Upskilling key to future jobs, says Visakhapatnam MP

Calling on students to stay relevant in a fast-changing technology landscape, Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat on Friday urged them to continuously upgrade their skills and knowledge.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the second edition of the two-day AP Digital Technology Summit 26, organised at the VMRDA Children Arena.

Mr. Sribharat said platforms like the summit were important only if students and teachers actively engaged with them. He suggested that interactive sessions with industry experts would be more effective than one-way lectures in helping students understand emerging technologies.

The MP also raised concerns over outdated teaching practices in engineering colleges. He said some faculty members stop updating their knowledge after securing academic positions. While theory was important, he said, teaching outdated syllabi would leave students ill-prepared for industry requirements.

Referring to the government’s push to attract IT investments to North Andhra, Mr. Sribharat said the absence of a skilled workforce could weaken these efforts. He urged students to learn new technologies and prepare themselves for future opportunities in the sector.

Earlier, Sreedhar Kosaraju, Chairman of the APDTI Network, said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones were expected to alter traditional job roles. However, he added that they would also create new employment opportunities.

He said APDTI was formed to train students in emerging domains and enable them to adapt to industry needs. Stressing the importance of convergence, he said deep expertise in IT, digital technologies, AI, and drones would be crucial in the coming years. He expressed confidence that Andhra Pradesh could set a benchmark in this space.

Kavitha, Director of STPI, and Kiran Babu Cherukuri of HCL Technologies attended the programme. Robots developed by students of KIET, displayed at the venue entrance, attracted visitors.