Nagaland University holds career talk on skilling and employment
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DIMAPUR — English department of Nagaland University (NU) at Meriema conducted a sensitisation and interactive talk on the theme “Opportunities for skilling & employment: Shifting paradigms on employment and job opportunities” on Tuesday.
An update from the university stated that the session was facilitated by the Nagaland Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Mission (NSEDM) as the resource institution.
Delivering the welcome note, Dr. Lemtila Alinger, assistant professor and convener of English Department, highlighted the growing concern of educated unemployment and the confusion faced by many students while navigating career choices amid limited opportunities and intense competition. She shared that while placement facilitation initiatives have recently gained impetus under the National Education Policy (NEP), there remains an urgent need for platforms that expose students to alternative avenues and practical career pathways.
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She further expressed the need for more such programmes to sensitise and guide upcoming students.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. MAJ Khan, head of English department, stated that students today stand at a critical juncture as they transition into the realities of the professional world. He emphasised that while certificates and degrees remain important, the future would increasingly depend on practical skills, adaptability and the ability to sustain oneself in a rapidly changing world.
Stressing the need for a paradigm shift beyond academics, he encouraged students to prepare for self-employment, entrepreneurship and emerging opportunities.
It stated that faculty members have underscored the importance of creativity, innovation and skill acquisition in the age of artificial intelligence. They have encouraged students to explore opportunities beyond conventional thinking and return with experiences that could help shape future academic and professional engagement.
During the session, Meripeni Ngullie, project lead at NSEDM, presented the current employment realities in Nagaland and the growing mismatch between the number of graduates produced every year and the limited government vacancies available. She also highlighted the unemployment scenario in Nagaland, where educated unemployment continues to remain significantly high, thereby necessitating a stronger focus on skilling, entrepreneurship and employability initiatives.
Ngullie further encouraged the students not to spend prolonged years waiting solely for conventional career pathways, but to actively pursue employable skills, internships, entrepreneurship and experiential learning opportunities.
The programme also featured inspiring real-life experiences shared by officials and professionals associated with NSEDM.
Imtisunup Longchar, entrepreneurship development consultant, and Bendangrenla Jamir, monitoring, evaluation, placement and grievances redressal associate, shared their journeys of pursuing unconventional pathways and building meaningful professional careers through skills and experience.
Nukholo Swuro, mission and training coordinator, spoke on the growing dignity and relevance of private sector employment and emerging career opportunities beyond government jobs, drawing from her own professional experiences.
It stated that the programme served as an important platform to encourage students to rethink employability, embrace skills and innovation and prepare themselves for the evolving demands of the modern workforce.