Highlighting the growing shortage of industry-ready talent in core engineering sectors, BrahMos Aerospace CEO and Managing Director Jaiteerth Joshi has said that industries are increasingly shifting their recruitment focus from Tier-I engineering institutions to Tier-II colleges in search of skilled manpower.

Speaking at an interaction organised by the Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ISNT), Nagpur Chapter, Joshi, who is also Distinguished Scientist and Director General (BrahMos) at DRDO, said the shift has become necessary to address the widening gap between academic training and industry requirements.

"Colleges today are not providing students with the practical training needed to make them industry-ready," he observed.

Dr. Joshi also noted a changing mindset among engineering graduates, saying that many young engineers prefer office-based jobs over field and shop-floor assignments, despite the critical role such positions play in the engineering profession.

Industry representatives participating in the interaction echoed similar concerns, stating that their talent outreach efforts are now largely focused on Tier-II engineering colleges, where they see considerable untapped potential. They pointed out that industries are increasingly prioritising motivation, adaptability and a willingness to learn over academic scores alone, particularly for specialised fields such as Non-Destructive Testing (NDT).

Emphasising the need to build a skilled workforce for emerging sectors, Joshi called for stronger collaboration among industry, academia and research institutions. He stressed the growing importance of NDT in sectors such as defence, aerospace, manufacturing and power generation, noting that advanced inspection technologies are essential for ensuring quality, safety and reliability.

He also underscored the need to align research activities more closely with industry requirements. Advocating a stronger focus on innovation-driven outcomes, Joshi said research should lead to practical applications and commercially viable products rather than remaining confined to academic publications.

According to reports, he urged educational institutions and industry stakeholders to work together to bridge the skills gap and prepare engineers for the evolving demands of modern technology-driven sectors.