Why Universities Should Adopt Virtual Internships to Bridge the Employability Gap

In today’s competitive world, employability is a challenge that most fresh graduates struggle with. Even as companies have vacancies, they often find that candidates lack the requisite skills to take on these roles effectively. This gap between education and industry needs has highlighted the importance of employability skills and opened avenues for solutions like virtual internships.

Here’s why virtual internships are emerging as the best tool to be implemented in colleges, universities, and other higher education bodies:

The Current Dilemma

6 out of 10 engineering graduates in India remain unemployed after completing their degrees, according to NASSCOM reports.
Despite 2.5 million job openings in emerging industries, companies report that over 60% of candidates lack basic employability skills.

This problem stems from two key issues:

Graduates without Jobs: Students are unable to secure employment due to a lack of skills relevant to the industry.
Companies Without the Right Candidates: Organisations face challenges finding job-ready talent.

What Are Employability Skills?

Employability skills go beyond technical knowledge. They include:

Understanding Industry Dynamics: Knowing the services provided by companies and the roles available.
Technical Fundamentals: Strong basics in technical areas relevant to entry-level jobs.
Workplace Readiness: Seriousness about work, an understanding of job growth prospects, and adaptability.

The Reality of Industry Expectations

Surveys reveal that over 70% of recruiters prioritise candidates with basic technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities over advanced technical skills. Unfortunately, many students lack this foundation due to limited exposure to real-world environments and unclear career aspirations.

Existing Initiatives and Their Shortcomings

Governments and universities have introduced skill-development programs, including mandatory internships during semester breaks, which require students to work on-site in organisations. However, these physical internships have shown limited effectiveness, with less than 1% of participants reporting a significant improvement in employability skills.

Challenges from the Students’ Side

30 lakh graduates per year exceed the capacity of companies to provide internships.
Geographic and logistical constraints limit access to in-person internships.
Over 80% of internships are unpaid, discouraging many students from participating.
Misaligned work assignments often fail to match students’ interests or career goals.

Challenges from the Companies’ Side

Over 60% of companies report students lack seriousness during internships.
Companies feel investing time and resources in interns is not worthwhile due to their high turnover rate.
Interns frequently switch career paths post-internship, making the training effort redundant.

What is a Virtual Internship?

A virtual internship is an online program designed to improve employability skills, enabling students to gain practical experience from anywhere. These internships typically last between 4 weeks to 24 weeks and are tailored to align with industry demands.

The primary mission of virtual internships is to enhance employability by preparing students with the skills and knowledge required to secure job opportunities. Skildlzire specialises in executing these virtual internships across diverse domains, ensuring students gain industry-relevant expertise.

Key Features of Virtual Internships:

Domain-Specific Content: Each branch of study identifies industry-relevant topics that offer significant job opportunities. For example:
- ECE: Embedded Systems, VLSI, PCB Design
- EEE: Electric Vehicles, Solar Energy, AutoCAD
- Commerce: GST, Tally, Financial Analysis
- Similarly, Mechanical, Civil, and Computer Science students are offered a minimum of 5 courses tailored to their domains.
Industry-Driven Curriculum: The curriculum is developed in collaboration with industry experts, ensuring relevance and alignment with current job market needs.

Comprehensive Learning Goals

Beyond technical skills, virtual internships focus on providing students with:

A clear understanding of industry services and job roles.
Awareness of job opportunities and career growth prospects.
Motivation and clarity to pursue jobs confidently.
Exposure to job search processes and real-time project experience.

The ultimate goal is to empower students with both technical expertise and a practical understanding of the professional world, ensuring they are job-ready upon completion.

Advantages of Virtual Internships

Accessibility: Students can participate from anywhere, bypassing geographic limitations.
Diverse Opportunities: Programs are tailored to align with industry demands, offering real-world projects in relevant domains.
Flexibility: Students can balance internships with academic commitments.
Industry Collaboration: Programs are designed in collaboration with industry experts to ensure relevance and effectiveness.

How Leading Institutions Are Implementing Virtual Internships: Insights and References

1. APSCHE (Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education)

APSCHE has introduced both short-term and long-term internship programs, ensuring students gain practical exposure in their chosen fields. These internships are managed through a dedicated portal that provides access to detailed guidelines and a structured approach for effective learning.

Key Features:
- Comprehensive internship manual.
- Seamless integration of learning outcomes with industry needs.
- Designed for students from diverse academic backgrounds.
Reference: APSCHE Internship User Manual

2. VTU (Visvesvaraya Technological University)

VTU has mandated Online Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC) as part of its internship program. These virtual internships align academic learning with practical, industry-oriented skills, making students job-ready while completing their degree programs.

Key Features:
- Integration of skill enhancement courses into the academic curriculum.
- Focus on online delivery to ensure accessibility and flexibility.
- Designed in collaboration with industry experts.
Reference: VTU Circular on SEC Internships

3. UGC (University Grants Commission)

The UGC has drafted comprehensive guidelines for internships, emphasising the importance of virtual formats. These guidelines focus on both backward and forward integration, ensuring a robust framework for employability skill development.

Key Highlights:
- Integration of skill-enhancement and ability-development courses as prerequisites for internships.
- Development of institutional digital portals for project management, mentor pairing, and resource allocation.
- Provision for students to choose industry mentors for guided learning.
Reference: UGC Guidelines for Undergraduate Internships

The Skildlzire Execution Model

To simplify and streamline virtual internships, Skildlzire offers a robust execution framework:

First 30 Days: Students receive recorded learning modules covering fundamental concepts tailored to their domain.
Next 30 Days: Real-time interaction with industry experts and faculty. Engagement in real-world projects to gain hands-on experience.
Final 30 Days: Students prepare comprehensive reports and undergo assessments for certification. Certification aligns with academic and professional requirements.

Additionally, Skildlzire provides a dedicated portal where students can explore job and internship opportunities, further enhancing their employability.

Why This Model Works

Scalable: Virtual internships can accommodate the needs of over 30 lakh students annually.
Efficient: The structured 90-day program ensures focused learning and skill acquisition.
Effective: By combining online learning, real-time projects, and industry collaboration, students gain the skills they need to secure jobs in their chosen fields.

Conclusion

The employability gap is a critical issue, but virtual internships offer a scalable and effective solution. By integrating initiatives like those by AICTE and collaborating with ed-tech platforms like Skildlzire, universities can empower students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s competitive job market.

With a structured model of 30 days of learning, 30 days of real-time engagement, and 30 days of assessments, virtual internships not only fulfill academic requirements but also equip students with the employability skills needed to launch successful careers.

Virtual internships are more than a learning opportunity—they are the bridge connecting education to employment.