A 19-year-old entering college today is likely to graduate into a job that doesn’t yet exist. That single reality is quietly reshaping the foundations of higher education in India. The thought persists – what to teach, but how to prepare for the unknown. In the times when AI tools can write code, analyse data, and even create content, the traditional promise of a degree as a stable pathway to employment is being fundamentally challenged.
Across campuses, a silent shift is underway, from certainty to adaptability. Students are no longer just seeking qualifications; they are looking for relevance, agility, and the ability to continuously reinvent themselves. This is where the larger narrative around Skill India and the future of education converges. The idea that education is the passport to future gateways still holds, but it must allow for multiple destinations, detours, and reinventions.
Recent developments, including the approval by the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath to establish a new private university – Metro University in Greater Noida, reflect this broader shift. Enabled under the Uttar Pradesh Private Universities Act, 2019, such initiatives signal a growing emphasis on expanding access while rethinking the quality and relevance of higher education.
Backed by modern infrastructure, the proposed university aims to deliver job-oriented programmes aligned with employability and industry needs. Approved under the Uttar Pradesh Private Universities Act, 2019, the initiative reflects the state’s intent to strengthen its higher education ecosystem while encouraging private sector participation.
But beyond infrastructure and scale, the real opportunity lies in redefining what higher education must evolve into, an ecosystem rooted in skills, adaptability, and holistic development, echoing the broader vision of Skill India.
From expansion to transformation: The new mandate for universities
As institutions like Metro University take shape, the focus is clearly shifting from access to impact. The traditional model of knowledge dissemination is no longer sufficient in a world driven by AI, automation, and rapid technological disruption.
At EDNXT Lucknow, leading voices from Uttar Pradesh’s higher education ecosystem shared their perspectives with ETEducation, underlining the urgency of this transformation. Ajay Prakash Shrivastava, Chancellor, Maharishi University of Information Technology, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, noted, “The most fundamental shift higher education must make is moving from knowledge-based learning to skill and competency-based education, while ensuring students are holistically prepared to face real-world challenges.”
This aligns closely with the philosophy underpinning initiatives like Skill India, where the emphasis is on making learners industry-ready rather than degree-ready.
Beyond skilling: The era of unlearning and reinvention
While employability remains central, the conversation is evolving further. In an age where skills can become obsolete within years, the ability to unlearn and relearn is emerging as a critical capability.
Dr Arun Mohan Sherry, Founding Director, IIIT Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, speaking to ETEducation, highlighted this shift, “Beyond skilling and reskilling, the real need today is unlearning outdated approaches. Education must focus on learning by doing, transforming projects into products and passions into professions.”
For future institutions, this means embedding experiential learning at the core, where classrooms extend into labs, startups, and real-world problem-solving environments.
Rethinking employability: The human skills advantage
While technical skills dominate the discourse, there is a growing recognition that the future of education must also prioritise human-centric competencies, communication, resilience, and emotional intelligence.
Dr Syed Nadeem Akhtar, Pro-Chancellor, Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, emphasised, “Higher education must go beyond employability to focus on creating emotionally resilient individuals, where communication skills, well-being, and a sense of purpose are as important as technical competence.”
This perspective is particularly relevant for a state like Uttar Pradesh, where aligning education with both economic growth and social well-being remains critical.
Blending legacy with innovation
As Uttar Pradesh continues to strengthen its academic landscape—from institutions aligned with the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad to emerging private universities—the challenge lies in balancing legacy with innovation.
Prof Manuka Khanna, Vice Chancellor, University of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, captured this balance aptly and said, “The future of higher education lies in blending legacy with modern approaches, enhancing exposure, embracing technology, and ensuring students gain real-world experience alongside academic knowledge.”
A defining moment for Uttar Pradesh’s education ecosystem
The current momentum in Uttar Pradesh’s higher education landscape is not merely about adding new institutions; it is about reimagining what these institutions stand for. It presents an opportunity to build a new template, one that seamlessly integrates policy vision, industry alignment, and learner-centric design.
With increasing policy push, private investment, and thought leadership emerging from platforms like EDNXT Lucknow, the state stands at a pivotal juncture. The real success of this transformation will depend not on the number of universities, but on how effectively they respond to the evolving needs of learners and the economy.
