Experts say universities must rethink or risk irrelevance

From left: FITIS Immediate Past Chairman Indika De Zoysa, Schoolnet India Lead International Business Himanshu Tiwary, ESOFT Group of Companies Chairman/ Managing Director Dr. Dayan Rajapakse, CEO Nishan Sembacuttiaratchy and ESOFT Metro Campus and ESOFT Technologies Chief Operating Officer – Group Business Development Amila Bandara exchanging the MoU

• Panel at ESOFT University launch flags widening gap between academic training and job market needs, stressing urgent realignment
• ESOFT Metro Campus Chairman/Group Managing Director Dr. Dayan Rajapakse notes graduates often lack real-world application skills despite strong theoretical knowledge
• Warns economic costs of this disconnect include inefficient onboarding and early-career stagnation
• ESOFT Metro Campus School of Business Dean Dr. Dillina Herath calls for structural changes in curricula and assessments to focus on applied learning
• Emphasises technological literacy and adaptability as essential in today’s digital economy
• Intrepid Travel Global Head of Software Engineering Pradeepa Seneviratna stresses value of soft skills, mentorship, and resilience in professional growth
• PickMe Founder/ CEO Jiffry Zulfer advocates demand-driven education model to address graduate underemployment
• Urges entrepreneurial training from school level to foster innovation and self-employment
• Panel calls for inquiry-based learning, problem-solving projects, and industry collaboration to bridge academia-industry divide

By Janani Kandaramage

ESOFT Metro Campus Chairman/Group Managing Director  Dr. Dayan Rajapakse

ESOFT Metro Campus School of Business Dean Dr. Dillina Herath

Intrepid Travel Global Head of Software Engineering Pradeepa Seneviratna

ESOFT International CEO Nishan Sembacuttiaratchy

PickMe Founder/CEO Jiffry Zulfer

As the global workforce evolves at an unprecedented pace, universities are under mounting pressure to align academic training with the realities of the modern job market, experts warned last week. 

Speaking at a panel discussion hosted by ESOFT Uni (ESU), industry leaders, educators, and academics spotlighted the growing disconnect between institutional instruction and employment needs-a gap that carries immense consequences for both economic progress and the future prospects of graduates. Moderated by ESOFT International CEO Nishan Sembacuttiaratchy, the esteemed panel featured ESOFT Metro Campus Chairman/Group Managing Director Dr. Dayan Rajapakse, ESOFT Metro Campus School of Business Dean Dr. Dillina Herath, Intrepid Travel Global Head of Software Engineering Pradeepa Seneviratna, and PickMe Founder/CEO Jiffry Zulfer. 

Dr. Rajapakse summarised the industry’s dilemma bluntly, stating that, “What I have seen is mostly people who have theory knowledge don’t know how to apply it in their practical understanding.” This sentiment was echoed across the panel.

He emphasised that while universities often excel at imparting theoretical foundations, employers are increasingly demanding applied competencies and soft skills that enable new hires to function effectively in real-world environments. “It’s not just about the education that you have received,” Dr. Rajapakse added. “It’s about creating a complete person. A holistic person.”

He also added that this disconnect imposes substantial economic costs – onboarding processes become less efficient, businesses are compelled to allocate additional resources to bridge skill gaps, and graduate employees often encounter stagnation in early career growth due to insufficient practical preparation.

Reiterating Dr. Rajapakse’s sentiments for a shift in educational priorities, Dr. Dillina Herath said: “Our job as an educator is not just for the sake of educating people, we have to gear students towards application only. Otherwise, people will get unemployed in the future,” adding that, “This isn’t just a pedagogical issue-it’s a structural one. From outdated assessments to rigid curricula, many institutions are failing to prepare students for an increasingly dynamic and digital job market.” 

“Technological literacy on an educational level is crucial, especially when you aim for the tertiary sector,” the Dean said, stressing that it enables individuals to adapt to rapidly evolving digital environments while enhancing productivity.

Beyond technical competencies, Pradeepa Seneviratna observed that soft skills such as communication, resilience, and adaptability are becoming non-negotiable in competitive industries. 

Discussing her experience as an alumnus of ESU, she added that foundational support during university years-through mentorship and institutional culture was essential to her own present success.

She observed that, “After five years, I had resilience in the support system around me so I could act as strong as I can. That is what is important, you have to always embrace all the difficulties you face, whatever field you are in. It really comes down to a good foundation, resilience, passion, and not giving up.” 

However, she also noted that the lack of these skills among many graduates today creates friction in hiring and advancement, especially in cross-functional and client-facing roles.

Jiffry Zulfer called for a demand-driven education model. “The supply-demand imbalance is clear. While institutions produce thousands of graduates each year, a considerable percentage remain underemployed or stuck in roles below their qualification level. If we really have a mismatch in what we are doing, we need to respond to that, catering to what is demanded by the industry,” he opined.

The PickMe CEO also spoke of the absence of systematic entrepreneurial training from primary school onward-an omission that underscores how innovation must be woven directly into the core curriculum, not relegated to an optional add-on.

“In an increasingly competitive job market, entrepreneurship equips individuals to create their own opportunities, drive innovation, and generate employment rather than merely compete for it,” he remarked. 

Dr. Rajapakse emphasised that local universities must match international benchmarks by adopting incentive-based research frameworks and forging strategic industry partnerships that embed academic projects in real-world innovation.

The panel also agreed that instead of passively delivering pre-packaged content, universities should leverage students’ curiosity-through inquiry based classes, problem solving projects, and open ended research assignments-so that learners actively seek out, question, and construct knowledge for themselves.

Pix by Sameera Wijesinghe