Abhijit Pawar: Students should create opportunities during this COVID-19 crisis

Pune: Abhijit Pawar, the Managing Director of the Sakal Media Group, advised students to showcase their strengths, capacity and capability to innovate and create solutions during this crisis time. 

"Obtaining a graduation degree does not imply that you are employable. If you undergo supplementary training and courses, then you can stay alive in changing situations. Opportunities are born in crisis and hence if you have the capacity and capability, and if you get proper guidance, then you can establish new businesses and become an entrepreneur," he said.

Abhijit Pawar was addressing the students through a webinar 'No Going Back, Post COVID-19' organised by Walchand College of Engineering (WCE) Sangli and Maha Association of Training and Placement Officers (MahaTPO). Organiser Sanjay Dhaygude, Sheetalkumar Ravandale and others participated in the webinar. Abhijit Pawar spoke on a variety of issues including COVID-19, educational system, industries, employment, environment and social awareness in students.

"Every year, 3.7 crore students complete their graduation courses and become degree-holders in their respective fields. But out of those, 80 per cent of students are not employable. This is a serious issue and needs to be resolved through systemic changes in the educational system. Teachers and professors are the real mentors for students, and they show them the correct path. Students should, therefore, learn diverse things throughout their lives," said Abhijit Pawar, who is an alumnus of the institute. 

LEARN FROM GERMANY
Highlighting the German education model, Abhijit Pawar said, "Unemployment is another challenge along with the delivery of education for employable graduates. To solve this issue, we should consider Germany's education model. In Germany, students get to work with the industry right from the first year of their degree education, which is why students there become employable and think of innovative concepts. We should not wait for placements to happen in the fourth year of your education. Apart from this, students should get at least 10 to 12 supplementary trainings and certificate courses along with their degree education."

He also said that local institutes should also aggressively take up the research work on curbing coronavirus pandemic spread or its effects.

"The COVID-19 virus was made out of human mistakes. Superpowers, nuclear powers of the world, arms and ammunition and money everything has surrendered before this miniature virus. Researchers world over are working on ways to come out of this pandemic, but why can't we do this research? Educational institutes should think on these lines. Research does not mean you have to develop robots or cars. If you think of social issues and problems you can think of means of self-employment," he added.

THINK GLOBAL, SOLVE LOCAL
Abhijit Pawar further stressed on the subject of giving back to your society. 

"Think differently on various issues. Instead of thinking narrow and for yourself, think on a global scale. If you can think of global solutions, you can also solve your own problems. Everybody on this planet is interdependent, and hence we should all come together to come out of this crisis situation."

"After completing their education in India, most students go abroad and join multinational companies. But you should remember that you owe something to this society. You should associate with government, social organisations, research institutes and solve real-life social issues," Abhijit Pawar advised the students.

SUGGESTIONS FROM ABHIJIT PAWAR
- COVID-19 has disrupted industries but created new opportunities too
- Don't take anything for free, pay for it
- Failures are common in startups, new businesses. Don't get demoralised because that is real education
- Gain knowledge through online education