Kohima: Nagaland Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen, a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Nagaland cadre, has called for a shift towards industry-aligned higher education, urging universities, colleges and technical institutions to introduce emerging disciplines and strengthen practical learning to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and employment requirements.
Addressing a one-day consultative seminar on “Emerging Trends: Introduction and Realising Potential” in Kohima on October 30, Imchen said rapid technological advancements, climate change and changing economic demands were transforming the education and employment landscape.
He highlighted the growing mismatch between academic learning and workplace requirements, observing that many graduates possessed theoretical knowledge but lacked the practical skills needed to secure employment.
The seminar was organised by the Nagaland Department of Higher and Technical Education at the conference hall of the Department of Information Technology and Communication.
Nagaland’s Unemployment Rate Higher Than National Average
Highlighting the employment challenges facing the state, Imchen cited figures from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), March 2026, which showed that unemployment in Nagaland remained above the national average.
Read Also: Nagaland: 9 NCS Officers Selected for IAS Promotion in 2025 Select List
Key figures highlighted by the Chief Secretary include:
- Overall unemployment (15–59 years): 7.3% in Nagaland, compared to 3.5% nationally.
- Youth unemployment (15–29 years): 17.5% in Nagaland, against 9.9% across India.
- Vocational and technical education: 92% of Nagaland’s residents reportedly lacked formal technical or vocational training, according to the state’s 2025 survey.
- Work experience: 78% of unemployed respondents had no prior work experience, according to the same state survey.
Imchen also pointed to limited recruitment opportunities in government services. Recruitment through the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) and Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) stood at 845 in 2024 and 589 in 2025.
He said the figures highlighted the need for young people to explore career opportunities beyond conventional government employment.
Three Emerging Areas of Higher Education
Imchen identified three broad areas that educational institutions should prioritise while updating their academic programmes:
- Technology-driven disciplines: Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, data analytics, cybersecurity and information security.
- Green and sustainability-related fields: Renewable energy, climate-related disciplines and sustainable development.
- Interdisciplinary and applied professional courses: Programmes combining academic knowledge with practical applications and industry requirements.
Referring to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, he highlighted the growing importance of digital technologies, automation, AI and sustainability-related skills in the changing labour market.
He also pointed to the role of premier institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in preparing graduates for emerging professional fields.
Nagaland University to Introduce AI Components in Higher Education
Welcoming an initiative by Nagaland University, Imchen said the institution had proposed incorporating artificial intelligence components into postgraduate and PhD programmes across several departments from the 2026–27 academic session.
He encouraged private universities, colleges and technical institutions across Nagaland to adopt similar approaches and introduce courses aligned with emerging employment opportunities.
The Chief Secretary also said infrastructure constraints and faculty shortages should not prevent institutions from updating their academic offerings.
He suggested several measures to facilitate the transition:
- Faculty-sharing arrangements: Institutions can share specialised teaching resources to address faculty shortages.
- Institutional collaborations: Universities and colleges can work together to introduce emerging disciplines.
- Industry partnerships: Collaboration with businesses can help align academic programmes with workplace requirements.
- Hybrid learning: Digital and classroom-based teaching can expand access to specialised courses.
Nagaland’s Education System Needs to Move Beyond Conventional Courses
In her welcome address, Secretary of Higher and Technical Education Sarita Yadav emphasised the importance of keeping higher education institutions aligned with technological developments, industry requirements and changing career opportunities.
She said the consultative seminar was intended to help institutions make informed academic decisions and familiarise students with emerging career prospects.
Nagaland University Pro Vice-Chancellor, Medziphema Campus, Professor Dipak Sinha, said introducing emerging disciplines did not necessarily require establishing entirely new academic programmes.
He suggested that existing curricula could be updated to incorporate technological advancements and changing market requirements.
Sinha also stressed that artificial intelligence should not remain confined to computer science but should be integrated across different academic disciplines.
Technical Sessions Cover AI, Renewable Energy and Medical Technologies
The seminar featured discussions on emerging sectors and their potential for higher education and employment generation.
The technical sessions covered:
- Green and renewable energy
- Agriculture and allied sciences
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Cybersecurity
- Semiconductor technology
- Data science
- Medical technologies
- Emerging teaching approaches in arts and commerce
The programme concluded with remarks and an action plan presented by the Additional Secretary and Ex-Officio Director of the Higher Education Department.
The discussions highlighted the need for Nagaland’s higher education institutions to combine academic learning with practical training, research, innovation and entrepreneurship to improve students’ readiness for the evolving job market.
Read Also: IndianOil Provides ₹58.08 Lakh for Four Ambulances, Supports Apple Cider Vinegar Unit in Nagaland
