Skills, not degrees, will define employability in digital age: MDU panel
A degree alone may no longer be enough to secure a job as employers increasingly look for candidates who can adapt to new technologies, think creatively, work in teams and solve real-world problems, industry experts said at a panel discussion at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU).
Girish Saini
Oct 15, 2026 07:41
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Rohtak, October 15, 2026: A degree alone may no longer be enough to secure a job as employers increasingly look for candidates who can adapt to new technologies, think creatively, work in teams and solve real-world problems, industry experts said at a panel discussion at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU).
The discussion, titled ‘Career Readiness in the Digital Age: What Employers Look For’, was organised by the university’s Career Counselling and Placement Cell at the Radhakrishnan Auditorium. Experts urged students to go beyond academic qualifications, gain practical experience and continuously upgrade their skills to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving job market.
Inaugurating the event, MDU Registrar Prof Sandeep Bansal said continuous learning, innovation and teamwork were essential for career growth. Citing Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, he encouraged students to embrace creative thinking and urged them to become job creators rather than merely job seekers.
Dean Academic Affairs Prof Randeep Rana highlighted the importance of practical intelligence and informed decision-making in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). He said students must learn not just to gather information but also to apply it effectively.
Panelists Tamasa Mohanty of HRBP Cognizant, Elevates founder and CEO Abhinav Johri, and Nelara Technologies founder and CEO Vikas Jerath discussed changing industry expectations. They emphasised communication, technical proficiency, adaptability and problem-solving as key employability skills amid the growing influence of AI.
SSC NASSCOM lead-communication Kamna Jain moderated the discussion. CCP Cell director Prof Divya Malhan said students needed to combine technical knowledge with communication, teamwork and innovation to meet industry demands and contribute to job creation. Faculty members, research scholars and students attended the programme.
