Anna University to launch digital discipline-centric life skills programme for undergraduates
Chennai, Dec 14 (LatestNewsX) – Anna University will kick off a new life‑and‑work‑skills curriculum for second‑year undergrads in January, a move designed to counter the growing digital distractions in students’ lives and get them ready for the real world.
The programme will focus heavily on digital discipline while covering a broad range of abilities that are essential in today’s fast‑moving workplaces. Heading the effort is the university’s Centre for University‑Industry Collaboration (CUIC), a key partner in placements and industry outreach.
CUIC Director K. Shanmuga Sundaram explained that the course is meant to complement classroom learning. “While our students are academically strong and already possess many industry‑required professional skills, we felt the need to train them in competencies that will help them navigate life after campus and perform effectively in fast‑paced work environments,” he said.
The training is aimed at tackling issues such as excessive social media use and gaming, which often hinder focus, productivity and emotional well‑being. At the same time, it will build resilience, communication skills, professionalism and goal‑oriented thinking.
Fifteen thematic areas have been earmarked for the workshops. According to G. Shibu, Deputy Director of CUIC, digital discipline will be the core of the curriculum. “The sessions are designed to help students regain control over their digital habits while simultaneously building life and workplace skills that truly matter today,” he added.
Industry experts and successful alumni will take on mentoring roles to ensure the content reflects real‑world workplace expectations. To cater to different career goals, the programme will offer niche tracks, including entrepreneurship essentials—covering idea generation, feasibility analysis and business models—and guidance for government career pathways such as UPSC, SSC and TNPSC examinations.
Communication training will receive particular emphasis. Participants will undergo intensive English instruction covering sentence structure, idiomatic usage and connectors. Additional modules on personal branding, body language, email etiquette and mock interviews will bolster confidence during campus placements.
The initiative will also introduce “super skills for corporate edge”, concentrating on concise communication, decision‑making, teamwork and high‑professional standards, supplemented by management games and leadership mindset development.
Support will be provided for resume building, portfolio creation and LinkedIn profile optimisation. The programme was previously piloted as a five‑day course for students admitted under the 7.5 % government school preferential category and received positive feedback.
Sessions will now run every Saturday on campus, beginning with the second‑year cohort. The university is also exploring corporate social responsibility funding to help sustain the programme.
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