International STEM Day: Atos India on the evolution of STEM driving Inclusion, Innovation, Impact
In an exclusive interview on International STEM Day, Nasir Usman Shaikh, SVP, Head of Human Resource Development, Atos, India shared his views on India’s progress in STEM/STEAM education, exciting work opportunities within science and technology, role of corporates in promoting equal opportunities for all, and bridging the industry-academia gap for STEM/STEAM talent.
What has been India’s progress in STEM and STEAM education?
Across centuries, various forms of Arts, Science, Medicine, Mathematics, and Architecture has been an integrated DNA within the fabric of Indian society. The contemporary India and its progressive growth with modern outlook reflect India’s commitment to harnessing STEM and STEAM education.
This growth trajectory and economic progress is powered by the country’s very own talent and skill pool, which is not devoid of the STEM and STEAM as the basic foundation of the India’s education and cultural fabric has the same ethos and essentialities that this system promotes.
India’s rich arts and culture heritage has produced & nurtured considerable talent in music, dance, visual arts, and literature. India has a thriving media and entertainment industry, which includes film, television, music, and digital content creation. Together, STEM and STEAM offer opportunities for professionals in creative and artistic roles.
What are the exciting work opportunities within science and technology?
The fields of science and technology is dynamic & disruptive and evolving every 5 to 10 years. For instance, the IT industry which I currently represent, drastically changes every 5 years. Post COVID, there has been a revolutionary change in the way IT is consumed by the business. There is a huge scope and demand in the areas of – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, High Performance Computing, Quantum Computing, Cyber Security, Big Data, Data Sciences and Analytics, Cloud, Block Chain, Intelligent Network, Automation, Software managed datacenters, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), Decarbonization and Sustainable IT solutions.
What is the role of India Inc in promoting equal opportunities for all?
Despite the readiness of STEM/STEAM talent, some challenges are influenced by regional differences, gender disparities, and access to quality education. Traditionally, India’s educational system has been learning oriented rather than experiential and hands-on/practical-based learning, encouraging critical thinking as part of the mainstream. It is changing in affluent educational institutes/boards, though this change has to percolate at grassroot levels and the reach of STEM/STEAM education to all schools and colleges.
The development of the STEM/STEAM workforce can be impacted with the hindering aspects of gender disparity or cultural and social stereotypes. Disparities in educational opportunities and access to quality STEM and STEAM education can limit the participation of marginalized and underserved communities. Training and professional development for educators is essential. Getting curriculum from schools to colleges aligned with a focus on STEAM/STEAM areas is vital.
Any advice to bridge the industry-academia gap for STEM/STEAM talent.
The government, educational institutions, and industry are working together to align educational programs with the evolving needs of the job market to produce highly skilled and adaptable talent in these areas. Corporate Sustainability and Social initiatives supported by the CSR Act can be great enablers for the industry to participate and help create the infrastructure needed to support STEM and STEAM education.
At the school level, it could mean setting up Tinkering Labs, Computer labs, and Science labs, and supporting training of the teachers to sensitize the students to the changing needs of the future job markets.
For the higher studies in science, medicine, and engineering, industry and academia need to collaborate for doing workshops, curate curriculum, set-up technology labs, develop a panel of intellectuals drawn from various fields to do guest lectures. Such supplementary and joint actions will help the students and their institutions for the opportunities available for them before they graduate and not only prepare them with the necessary skill sets required but also instill a creative mindset and dawn the hat of outside-the-box thinking with aspirations and ambition to create products and solutions for which problems or need may not yet exist.
