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Research methodology

Overview

Domain

Research methodology

Duration

1 week

Keywords

Employment, Post Pandemic, Education

Team

Aravind, Lakshya, Disha, Nayanthara, Pearl

Mentors

Dr. Mansee Bal Bhargav, Mr Vipul Vinzuda, Prof.Tripurasundari Joshi, Ms.Mayukhini Pande, Mr.Hari Nallan

Transition from college to work

The impact created by the pandemic was largely reflected on the issues we all pointed out as a group. And it made sense considering we've all been through the same and we can be our own case study

Exploring the impact of the pandemic on work opportunities for fresh graduates

Introduction

Explore the far-reaching effects of the pandemic-induced lockdown on education and graduating students. Witness the rapid transformation from traditional classrooms to remote learning via laptops and mobile devices. Uncover the unique challenges faced by graduates entering a professional journey amidst economic uncertainty and adjusting to new lifestyles.

Methodology

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Primary research

In order to research about the impact that the pandemic had on the work opportunities for fresh graduates in India, a literature review was conducted encompassing of newspaper articles, research papers and reports which cover this issue. In addition to that, as part of primary research conditional surveys and expert interviews were conducted in order to understand the lived experiences of people who underwent this time of uncertainty.

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The topics of education and social behaviors in the pandemic were taken ahead and corresponding research questions were made.

Under the scope

Education during the pandemic

How has the pandemic affected the work opportunities for the new graduates in India?

Brief on the issue

Due to the pandemic, all education systems shifted online- from primary schools to universities. This was a radical shift for the system, in which peer learning and interaction, group work and in-person learning played important roles in the overall development of the students. This shift to online learning disrupted the education system, while making education accessible for some and inaccessible for the others. Online learning cannot replace practical learning fully, and that has had a negative impact on the quality of learning.

Target group

Students

Why it has to be solved

Pandemics may be THE NEW NORMAL- therefore important to understand how negative impacts of online learning can be reduced (adaptability for the future) and be future ready

What has to be solved

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Social relationships and interactions during WFH

Brief on the issue

Lockdown during the pandemic has taken a major toll on our mental wellbeing. Being at home was not a pleasurable experience for most. Adults getting adapted to the home conditions for work, children staying at home instead being in school, lack of outdoor activity....

Target group

Children and adults

Why it has to be solved

Many people are opting for permanent WFH therefore it is important to see the long term impacts it may have on their social interaction

What has to be solved

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Brainstorming

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Research Question

1) In what ways has the pandemic affected students starting their journey in the industry?

 

2) How did job opportunities during pandemic affect the underprivileged students?

 

3) How has the pandemic coupled with online education affected the economy?

Final Research Question

How has the pandemic affected the work opportunities for the new graduates in India?

Justification

The pandemic induced lockdown brought everything to a standstill, and its impact was felt across all aspects of human life. It disrupted many existing ways of life, such as education. Overnight, education shifted from schools and colleges to laptops and mobiles. In this unprecedented time, students graduating from college were deeply impacted as they were about to start their professional journey amidst an economic lockdown, and also adapt to the new ways of living. 

Aim

To explore the impact the pandemic has had on the work opportunities for the new graduates in India

Scope

The study is limited to undergraduate and graduate students who graduated in 2020 and 2021.

Limitations

Since the current situation of the pandemic, the literature referred to would be restricted to its availability of online databases. 

The research project has been done in a very short span of 3 days.

Final research Question

How has the pandemic affected the work opportunities for the new graduates in India?

Survey

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Objectives

Objective 1:

To prospect the changes in standards of job opportunities during the pandemic

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Objective 2:

To understand the ways students adapted to the job market during the pandemic
 

Objective 3:

To find gaps in soft skills of students which were caused by online communication during the pandemic

Primary Research Finding

Problem identification

Justification

The pandemic induced lockdown brought everything to a standstill, and its impact was felt across all aspects of human life. It disrupted many existing ways of life, such as education. Overnight, education shifted from schools and colleges to laptops and mobiles. In this unprecedented time, students graduating from college were deeply impacted as they were about to start their professional journey amidst an economic lockdown, and also adapt to the new ways of living. 

Aim

To explore the impact the pandemic has had on the work opportunities for the new graduates in India.

Scope

The study is limited to undergraduate and graduate students who graduated in 2020 and 2021. 

Limitations

Since the current situation of the pandemic, the literature referred to would be restricted to its availability of online databases. 

The research project has been done in a very short span of 3 days.

Synthesis

  • The findings from the research supported the fact that the pandemic triggered a tremendous impact on the placements of college graduates- in terms of the types and number of jobs to the hiring process. Even though the hiring hasn’t stopped, it has definitely taken a dip. The trend witnessed of reduced hiring has seen companies be a bit more meticulous in the process and they have been focusing on investing in quality over quantity. 

  • The placements for the 2020 batch had already happened before the lockdown of 2020 was imposed in March, however this batch faced issues in joining work, as there was major uncertainty about the status of their jobs. In 2021, the situation has slightly improved, but there was a significant rise in hiring in the IT and data analytics sector, which had a major growth during pandemic and had a lot of job opportunities. 

  • This sector has grown rapidly, as compared to the core manufacturing industries. To be able to capture jobs in these booming industries, graduates are upskilling themselves, and targeting those jobs. The importance of upskilling cannot be neglected anymore. However, this has led to a large gap between the jobs the graduates are taking, and the specializations they had studied in their education. 

  • It was also observed that online education during the pandemic did not have a significant bearing on the placements, and whichever employers felt the need to close any gaps, did so by increasing the training periods of the new recruits. Since the pandemic has induced a new normal and was unprecedented, online education is here to stay, and everyone- from the industry to the students.

Way forward

Interdisciplinary upskilling must be facilitated by the college, and should not only be the onus of the students. In this VUCA world, where technology has become a driving force, it is important to equip students with basic digital skills in order to adapt to this world. Expanding the scope of learning would not only improve their job opportunities, it’ll help in growth of individual's economy on a bigger scale.

This would enable the graduates to be future ready and help them sustain in ever changing world. Pandemic has become the new normal, it's important for the students to get adapted to any extreme situations and find their way through for living. 

From Method

  • The practical application of all the research theory was extremely essential to make us realise about the intricacies of research- for example, how small changes in the manner of asking questions can result in large discrepancies in the responses received.

  • The method, despite being defined, was flexible enough to be adapted as per our own context.

  • It also taught how to consolidate the data collected-both quantitative and qualitative, and derive findings and points of analysis from them.

From Interaction

  • The surveys and interviews revealed the adaptability and agility of the industry and the students in uncertain times. 

  • Lectures given by experts from different fields of research presented a comprehensive picture of how these research methods are adapted and appropriated according to the context and the requirement.

From this exercise

  • The surveys and interviews revealed the adaptability and agility of the industry and the students in uncertain times. 

  • Creating clarity from the confusion

  • Trusting and adapting the process according to our own requirements

  • Ethics and systematic approach to research

COMMENTS

Will also be interesting to see the ripple effects of IT growth on other sectors … delivery for example
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