Three-Fourths of Indian Colleges Fail Industry Readiness Test
A new report from TeamLease Edtech delivers a sobering assessment of India's higher education landscape. The study reveals that nearly 75 percent of Indian colleges and universities remain unprepared for industry demands. This finding emerges despite widespread institutional claims about prioritizing student employability.
Widespread Curriculum Misalignment
The report identifies curriculum relevance as the most significant constraint. Only 8.6 percent of institutions report full alignment with industry requirements across all their programs. More than half of surveyed institutions, specifically 51.01 percent, admit they lack any meaningful alignment. Another 19.1 percent say their alignment efforts remain incomplete or under implementation.
These numbers paint a clear picture. Most Indian higher education institutions operate with curricula that fail to meet contemporary industry standards. This gap directly impacts graduate employability and job readiness.
Structural Deficiencies Persist
The study uncovers multiple structural weaknesses. Just 23 percent of institutions involve industry professionals in their academic programs. Over 60 percent have not even explored incorporating industry-embedded certifications into their coursework.
Placement outcomes reflect these deficiencies. Only 16.67 percent of institutions achieve placement rates between 76 and 100 percent within six months of graduation. This statistic suggests most graduates face uncertain employment prospects despite completing their degrees.
Experiential Learning Remains Underdeveloped
Internships and practical exposure continue to receive inadequate attention. Only 9.4 percent of institutions integrate internships across all their programs. Another 17.4 percent offer internships within select programs only. Combined, this means just 26.8 percent of institutions provide structured internship opportunities.
Meanwhile, 37.8 percent of institutions lack any internship integration whatsoever. Live industry projects see even lower adoption, with only 9.68 percent of institutions utilizing them. These figures indicate most students graduate with minimal real-world experience.
Limited Industry and Alumni Engagement
Industry participation within classrooms remains minimal. Only 7.56 percent of institutions integrate Professors of Practice across multiple programs. Another 15.46 percent restrict such engagement to specific departments. This leaves the majority of institutions without regular exposure to current industry practices.
Alumni networks also show limited effectiveness. Just 5.44 percent of institutions report highly engaged alumni networks. Another 15.09 percent describe their alumni engagement as fairly active. For most institutions, alumni relationships remain weak or nonexistent, cutting off valuable mentorship and hiring channels.
Leadership Calls for Systemic Change
Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO of TeamLease Edtech, commented on the findings. He noted the clear gap between institutional aspirations and actual execution. "While employability remains a central objective, a significant number of institutions are yet to fully align their curricula with industry needs," Rooj stated.
He emphasized that employability must become a system design priority rather than an optional add-on. "If employability is truly the goal, curriculum co-creation with industry, mandatory internships, applied learning through live projects, and formal employer partnerships must become fundamental to how institutions function," Rooj added.
Study Methodology and Scope
The report titled "From Degree Factories to Employability Hubs" draws from 1,071 responses. These came from public universities, private institutions, deemed universities, autonomous colleges, and affiliated colleges across India. Researchers collected data digitally through voluntary and anonymous participation using a structured survey.
The analysis examined multiple dimensions including curriculum alignment, internship programs, digital skills development, industry engagement, alumni involvement, placement outcomes, and institutional priorities. The study focused on identifying system-level trends rather than ranking individual institutions.
This comprehensive assessment highlights the urgent need for structural reforms in Indian higher education. Institutions must bridge the gap between academic offerings and industry requirements to enhance graduate employability and meet national development goals.
