Develop core knowledge over pursuing white-collar jobs

A. Seshadri Sekhar, the Director of IIT Palakkad, spoke at the graduation ceremony for Thiagarajar College of Engineering. He emphasized that gaining core knowledge in a subject is more important than pursuing a white-collar job early in one's career. Sekhar shared that his own industry experience has been valuable. He believes that hands-on work helps young people develop skills to solve problems later in their careers. Instead of focusing on earning money quickly, he encouraged graduates to seek knowledge, saying that financial success will follow. He highlighted the importance of learning other skills as well, such as collaboration and basic data knowledge. Soft skills, sustainability, and social responsibility are also vital for a well-rounded education. Sekhar warned students not to be distracted by buzzwords like AI and ChatGPT. A strong foundation in their field is necessary to effectively adopt new technologies. Sekhar also stressed that terms like sustainability should be integrated into daily life. He advised students to view challenges positively, reminding them that failures can lead to valuable lessons. Citing figures like A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Thomas Edison, he urged students to embrace setbacks. During the event, 944 undergraduate and 137 postgraduate degrees were awarded. Dr. Uma Kannan and Principal L. Ashok Kumar were among the attendees.