Many students begin college with great hope but, as the years pass, the clear sense of direction they expected is often replaced by confusion. They look forward to practical, hands-on learning but find that much of their coursework is theoretical. The confidence they had about securing a job after graduation is also challenged by the tough competition in the job market. This gap between expectation and experience is one of the most under-discussed challenges in Indian higher education.

Millions of first-generation learners and aspirational families are investing heavily, both financially and emotionally, in college education. Students enter with clear expectations: that their college will help them discover a meaningful career path, that their degree will translate into employability, that their campus will connect them with industry and opportunity... These expectations are shaped by institutional messaging, peer narratives, and the larger promise of India’s demographic dividend. However, employability surveys over the years have consistently suggested qualification does not automatically translate into job readiness. The issue is not one of capability, but of alignment.