Abstract

The winds of liberalization that are sweeping across the country and the wave of globalization that has engulfed the entire economy have, in their wake, brought several stark realities and hard facts to the fore. One can no longer remain insulated from other cultures or isolated from other communities. Among the important lessons learnt from this inevitable integration, the one which has only now caught the attention of all concerned is the ability (or perhaps the inability) of our youth to communicate well, particularly at the international fora. The importance of communication skills in any mode, brand, and concept of professionalism is a well-known and accepted reality today. Contrary to expectation that our academic institutions, particularly those offering courses which have a global demand, such as IT and Management would take the lead, only a handful of them are well-equipped to train students to the nuances of effective communication. Elsewhere, the vast majority of our youth get only a cursory exposure to much needed 'soft skills' and they are thrown into the whirlpool of employment seekers without the necessary tools and techniques to come out trumps. This paper examines the problems and challenges that are envisaged and also offers answers to some of the critical questions concerning communication. It is now realized that intensive restructuring of the curriculum and its delivery based on extensive dialog with the stakeholders is a prerequisite for the success of such a major campaign.