EQUIPPING STUDENTS FOR THE 4TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION - AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

The 4th Industrial Revolution is totally based on Cyber-Physical Systems. Skills that thrive in the 4th Industrial revolution will be fully automated. Bio/Nano/Info technology based employment opportunities will only be available in this scenario and not based on just brands. The main objective of this paper is to understand the extent of awareness and perception regarding the availability of the skillset for the 4th Industrial Revolution among the students, faculty and HR (from the industry). The paper also aims to list out the methodology of imparting the skillset required in the 4IR. The research designed used here is descriptive and the data were collected from 175 samples, which include students, faculty and HR based on convenient sampling method. This research helped in arriving at few statistical findings to understand the significant differences between the extent of awareness and perception of 4IR among the students, faculty and HR. The data were analyzed by finding the mean value of the variables and through t-test analysis. The findings were like; there is no significant difference between the extents to which the present education system helps the students to impart the required skills with the faculty's opinion on their students on the required skillset. However, there is significant between the student's opinion and the extent of importance of the skillset required for the students to work in the 4th Industrial Revolution Era. When we compare the extent to which the present education system helps the students to impart the required skills and the extent of importance of the skill set required for the employees in the fourth Industrial Revolution Era, the result is significant. There is also, significant difference between the faculty's opinions on their student's skillset and the extent of importance of the skill set required for the employees in the 4th Industrial Revolution Era. The methodology required in this 4IR to equip the students to meet the standards has to be different from the traditional methods like Design Thinking (Case Study Method), Project Based Learning, Industry Immersion Programmes, Experiential Learning, Self- Learning, MOOC courses, Gamification, etc