The Commonwealth of Learning–Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA) in collaboration with Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University (KKHSOU), organised a one-day State-Level Workshop-cum-Sensitisation Programme on “Boosting Graduate Employability and Career Readiness in Higher Education” at the University’s City Campus, Khanapara on 23 June, 2026.

The workshop brought together 24 participants, including principals, IQAC coordinators, faculty members, placement and career guidance officers, and representatives from higher education institutions across Assam to deliberate on strategies for enhancing graduate employability and aligning higher education with evolving industry and societal needs.

The programme was inaugurated by Prof. Rajendra Prasad Das, Vice Chancellor of KKHSOU. He highlighted the growing importance of employability skills, career readiness, and institutional reforms in preparing graduates for a competitive job market.

Addressing the participants, Dr. B. Shadrach, Director, COL-CEMCA, highlighted that graduate employability is a pressing concern for Assam, where a large youth population and rising aspirations are often met with limited employment opportunities and a mismatch between academic qualifications and industry needs. He emphasised that higher education institutions in the state have a crucial role to play in preparing graduates for a rapidly changing world of work by integrating employability attributes, digital and AI literacy, entrepreneurship, and work-based learning into academic programmes. Referring to the goals of NEP 2020, Dr. Shadrach called for stronger partnerships between universities and industry to ensure that graduates possess the knowledge, skills, and competencies required by employers.

During the technical sessions, participants were introduced to the concept of graduate employability and explained the COL’s Graduate Employability Model and Employability Scorecard, a framework designed to help institutions assess and strengthen employability outcomes. Participants were also provided with the Employability Scorecard for institutional self-assessment.

Interactive group activities during the workshop enabled participants to revalidate the employability scorecard for their respective institutions and develop institution-specific employability frameworks. The sessions encouraged the sharing of best practices and collaborative discussions on enhancing career readiness among students.

The workshop further emphasised that employability is no longer confined to academic knowledge alone but includes critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, and professional competencies. It was highlighted that higher education institutions must adopt a holistic approach to equip graduates with the skills demanded by employers.

The programme concluded with a valedictory session and participant feedback, reaffirming the commitment of COL-CEMCA and KKHSOU to strengthening employability-focused reforms in higher education in the north-eastern part of India.