TeamLease Report: Although employability has become a stated priority in Indian higher education, the results on the ground remain uneven. According to a new report by TeamLease EdTech, titled ‘From Degree Factories to Employability Hubs’, nearly 75 percent of Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are still not industry-ready.
TeamLease Report
The report reveals that less than 10 percent of institutions report full curriculum alignment with the industry, while only 16.67 percent of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) achieve a placement rate of 76 to 100 percent within six months of graduation.
Structural deficiencies are still evident, with only 23 percent of institutions involving industry professionals in their programs, and more than 60 percent of institutions have not even considered incorporating industry-embedded certifications into their curriculum.
Curriculum relevance has emerged as a major obstacle. Only 8.6 percent of institutions report full alignment with industry across all programs, while 16.9 percent state they have partial alignment in select courses. Conversely, more than half (51.01 percent) believe they have no alignment at all, and 19.1 percent say efforts to align are still underway – indicating a widespread lack of effective industry linkages across most institutions.
The findings suggest that despite the increasing emphasis on employability, its implementation remains fragmented. Structural preparedness is further weakened by limited alumni engagement, with only 5.44 percent of institutions reporting highly engaged alumni networks, and 15.09 percent describing them as moderately engaged. For most institutions, connections with alumni are minimal or non-existent, limiting access to informal hiring channels, mentorship opportunities, and industry referrals.
Experiential learning – considered crucial for job readiness – still lacks structure and standardisation. Internships are integrated into all programs in only 9.4 percent of institutions, and in select programs in 17.4 percent, bringing the total adoption rate to 26.8 percent.
Meanwhile, only 9.68 percent of institutions utilize live industry projects, while 37.8 percent have no integration of internships at all, suggesting that a significant portion of students graduate with limited real-world experience.
Industry participation in the classroom is also limited. Only 7.56 percent of institutions incorporate Professors of Practice across multiple programs, while 15.46 percent restrict such engagements to only a few departments, leaving most HEIs without consistent exposure to current industry practices.
Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO of TeamLease EdTech Comment
Commenting on these findings, Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO of TeamLease EdTech, said, “What stands out most in this report is the clear gap between aspiration and achievement. While employability remains a key objective, a large number of institutions have still not fully aligned their curriculum with industry needs, built robust employer partnerships, or incorporated recognized industry certifications into their programs. This points to a system that is structurally not designed to deliver the outcomes it aspires to achieve.”
He further added that employability should be treated as a system design priority rather than an add-on. Rooj said, “If employability is truly the goal, then curriculum co-creation with industry, mandatory internships, applied learning through live projects, and formal employer partnerships must become a fundamental part of how institutions operate and are evaluated – not optional.” The study is based on 1,071 responses received from public, private, and deemed universities across India, as well as autonomous and affiliated colleges.
TeamLease Report: Data Collected
The data was collected digitally through voluntary and anonymous participation using a structured, closed-ended survey. The analysis examined curriculum alignment, internships, digital and professional skills, industry engagement, alumni involvement, placement outcomes, and future priorities, using percentage-based insights to highlight system-level trends rather than ranking institutions or establishing cause-and-effect relationships.
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