Along with the high-tech development and growth, there is a need to review and update the educational curricula provided by institutions. The needs of businesses are only increasing and people should gain new skills to be able to comply with those needs. Sergey Tokarev, tech entrepreneur and co-founder of the investment group Roosh, commented on the necessity for businesses and state institutions to join forces in transforming education.
Sergey Tokarev notes that today, business needs are getting volume and versatile. But the universities with their traditional approach do not cover them properly.
“The concept of lifelong learning is becoming a necessity, not a choice. Moreover, the traditional approach to education will need to evolve if universities want to produce graduates that meet the market’s demands, and businesses want to hire them,” adds Tokarev.
According to Sergey Tokarev, the best way to avoid such a gap between education and business is jumping in collaboration and knowledge sharing. He believes that joint work can add value to both parties: for the state—a better understanding of the market needs, and for businesses—strengthen their teams with qualified professionals.
The entrepreneur shared several steps on how IT companies and universities can drive significant changes in education.
- Engaging in program creation and generating demand for certain specializations. Businesses are best positioned to know what employees they need today and which roles will be critical in the future. They can help share work approaches, provide access to essential tools and technologies, etc.
- Maximizing the strengths of universities. Universities are focusing more on developing soft skills in students, while hard skills play a significant role in candidate selection.
- Launching own educational projects. New tools and technologies emerge daily, requiring ongoing education. “Advanced training courses” allow businesses to identify specialists with foundational knowledge in a particular field, teach them the latest industry practices, and recruit the best talent.
- Dual education. This approach allows students to combine theoretical knowledge provided by educational institutions with experience gained during internships at companies.
- Diving into the potential of vocational schools. Nowadays, vocational institutions do not have much of a reputation, though they focus on practical skills rather than on academic research. Many professions require practical experience which can be mastered in one or two years. That is why, a vocational institution is an excellent fit for people to become developers, web designers, illustrators, etc.
Sergey Tokarev believes that the rise of AI, automation and the breakneck growth of technologies are generating new niches for businesses to expand and new opportunities for people to gain new skills. Ukrainians should benefit from those opportunities effectively.
“Relevant education is the foundation to making the most of the opportunities emerging from today’s technological progress. And the sooner businesses and the state collaborate, the better our chances of success,” concludes Tokarev.
Roosh Investment Group scales remarkable businesses globally. It incorporates a dedicated team of investors, entrepreneurs and operators. With over 10 years of expertise, Roosh acts as partners in growing businesses rather than mere financial backers.