A bachelor’s degree might not be enough to get a job but there are newer avenues outside conventional careers that have opened up, a group of college students were told during a career counselling session.
Over 300 students of Behala College learnt about career opportunities in data science, e-commerce and cyber law that many students were not aware of.
“While the Covid pandemic was devastating in many ways, we have seen that new career opportunities in e-commerce, cyber security, use of graphics in social media or mental health wellness have also emerged,” said Sabir Ahamed, a convener of the campaign Know Your Neighbour. The session was held as part of the campaign last week.
Know Your Neighbour is a campaign that aims to promote increased interactions between different communities for communal amity. The campaign has a youth mentoring programme and the counselling session was conducted as part of that.
The sessions are being conducted in three colleges — Behala College, Sarsuna College and Kanyashree College — where many students do not get that guidance at home and lack the social contacts that would give them a start.
Many of them are first or second-generation learners.
On Wednesday the students were also told about several government schemes.
Ahamed said that there are instances of students not getting scheme benefits either because their bank account is dormant or their KYC details are not updated.
An interface was organised between government officials and the students.
“We wanted students to know about the schemes that are available to them and we in turn would want them to be trainers so that they can conduct awareness programmes,” said P.B. Salim, secretary in the chief minister’s office.
“The government has several schemes but the poorer and the remote may not be aware of them,” Salim said.
The sessions in the colleges are part of Students’ Week, a state government initiative across schools, colleges and universities.
The week is being observed from January 2 to 8 to welcome students to the new class and to familiarise them with state government schemes that could benefit them.
The students were told to match their subject expertise with their interests.
“If they are studying geography they should be able to connect it with the world around them. In today’s world, there are ample opportunities to do so and technology is an enabler,” said Nandita Roy, assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta.
Students have to go beyond what is mandated by their syllabus and that will give them an edge in the job market, said Roy.
“The college is undertaking various programs following the directives of the higher education department for the benefit of the students. We have to enlighten the students, empower them and make them industry-ready,” said Sharmila Mitra, principal of Behala College.