Skill-based short-term courses need of the hour, says Madhusudan Sai

Performance by the Sai Symphony Orchestra, comprising students of Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence and Sathya Sai Loka Seva Gurukulam, at Compassion in Action programme in Hyderabad on Friday.
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HYDERABAD

Stressing the urgent need to align education with industry requirements, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, founder of the One World One Family Mission, said that skill-based short-term courses are the need of the hour and announced a proposal to introduce them across the institutions run by the mission.

Speaking at the “Compassion in Action” programme held in Hyderabad on Friday, Sadguru highlighted the widening gap between conventional academic learning and industry expectations. In an interaction with noted Tollywood producer and Suresh Productions Managing Director Daggubati Suresh Babu, he called for comprehensive reforms in the education sector.

He observed that students in many developed countries, including the United States, are increasingly opting against long-term courses, while in India there remains a significant mismatch between what colleges teach and what employers seek. Educational institutions, he said, should focus on preparing students for real-world opportunities without compromising on values.

Sadguru also expressed concern over the decline of moral and value-based education in schools. He noted that many parents view such classes as unnecessary, which has contributed to societal challenges among younger generations. At the same time, he praised Gen-Z students for being smarter and quick learners, while advising them to adopt a more balanced pace of life.

On healthcare initiatives, he revealed that the Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research is undertaking advanced work in wellness, longevity, precision medicine and genomics. Researchers have developed an integrated treatment model and are pursuing a patent for the innovation.

The event featured an emotional testimony from Bhavana, a Class X student from the Sri Sathya Sai Prashanthi Niketanam campus in Siddipet, who recounted overcoming severe hardships with the support of the institution.

The programme concluded with a performance by Sai Symphony Orchestra, India’s largest student symphony orchestra and a Guinness World Record holder.