– Dr. Anand Wadadekar, Founder President – National Forum for Learning, Innovation and Growth (NFLIG)

Over the past few weeks, we have repeatedly heard influential entrepreneurs, business leaders, and even policymakers making sweeping statements such as, “Degrees no longer matter,” “An MBA is useless,” “Only idiots pursue an MBA,” “Engineering qualifications have lost their value,” “Companies no longer look at degrees,” or “Practical experience is more important than college education.” News about global companies prioritizing skills over formal qualifications has also been widely circulated, creating considerable confusion among students, parents, and educators.

There is no doubt that today’s industry seeks professionals who can perform effectively from day one, adapt to rapidly evolving technologies, solve complex problems, and embrace continuous learning. However, acknowledging this reality does not mean that education has become irrelevant or that academic qualifications have lost all significance.

Millions of students, parents, and teachers are closely following this debate. For students from rural backgrounds, middle-class families, and economically disadvantaged communities, education represents hope, aspiration, and a pathway to a better future. When respected public figures dismiss education through provocative statements, many young minds are left wondering, “If education no longer matters, why are we investing so much time and effort in it?”

Having spent over two decades working as an educationist, trainer, learning and development professional, skill development expert, and career coach, I have had the privilege of interacting with thousands of students, hundreds of educators, numerous organizations, and professionals across diverse sectors. Based on this experience, I firmly believe that creating an artificial conflict between education and skills is a serious mistake. They are not competing alternatives; they are complementary pillars of professional success.

The demand for job-ready graduates is undoubtedly real. The era when a degree alone guaranteed employment is rapidly disappearing. Employers now seek candidates who possess communication skills, digital literacy, analytical thinking, collaboration, leadership, customer orientation, innovation, adaptability, and a growth mindset. Consequently, educational institutions must redesign their curricula to align more closely with industry expectations. However, this necessary evolution should never be interpreted as evidence that education itself has become obsolete.

Consider a simple question: Can a competent surgeon or cardiologist become an expert solely through experience? Certainly not. Every medical professional begins with rigorous academic education, followed by internships, residency, specialized training, and years of clinical practice. The same is true for engineers, architects, chartered accountants, lawyers, teachers, scientists, and researchers. Education provides the foundation; experience strengthens and refines it.

Just as no building can stand securely without a strong foundation, sustainable professional success cannot be achieved through skills alone. Deep conceptual understanding, analytical reasoning, critical thinking, ethical judgment, and intellectual discipline are cultivated through education. Skills become significantly more valuable when they are built upon this solid academic base.

Education is far more than acquiring marks or earning a certificate. It teaches individuals how to think, not merely what to think. It encourages questioning, distinguishes information from knowledge, develops research aptitude, nurtures critical thinking, promotes ethical conduct, fosters a scientific temper, builds social responsibility, and prepares individuals to become informed and responsible citizens.

Today, Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and digital transformation are reshaping every industry. Many existing jobs will evolve, some will disappear, and entirely new career opportunities will emerge. In this dynamic environment, no single skill will remain sufficient throughout one’s career. Continuous upskilling and lifelong learning have become essential. Yet, even the ability to learn new skills effectively depends upon a strong educational foundation.

Many cite examples of global companies that have relaxed degree requirements. While this is true, these organizations are not rejecting education. Rather, they are broadening their hiring criteria to recognize exceptional talent acquired through alternative pathways. There is an important distinction between valuing skills beyond formal credentials and declaring education itself unnecessary. The former reflects inclusivity; the latter is a dangerous oversimplification.

In a country like India, education holds even greater significance. It remains one of the most powerful instruments for social mobility, economic progress, and equal opportunity. For millions of first-generation learners and students from underserved communities, a degree is far more than a piece of paper—it represents dignity, aspiration, and the possibility of transforming their families’ futures. Public discourse that diminishes the value of education must therefore be approached with far greater sensitivity and responsibility.

At the same time, the education system must engage in honest self-reflection. The gap between academic curricula and industry expectations needs urgent attention. Curricula must become more contemporary and interdisciplinary. Stronger collaboration between academia and industry, mandatory internships, project-based learning, entrepreneurship education, digital competencies, financial literacy, and AI literacy should become integral components of higher education. Our objective should not simply be to prepare students for examinations but to prepare them for meaningful careers and responsible lives.

Unfortunately, today’s debate is often framed as “Degrees vs. Skills.” This is the wrong question. The real questions are: How can we make students more capable? How can education become more relevant and impactful? How can we bridge the gap between academia and industry? How can we prepare young people not only for employment but also for entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, and lifelong learning?

The formula for success has evolved, but its fundamentals remain unchanged. Sustainable employability requires a combination of quality education, contemporary skills, practical experience, the right mindset, ethical values, and a lifelong commitment to learning. None of these elements can replace the others; each reinforces the rest.

Public figures who command significant influence must recognize that their statements shape the perceptions of millions of students and parents. Constructive criticism of the education system is both necessary and welcome. However, rhetoric that undermines public confidence in education itself can have long-term consequences for a nation’s human capital.

The need of the hour is not to create a divide between education and industry but to build stronger bridges between them. We need an education system that equips students with academic knowledge, practical skills, meaningful experiences, strong values, and the mindset to learn continuously. The India of tomorrow will not be built merely by skilled workers; it will be built by educated, thoughtful, ethical, innovative, and responsible citizens.

The real question, therefore, is not “Degree or Skills?” It is, “How do we integrate education, skills, experience, mindset, values, and lifelong learning into a holistic model of human development?” That balance—not one component in isolation—will remain the only sustainable pathway to individual success and national progress.

Also Read: Why Agricultural Labour Needs Its Own Skilling Framework