Colleges
To The Batch of 2020
Owing to the outbreak of the pandemic, one of the sectors which have been hit really hard, is the education sector.
With schools and colleges shut down, exams halted and degrees withheld, the students are forced to face the shadow of uncertainty hovering over their bright futures. Adding to this is the tyranny faced by the students from the companies offering placements, which has left everyone in a standstill.
Many companies, which have previously made offers to the students are either delaying them and/or withdrawing their offers. If not this, then they are altering the offers made so as to suit themselves. Many corporate firms have slashed the salaries of the freshers to a great extent, while others have become so stringent with their policies, rules, and regulations that a student be forced to reject it.
Even for those who have somehow managed to join, are being put under great work pressure and long, extended working hours. As a result of all this, many students are witnessing a phase of self-doubt, instability in decision making, and sheer confusion. Along with this, those aiming to pursue higher studies abroad are left speculating about their dreams, thus affecting their psychological resilience.
However, amidst these hours of distress, many universities have come forward to help their students. From joining hands with other universities to ensuring a greater number of companies coming in or from collaborating with companies in order to ensure placements through online drives to persuading foreign education institutes, these universities/colleges are leaving no stone unturned to ensure better opportunities for their students. Some colleges like IIT Delhi have taken some momentous decisions like allowing NIT BTech graduates to pursue a direct Ph.D. or for that matter, welcoming its graduates for early graduation. The HRD minister Mr. Ramesh Pokhriyal conveyed that the IITs in the country, too, are working towards a special recruitment drive as an attempt to facilitate the students whose jobs have been rescinded. In addition, he said that they are also in the phase of setting up task forces to look into the sphere of the mental health of their students.
Not only in India but recently many foreign universities too, like Caltech and UC Berkley, have gone ahead with the option of hosting their virtual graduation ceremony. A few days ago, Mr. Sundar Pichai – CEO of tech giant Google and Alphabet Inc., addressed the batch of 2020 via the digital platform, thus motivating them to stay curious and inquisitive, as only then can new discoveries be made.
Thus, even though, the graduates of 2020 are left in the lurch and are often surrounded by cluelessness due to the slowdown faced by the education sector, many educational institutes and established firms are trying hard to bridge the gap created as a result of the widespread pandemic. There are many companies that have increased their vacancies marginally to honor more jobs to the students. Not only this, but there are also others too who have inducted freshers on the previously offered terms and have allowed them to work from home. Besides, the increased number of online placements drives also convey the support of all the involved organizations in battling a tough time. Thence, accepted that the nights are darker but the days would be equally bright too.