Jayanth Prakash, Account Director & Regional Lead – South, LinkedIn emphasised on the empowering students roadmap
“We’re passing on a lot of data to higher education institutions and helping them keep their students industry-ready through our learning platform.” Said Jayant Prakash We Would like to understand What is LinkedIn in education doing? Jayant Prakash: Yeah, that’s a great question. So, LinkedIn today is the world’s largest recruitment platform. We’re in a unique position, having a front-row seat to the changing landscape in skills and talent. We’re passing on a lot of data to higher education institutions and helping them keep their students industry-ready through our learning platform. That’s essentially what we do. Pruthvish: Yes, as a young student or when you’re in college, the basic challenge is that you don’t have the tools, methodologies, or road map. LinkedIn’s Talent Insights provide a clear directional guide towards the skills students should be building to become employable, which sets LinkedIn apart from anything else. LinkedIn takes its data from its members and recruiting organizations, guiding students and learners on the platform to acquire skills and courses that make them attractive to recruiters. This ecosystem of finding the right insights to hire for and then developing those skills sets students up for success, benefiting organizations and institutions as well. Which is the main pool to be attracted: the student community or academicians? Jayant Prakash: Students are a very important demographic for LinkedIn. They are the fastest-growing population in India, and the most effective way to impact them is by collaborating with institutions and academicians. We believe the entire ecosystem, including academicians and management, has to come together to make it work. LinkedIn Learning is a significant part of your brand, connecting education directly. If someone logs into a LinkedIn account, can they access LinkedIn Education? Pruthvish: Yes, that’s a wonderful question. It’s very easy and seamless. Once you get into a B2B partnership with LinkedIn, there’s an activation button on your feed that allows you to access LinkedIn Learning and its 22,000 courses. Do you have any additional add-ons to improve a LinkedIn profile for a user? Jayant Prakash: We conduct sessions with students and faculty called “Rock Your Profile” sessions. These sessions are extremely popular among students, where our experts teach the dos and don’ts and best practices on the platform. These sessions help students understand how to enhance their profiles. LinkedIn has been supporting the New Normal Education Leadership Summit and Awards. What does the term “new normal” mean to you? Jayant Prakash: The new normal is constantly changing. It’s about adapting to the ever-changing landscape. If you’re not able to change and are standing still, you’ll be left behind. Adaptability is key. Pruthvish: I agree. The world is changing constantly. The feature of adaptability towards the changing environment defines the new normal. Organizations also have change management teams to help them with agile methodologies, making them leaner, meaner, and quicker. Falling in line with the pace of the environment should be the new normal. How do you impact society at large, and which community is more responsive to your activities? Pruthvish: We’re providing jobs, which significantly impacts society and the economy. The response has been phenomenal across the spectrum, including students, academicians, and even older generations. Forums like this bring together academicians and industry decision-makers. How do such forums impact society, and what are the takeaways? Pruthvish: For institutions, the takeaway is implementing what we share with them to benefit their students. For ed-tech partners, learning from LinkedIn’s insights and applying them to create impactful content and guidance is crucial. We believe both content and guidance are equally important in solving educational problems. How would you rate LinkedIn’s services, content, and finances on a scale of 1 to 3? Pruthvish: Three across the board. Service is our core methodology, and our platform is highly democratized. Most features are free, emphasizing service to the community. Our products are reasonably priced, aiming to provide tools to improve careers. Jayant Prakash: Our products offer great value to academic institutions, with costs heavily subsidized compared to corporate pricing, giving institutions a distinct advantage. Any final message for ArdorComm Media Group? Jayant Prakash: Shine on! You’re doing a fantastic job. We’ve had a great partnership, and your events provide valuable learning experiences and networking opportunities. Your hardworking team ensures the success of these events, and we look forward to continued collaboration. Pruthvish: This is my first event with you, and I’m impressed. Educational fairs of this magnitude have a significant impact, as attendees will influence thousands of students. Getting everyone together to brainstorm on the right ideas is commendable. Thank you for this opportunity. Jayant Prakash: I think you guys are doing a fantastic job. We’ve been fortunate enough to partner with you for a while now, and I’ve attended many of your events. They have all been great learning experiences. The spectrum of people we’ve interacted with and the peers we’ve talked to, along with your hardworking team, make it a point to deliver on promises. It’s always appreciated, and I look forward to continuing to work together.
