IMPACT OF LEARNING VIRTUAL REALITY ON ENHANCING EMPLOY ABILITY OF INDIAN ENGINEERING GRADUATES

Abstract

Rapid proliferation of technology during the last two decades has resulted in major changes in the nature of work. Further, the networking and automation of processes in the era of Industry 4.0 have necessitated the deployment of machines to perform routine and repetitive tasks which were earlier being handled by humans. Process automation and computerization have not only resulted in the loss of various jobs, but have also created new jobs which are technology-oriented and require relevant skills. This change in the job scenario has placed a great stress on the engineering students at undergraduate level to learn new skills in order to ensure their employability. Apart from learning contemporary technologies, the students need to possess non-cognitive skills, which will help them to deliver the demands posed by the current job challenges. The paper studies the impact of learning one such technology – Virtual Reality, on enhancing the employability of undergraduate engineering students in India. A model is proposed in the study and is substantiated through analysis of primary data collected from undergraduate engineering students in India.