Building a learning democracy

It’s vital that we ramp up skills investments in our Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. India’s largest cities are already making oversized contributions to economic growth and offer many opportunities for workers numerous  to upskill and apply those skills in jobs. The same cannot be said of Tier 2 and 3 cities, where such opportunities tend to be scarcer and less equitably distributed. If we truly want to “upskill India,” we must level the playing field for workers in Tier 2 and 3 cities – improving their access to learning and subsequent employment to match that of their Tier 1 counterparts.

This will benefit companies and advance national development goals. By developing smaller cities into talent hubs we can empower significant numbers of job seekers, while helping businesses diversify their cost base away from just one or two in-demand locations.

Improved learning and development opportunities in Tier 2 and 3 cities will also create groups of local innovators and builders. Their skills can enrich entire communities. Individuals who learn new skills are much more likely to apply them locally, whether in developing localized services and solutions or training others in their communities. Of course, this relies on them being able to find local job opportunities that allow them to do so.

In a learning democracy, upskilling forms only half of the equation. The other half is connecting learners with jobs and opportunities that allow them to apply those skills. Without that crucial final step, those skills will never translate into real benefits for citizens or our economy.

No business can do this alone. ServiceNow’ RiseUp program involves partnerships with universities to train and certify youth in using ServiceNow tools while also developing essential business skills like communication and problem-solving. We also partner with numerous other businesses to provide job opportunities for graduates. Students in one recent cohort emphasize that the confidence they develop is often as important as the skills they acquire. We can’t foster that confidence without playing our part to convert their talents into jobs.

To build a learning democracy in India we’ll need to build similar partnerships at \national scale by aligning government policies and industry initiatives. This will be challenging and it will take time but we cannot afford to leave our learners in the wind. If students can’t see the fruits of their efforts, even the most well-supported skills initiatives will be unsustainable at best.

The democratization of learning is both a social imperative and a critical business need. This is an investment no leader can afford to pass up.