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[ad_1] By John Kallelil Organisational success depends on many crucial factors but there is no denying that people are at the heart of any business. This is why enterprises need a smart workforce that is in tune with the evolving times. As a result, businesses are increasingly investing heavily in learning and development initiatives to bring their teams up to speed and boost the overall productivity score. A significant shift in hiring: adopting the skill-first approach The traditional approach to hiring relied on checking off a few parameters and boxes, such as work experience, educational background etc. However, in today’s skill-based economy, the scenario has become more interesting. It no longer suffices to have your degrees and industries aligned to the job one is applying for. Businesses are focused more on the specific skills required for a role and the aspirant’s ability to reskill/upskill with time. According to World Economic Forum 42% of jobs will require a different set of skills in the next three years and more than one billion workers will need reskilling by 2030. Considering the growing skills gap globally, enterprises need to match both current employees and new hires to new-age skills and roles. LinkedIn’s research highlights that the skill sets for jobs have changed by around 25% since 2015. It further states that this number is expected to double by 2027. This implies that the jobs are evolving even if the talent isn’t switching jobs. Similarly, the business requirements are also changing even if the organisations aren’t changing their business strategies. As per OECD’s (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) projections, more than a billion jobs, that is, one-third of jobs at the global level are expected to undergo transformations due to technology in the next decade. These stats are indicative of the fact that having skills or rather being skilled thus becomes imperative. The widening skill gap The job landscape has shifted dramatically at the global level. Demographic changes coupled with technological advancements have led to this paradigm shift and it is believed that the next decade will see new jobs emerge that require additional skills and knowledge.  Companies of all sizes have a challenging time keeping up with the pace of technological advancements. Though the latest technology creates powerful business opportunities, it also widens the skill gaps. This happens specifically in industries like healthcare, IT, construction & real estate, and manufacturing, where skilled workers are much sought after. In the current scenario, especially within the Indian marketplace, there is a widening gap between available jobs and talent. As per the India Skill Report 2019, only 45.6% of the youth graduating are employment ready. The primary reason behind this is that a major proportion of the workforce either doesn’t possess the requisite skillset or doesn’t qualify for those specific job roles. The emerging job market demands and expects skills that go beyond what the public or private education system is offering currently. And this gap is only going to widen in the future. In such a scenario, professionals can no longer rely on their existing skills and education. In order to stand from the crowd, they will have to upskill themselves so as to be prepared for the future as it evolves. Upskilling: the dire need of the hour The process of upskilling refers to learning new skills and improving one’s competencies. In today’s fast-paced world, technological advancements coupled with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence have made skill enhancement inevitable. Blockchain analyst, Chief Security Officer, podcast producer, telemedicine physician, cloud architect, drone operator, chief listening officer, market research data miner – just a handful of jobs that didn’t exist a decade ago. Upskilling is not only necessary for job aspirants and candidates who are embarking on their career journey, it is even more important for seasoned and experienced professionals who are now making decisions based on a new technology strategy and tool stack For this, Chief Learning Officers must look beyond traditional approaches and seek out more efficient upskilling methods such as immersive learning.  Ed-tech: An effective solution for upskilling professionals Executive education combined with technology has a force multiplier effect on the workforce. EdTech has empowered participants across the globe access to international education, acclaimed professors and prestigious universities. With the help of educational apps, live-online training and superior connectivity, the world is quite possibly the biggest classroom right now. For professionals, it has opened up a plethora of opportunities. Upskilling in the traditional paradigm meant that candidates were bound by geography, time zones, and had to take a sabbatical from work. But technology has opened up avenues for aspirants now. You can access international universities and faculty for specialized training in topics ranging from digital transformation, strategy, financial leadership, emotional intelligence to data science, blockchain and Web 3.0. All this without disrupting your work-life balance as technology makes it possible to learn at your own pace. Ed-tech platforms today play a vital role in bridging this talent-skill gap by enabling upskilling through high-quality learning from top global universities. Many players are making concerted efforts to offer global quality education to learners catering to future-centric capabilities and skillsets. They then design their programs in accordance with the requirements to help navigate organizations with the skills-first approach. Today’s executive education programs empowered by technology offer leadership insights and business acumen for dealing with the new normal and real-world challenges. Since the demand for customized education is on a surge, these ed-tech platforms are focusing on providing both custom programs and open programs that fulfill the needs of senior managers and businesses across sectors. With a focus on experiential learning, EdTech transforms learners into leaders and innovators of the future! The author is founder and director, XED Institute. Read also: CNI asks city schools to reduce summer vacation and start physical classes from June 20 [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Macron faces tough battle for control of parliament as France votes [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] The government has directed the power generation companies (GENCOS) to buy rakes for captive usage, a move which will ensure smooth supplies of coal during the monsoon season. Each year during the monsoon season, the production of domestic coal also falls, Power Minister R K Singh told PTI. When asked if the government is making rake arrangements anticipating production and supply issues during the approaching rainy season, he replied in the affirmative. “That (rakes) is another problem,” Singh said adding the Coal Ministry has been saying that there are locations where there is dry fuel but transportation is not happening to the extent of availability. He cited the shortage of rakes besides congestion on some routes as the main reasons for this problem. There are actions which the Railways need to take to reduce the congestion on those lines so that more coal can be evacuated from these places. In some areas, the Coal Ministry will have to up the production where enough rakes are available, the Minister said.Without sharing any details, he further said “the Indian Railways is buying more rakes. I have also asked the GENCOS to invest in rakes. “You can own rakes and you save on transport cost and that pays for itself in about 9-10 years and the rake itself runs for about 25-30 years. NTPC already owns rakes, they are going to increase their rakes. I have asked all state GENCOS to own rakes to reduce load on railways.” The Minister has also said that the government is gearing up to increase the stock of coal at power plants to 40 million tonnes (MT) during the monsoon season. At present, there are reserves of around 22.9 MT at the power plants. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] These Ooly Art Supplies would make such fun gift ideas for anyone who loves to create! Right now, Zulily is having an Ooly Art Supplies sale with prices starting at just $6.99! Plus, when you spend $50+ on Zulily today, you will save an extra 15% off at checkout. These are so many fun items in this sale including paint sticks, markers, coloring books, gel pens, sketchbooks and more. Shipping starts at $6.99. But if you place one order today, the rest of your orders will ship for FREE through 11:59 p.m. PT tonight! [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] Australian power station fire will not worsen energy crisis -market operator [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] During a recent promotion for his film Samrat Prithviraj, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar kicked up a storm by commenting that rulers such as Prithviraj Chauhan “should be written about” in Indian history textbooks. “There were only three-four lines about Samrat Prithviraj in the history books that I read. Thanks to this film, I got to know so much about him. I don’t think anyone else also knew about him,” he said during an interview, adding, “When I was talking to my son about him (Prithviraj), he said, ‘I know about the British empire, Mughal empire, but who’s he?’ So, it’s a sad thing that we don’t know about our own kings. There were only a few lines about Rana Pratap, Rani of Jhansi. But there are a lot of chapters on Mughals.” He also appealed to the education ministry to “try and (bring about) balance and bring our culture, Hindu kings also in our textbooks”. Kumar’s view found both takers and opponents, but the debate over the rewriting of history textbooks for political gains has been raging over the years, and successive governments at both the states and the Centre have often been accused of promoting their own ideologies through them. While history textbooks have often come under the scanner for alterations in content, what about children’s and general history books? Authors and publishers of such books—both fiction and non-fiction—say their challenge is not to question history but to present it to kids in a way that engages them. Tina Narang, publisher, HarperCollins Children’s Books, says: “For students, there is a certain comfort in knowing that what they have studied in subjects like history is not likely to change. History is based on facts and unless current research throws light on some unexplored aspects there is little scope to change it. That’s what makes it history. As publishers, our challenge is not to question history and its facts as set down in textbooks by subject experts but to present it to children in a way that engages them,” she says. Narang suggests making history more engaging through visually-driven formats, a better balance between text and visuals and using the narrative non-fiction approach to make history a subject that kids want to read for reasons other than just writing an exam. The curriculum debate English novelist George Orwell had once said that “the most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history”. The quote can be viewed in the light of the recent developments cooking up in the Indian history curriculum debate. In recent times, ghosts of the past have been resurrected many times in debates and for political gains. BJP leader Nupur Sharma’s quote on Prophet Muhammad led to India being criticised by Islamic nations for insulting a religious leader, even though the national party maintained its stance that it respected all religions. In December 2021, the Delhi High Court refused to entertain a PIL demanding the removal of a paragraph in the Class XII textbook of history. The paragraph had talked about Mughal rulers like Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb giving grants for repair of temples. The high court bench came down heavily on the petitioners for wasting the court’s time. On Saturday, it was reported that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) had removed portions on the 2002 Gujarat riots, the Emergency, Cold War, the Naxalite movement and Mughal courts from its textbooks of Class XII. The removal was stated as a “syllabus rationalisation” exercise and NCERT cited reasons such as “overlapping” and “irrelevant” for dropping the portions. Some of the changes had been announced earlier this year when the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had rationalised its syllabus. Earlier in May, it was reported that several BJP-ruled states had been altering history textbooks like the addition of a few paragraphs in a Class IX history textbook by the Haryana government on Congress’ ‘appeasement policy’, and the Gujarat government’s addition of parts of Bhagavad Gita in the Class VI-X syllabi. The Haryana Board of School Education (HBSE) was also in the news recently for its Class IX history textbooks that stated that Congress’ greed of power was the reason behind India’s Partition in 1947. Many states justified the recent altering of history textbooks in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) to provide an India-centric education. The altering of history with changing political regimes is not a new fact. In the past, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government was in a spot for attempting to saffronise education and the Congress was blamed for putting too much spotlight on Mughal history. However, authors and historians will agree that political involvement in designing curriculums may distort historical representation. Tilottama Shome of Talking Cub, the children’s imprint of independent publishing house Speaking Tiger, feels that political powers must have no role in designing curriculums. “History is a foundation on which a culture builds its future. And while history may be twisted by the powerful, it’s quite clear that it is possible to delve and find different versions of a story because stories get narrated over time.” She suggests that school textbooks need to get the nod of scholars from diverse backgrounds to arrive at the curriculum. “A country like ours that is diverse and historically an amalgamation of different influences needs to recognise all major influences and that should reflect in our textbooks,” Shome says. Her recent books with Talking Cub include Taj Mahal: The Story of a Wonder of the World and The Kailash Temple at Ellora: Magnificent Monuments of India. What students are fed through books becomes their learning and knowledge and shapes their future. So, the important questions remain: Who writes the history —the politicians or the historians? Should history be altered for one’s political gains? Who decides what to include and what to delete from history? A learning process As children, one would read storybooks of Akbar and Birbal, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which

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[ad_1] Apple workers at Maryland store vote to unionize, a first for the U.S. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] What are summer vacations without a pile of interesting books to read? Here is a list to get kids started The Gutsy Girls of ScienceIlina Singh Eleven gutsy women who loved science enough to fight for their place in the sun… This book explores the contribution of these remarkable Indian women —from cytogeneticist Archana Sharma and botanist Janaki Ammal to mathematician Raman Parimala, physicist Bibha Chowdhuri, chemist Asima Chatterjee and several others. With intelligence and innate artistic talent, author Ilina Singh celebrates their lives and the wonderful world of science. Trumpet Calls: Epic Tales of Extraordinary ElephantsNalini Ramachandran To some, elephants are the guardians of forests; to others, they are sacred symbols—worthy of being worshiped. Funny, joyful, often profoundly moving and sometimes downright heart-breaking, Trumpet Calls takes you on the wild and wondrous trail of the most majestic creature on earth. The Little Handbook of Cool TechnologyShalini Satish The Little Handbook of Cool Technology presents concepts and fundamentals in a conversational and easy-to-understand style. With vibrant illustrations and interesting trivia, the book aims to simplify complex concepts and kindle curiosity in the minds of young readers. The King Who Turned into a Serpent: And Other Thrilling Tales of Royalty from Indian MythologySudha Madhavan Awe-inspiring fighters, feisty leaders, exemplary friends, mighty monarchs and super-strong sleepyheads… Who were these multifaceted rulers who stood out among the hundreds in the lore of our land? From Shibi Chakravarthy to Bhoja, from Vidyottama to Meenakshi—what was extraordinary about them and their times? In over 15 fascinating stories, this book takes you to the kingdoms, courts, palaces and battlefields of glorious royals, who shaped our values and made their place forever in our epics and legends. Cinderella is DeadKalynn Bayron It’s 200 years since Cinderella found her prince, but the fairytale is over. Cinderella is Dead is an electrifying twist on the classic fairytale that will inspire girls to break out of limiting stereotypes and follow their dreams. The book creates a brand-new young adult (YA) fairytale and a heroine for our times. The Ten Second Book of Laughs and SurprisesShamika Chaves Did you know that Adolf Hitler was mortally afraid of dentists?Or that the famous master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, who made some of the scariest movies, had a fear of eggs? Or have you ever wondered what would happen if we got close enough to a black hole in space? Did you know that in China, sunglasses were used by judges to hide their expressions in the courtroom? Or that in 2015, the Netherlands imported prisoners so their prisons wouldn’t stay empty? We truly live in a strange, fascinating world. Take a peek at some of the most bizarre, weird and interesting facts. Are Your Emotions Like Mine?Chitwan Mittal Explore a range of emotions with a young girl and her lion friend. With simple text and magical illustrations, this book for toddlers deals with the universal theme of emotions. It not only helps young children identify their emotions, but also teaches them how to cope through the simple strategy of taking a deep, deep breath. Who is Afraid of Z? Not Me!Lubaina Bandukwala Z is miffed. Things are being said about him. That he is not so important. That he will not be missed. But Z is not so easily dismissed. He’s pesky, feisty and determined to show that he may be last, but he is certainly not the least. Our quirky Z-hero claims the spotlight in this zany story told with catchy rhythm, rhyme and alliteration. The Tiger of the RiverAdrian Pinder The incredible story of the tiger of the river, Matisha—the majestic mahseer fish. Illustrated beautifully by Maya Ramaswamy with vibrant colours, the invisible world that lives below the waters of the river and in the Western Ghats comes alive through the eyes of a fascinatingly beautiful, yet critically endangered species. 10 Indian Art Mysteries That Have Never Been SolvedMamta Nainy From the award-winning author of A Brush with Indian Art, comes an engaging collection of ten unsolved art mysteries. Ranging from pre-historic times to the present-day, the book captures the diversity and range of Indian art. Mamta Nainy is a Delhi-based writer and has authored over 30 books for children, many of which have gone on to win national and international recognitions. In this book, she explores diverse artistic periods, explains different art forms, and gives insights into the lives of artists working in different times and spaces, one curious case at a time. The stories told in the book include those of the Bhimbetka paintings; the evolution of the Buddha; the Ajanta caves; the Kailashanatha temple; the Pithora paintings; women artists of the Mughal era; Bani Thani; Indian yellow; Manaku of Guler; and the Sripuranthan Shiva Nataraja. Listen to Your Heart: The London AdventureRuskin Bond The final installment of his boyhood memoirs, Listen to Your Heart narrates the events shortly before Ruskin’s 18th birthday and based on his final years in Jersey and London. An intimate account of his time spent working on and getting his iconic novel The Room on the Roof published, it’s a warm-hearted book that encapsulates what it means to be a young adult as one navigates their early years into adulthood. Children of the Hidden LandMandira Shah A drone that captures a deadly secret, children who are missing, and a shadowy figure known only as the Dragon. Who will unravel the secrets running below the surface of this land… and at what cost? 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