Mirgal, another learner pursuing an online MCom degree through Online Manipal said, “I’m a woman of big dreams. The possibility to achieve my dream of pursuing quality education became limited due to the pandemic. However, through the #EmpowerHer scholarship, I’m pursuing an online degree that will help me achieve my career goals.”
Saptarishi – Union budget, FY 2023-24 The Annual Financial Statement for the financial year 2023-24 has been presented by the Financial Minister of India on February 1st. The authorization of Parliament is necessary for the Finance Ministry to carry out any kind of spending. It is the responsibility of the Budget division of the Department of Economic Affairs within the Ministry of Finance to create this yearly financial statement, which is also known as the Union Budget. It is presented each year with details of many new and existing programs that the government is running, along with the framework for revenue and spending. This article focuses on seven distinct priorities that the government has set for the upcoming fiscal year. These priorities will shape the Indian economy in the context of the global recession, and the article also discusses how the Indian economy will respond to the most terrifying danger that can befall any economy: inflation. The Union Minister of Finance has delivered the Budget while elaborating on its aim for Amrit Kaal, which entails India celebrating 100 years of independence. It has been revealed that the central government has seven priorities, which are collectively referred to as “Saptarishi”. Let’s take a more in-depth look at the seven priorities that the government of India has set for itself, which have the potential to rescue or at the very least stabilize the economy amid a global crisis. It is vital to keep it a technology-driven, knowledge-based economy while also maintaining the Janbhagidarri (involvement of the people of the nation), among all the seven criteria that were considered. Let’s have a look at the following list of Saptarishi in more detail: 1. Reaching the last mile: Getting to the people who need it most in the economy and spreading the advantages of various programs to as many people as possible, particularly those who are struggling the most. The PM Vishwa Karma Kaushal Samman has been included in the program, which provides a forum as well as marketing for Indian crafts. Development of the pharmaceutical industry, Jal Jeevan Mission, and North East Special infrastructure development scheme have also been taken while focusing on reaching the last mile. 2. Youth power: The power of young people has been valued, and the creation of jobs via new businesses is still a possibility. This area will emphasize new businesses in the AGRI Tech industry since India has not yet produced its country’s first unicorn in the field of agricultural start-ups. The ease of setting up a business has become the primary focus. A credit guarantee program for micro, small, and medium enterprises has been approved. The budget includes initiatives to promote natural farming and fisheries. The National Book Trust, the Children’s Book Trust, and the National Book Library are all represented here, but the Eklavaya school model is the focal point. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 is there. 3. Financial sector: Even though the global economy is moving in the direction of recession, the Indian union budget focuses on achieving 6% to 6.8% of GDP. The urban employment rate reached its lowest point in the last four years with 7.2% in 2022-23, and it is anticipated that more controlled statistics will be recorded while simultaneously producing more prospects for work in the fiscal year 2023-24. There is a discussion of establishing a national financial information register. A portion of the budget is designated to encourage women to have modest savings through the Mahila Samman Bachat Patra. Senior folks are eligible for a variety of financial incentives. 4. Green growth: Green growth is focused on the sustainable development of the economy. At every conceivable level, environmental considerations have been given top importance. Plans that are beneficial to the environment are now being considered as a means of bolstering the economy while maintaining environmentally responsible practices. These programs include PM Pranam, Waste to Wealth plants, Mishti, and Amrit Dharohar, among others. In addition to that, there is the clean plant initiative to back up this objective. The mission to produce green hydrogen is the primary objective. 5. Unleashing the potential: Over the course of the last nine years, the economy of India has grown to become the fifth biggest economy in the world. The per capita income reaches 1.97 lakh rupees. Unleashing the unrealized potential of the Indian economy so that its size may be expanded is another significant aim that seems to be included in the budget. In the future, lab-grown diamonds will be the primary emphasis, with the end goal of reducing diamond imports and increasing diamond exports. 6. Infrastructure and investments: Schemes that target investments such as focusing on building India as a worldwide center for millet production and enhancing exports of the same, are examples of “schemes that target investments.” The Sri Anna plan was centered on the same thing. A portion of the funding will be allocated to projects that will make transportation more convenient. There is also a provision to have one hundred 5G laboratories for the development of app software. 7. Inclusive development: The budget has set goals for growth that are all-encompassing. The supply of food grain, PM Kisan, and LPG circulation are examples of programs that are addressing this goal and are among the measures that have been taken to reduce inflation. In addition to education, which accounts for 2.9% of the GDP, the health care budget is 2.1% of the GDP. Read more: Proposal for higher education in Union Budget 2024 The formulation and dissemination of the plans show that the budget places its primary emphasis on the aforementioned seven priorities. It is a challenge for India to survive, sustain, and implement the proposed schemes when the global economy is heading toward a recession. Additionally, as responsible citizens, we should take active participation in the schemes in order to untap our true economical potential. To understand the Union budget and its importance better, one must have sound knowledge in finance. Finance is one of the most important and in-demand sectors that offers vast employment opportunities for aspiring candidates. If you’re looking to make a career in finance, consider enhancing your domain knowledge with an online MBA with finance, BFSI, or IT and Fintech as an elective from Manipal University Jaipur. This is a UGC-entitled degree program that offers you the flexibility to learn at your convenient schedule.
How 62-year-old Thomas MK is fulfilling his endless passion for learning through Online Manipal “Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death,” said Albert Einstein. If one has the willingness and the right attitude to learn something, then age becomes just a number. This quote perfectly fits our learner, Thomas MK, who is 62 years old and strongly believes that learning has no boundaries. Passionate about academics since childhood, Thomas became a teacher after completing his graduation. While he taught mathematics, he always found opportunities to learn new things from his students. After being a schoolteacher for 35 years, even post-retirement, he didn’t let go of his passion for learning and decided to pursue an online degree in data science, while he continues to take private tuition for students. Here’s a glimpse of his learning journey and experience pursuing an online degree. What is your educational background and work experience? I completed my BSc in Mathematics from Kerala and then moved to Gujarat and became a school teacher at St Mary’s School. I have been in the teaching profession for 35 years now, since 1985, and I retired only two years ago. Even before I became a teacher, I used to take private tuition to fund my studies. Why did you decide to pursue an online degree? Post retirement, I continued taking tuition at a private center. However, the classes were only in the afternoons, and I was completely free in the mornings. Unable to sit idle, I decided to take up an online degree. Since Covid, we are used to taking classes in the online mode. So, I found this degree to be an opportunity for me to learn something new and interesting from the comfort of my home. Why did you decide to pursue a master’s degree at this age? This is a common question I’ve been asked since the time I enrolled for this degree. My family members advised me to save up instead of spending it on education. But these questions don’t bother me. I have always been financially independent, and I didn’t have to ask anybody to fund my education. Considering my everlasting passion for learning, I decided to utilize my free time by pursuing an online degree. Moreover, I don’t consider taking coaching classes as a ‘job’ or ‘business’. I only want to remain active and help students. My school and college friends are now professors, some are principals at schools and some of them are working in banks. They were very appreciative of me pursuing a master’s degree at this age. Why did you choose MSc in Data Science? Even though I’m interested in computer science, I didn’t have enough knowledge about coding to pursue an MCA degree. Also, my youngest daughter pursued her MSc in Data Science and is currently working in Bangalore. I already knew about the program. So, I thought MSc data science would be a better choice. I’m very happy to pursue a degree in data science because it is an emerging domain. Even though I’m not looking to apply for a full-time job after completing my degree, I might want to be a freelancer. I basically don’t want to sit idle. How has your experience been with Online Manipal? I’m very thankful to Manipal Academy of Higher Education for giving me this opportunity to pursue my online degree. The live classes are very useful. The curriculum is up to date and the faculty members are knowledgeable. The help desk was extremely supportive. What are your other interests? When I was in school and college, computers were not popular, and they were not part of our syllabus. Only computer courses were available, and they were very expensive. There were no IT courses and hardly any engineering colleges at that time. So, we had to either choose a BSc or BA. Therefore, after completing my BSc, I was looking for jobs and I happened to become a teacher. However, I was curious to improve my computer skills. At that time, I only knew MS Office. One day, my wife told me that MS Office is a very basic computer skill that many are aware of. I took this as a challenge and wanted to improve my knowledge about computers. With my limited knowledge of computers, I came up with a database program through Excel. I began studying Excel Visual Basic Analysis (VBA). I came up with my own customized program and user interface, which became popular in the school I was teaching. What is your aim in life? My aim in life is to become a computer expert. Today, children know how to use computers and as their teacher, I thought I should grow with them. I realized that I have the potential of becoming a computer expert. What is your message to people who think age is a barrier to pursuing education? If your health and financial status are not a barrier, then there is no boundary for learning. I never felt that I’m old and that I should stop learning. People will always be judgmental about your actions. I turned a deaf ear to people who questioned why I decided to pursue an online degree at the age of 62. For instance, when I was learning Excel VBA, my friends who were programmers told me that I cannot get anything out of Excel. But I proved them wrong. I strongly believe that age is just a number. Conclusion For many, retirement is seen as a transition that opens doors to new opportunities. For those who have love for learning, online education is a great opportunity to explore as they can earn a degree or upskill from the comfort of their homes. Online education also breaks financial barriers, as they are more affordable. Learning at an older age can be seen as a great opportunity to continue contributing to society.
