Professional Pathways: Rethinking Career Counselling in J&K

As every dream deserves the right direction, therefore guiding our youth with clarity, competence, and commitment is the need of the hour.

 By :  Showkat Shafi

Providing quality and need based education is imperative for holistic development of any State. Our Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir with its unique features in terms of, geographical conditions, population, economy and a rich tradition of knowledge and scholarship is no exception.  Career planning and counseling being one of the components of this need based education has taken new dimensions world over. Unfortunate enough,  we have hardly begun this journey , here in this part of the globe , where we could  through the expertise of professional counselors , ease out  the frustration and unrest among our youth at the time they are at the cross roads of their  careers .

Experts believe that most schools and colleges in our Union Territory do not have certified career counselors. Teachers or administrators often step in, but without proper training in psychometric tools, labour market trends, or individual aptitude assessment, which makes guidance ineffective, says  Prof. Nazir Ahmad Dar, Director Centre for Career Counseling Coaching  and Placement (CCCP) University of Kashmir .

Prof    Dar believes that career counseling needs vary across stages of education. At the school level, the emphasis is on self-discovery, helping students understand their interests, abilities, and values while introducing them to a broad spectrum of career options, He adds that as  the students  move to higher secondary education , the need shifts towards stream selection, subject choices, and aligning these with potential career paths, making guidance more focused and decision-oriented. However,  adds  Prof  Nazir that at the  college level, counseling becomes even more specialized, centering on career readiness, skill development, internships, and preparing for employment or higher studies. Together, says he , these stages highlight that career counseling is a gradual, layered process, starting with awareness, moving to informed choices, and finally leading to career preparedness.

“How unfortunate it is that while the very concept of the career planning has changed the world over, our   students are still directed towards a narrow set of “traditional” careers (medicine, engineering, government jobs)” says Mir Zubair , a  Career Coach.  Careers in technology, design, entrepreneurship, vocational trades, or creative fields are either underrepresented or ignored due to lack of awareness, adds Zubair . Mr Mir believes that there exists a significant information gap about emerging careers, especially in fast-evolving fields like artificial intelligence, data science, green technologies, creative digital industries, and entrepreneurship. Many students, parents, and even educators remain unaware of these new opportunities, often relying on traditional streams This lack of updated information not only limits students’ exposure but also prevents them from aligning their skills and interests with future-ready careers. Bridging this gap requires continuous awareness programs, updated career resources, and proactive counseling that introduces learners to the changing job landscape and the skills needed to thrive in it.

Experts and observers in Kashmir ,  believe that  there  is no institutionalized system for career guidance across schools and colleges in UT of  J&K. Counseling, they say  is sporadic, ad-hoc, and event-based (like after exam results), instead of being a continuous process starting from middle or high school. They also lament the lack of psychometric and Aptitude Testing. Without tools to scientifically assess interests, skills, and personality, guidance becomes guesswork. Students don’t discover their true strengths early enough, says Sajad Ahmad Wani , an  educationist.

In context of the above, the University of Kashmir, a premier institution of learning, feeling this need, has already   established a Centre for Career Planning and Counselling in the campus to help students make better choices about their careers and education. The Centre has now been elevated to accommodate placement component  as well. The focus of the Centre is to provide professional services and also the resources to the students in career and educational planning.  The idea, as per students visiting there, and the faculty ,  is  working to a great extent and  the needs are that this initiative from Kashmir University be made more effective so that it can snowball into a big movement for  creating friendly  environs for our youth across the UT of Kashmir .

Yes,  we are working hard  in that direction  and in fact already taken some steps under the present University leadership,  says  Prof  Nazir Ahmad Dar ,  Director of the Centre, a well known academic at campus talking about the importance of  the Academia industry  linkages. He  says that  limited industry–academia linkages leave students disconnected from the realities of the workplace, making career guidance largely theoretical and abstract. He adds that  the  exposure to internships, apprenticeships, and mentorship programs is essential because it helps young people understand job roles, workplace culture, and the practical application of their learning. Without this bridge, says Prof Nazir  students often graduate with degrees but lack employable skills or clarity about their chosen path. The director  adds that strengthening these linkages through structured internship policies, industry tie-ups with schools and colleges, and mentorship initiatives from professionals can give students real-world insights, boost confidence, and align their education with evolving market demands

When asked how can the idea of Professional career  counseling  be carried forward to encompass the whole of the union territory Prof Nazir has a novel idea of creating career cells at  the Zonal level  across the UT of J&K., lining them to district headquarters and finally to the capital city Headquarters.

Other experts in career planning  , however, opine for the need to elevate already existing  district employment Units  to counseling and guidance centers across the UT open for all potential candidates desirous to appear for various competitive examinations.  These   must provide career information resources, research on industry and its future, career planning and counselling, placement, marketing, liaison between the University, colleges, higher secondary institutions   and employees, and organize workshops and seminars on these themes. . Students , they say be made aware regarding choice of careers after  class 12th , undergraduate as well as post graduate levels. They suggest establishment of a Central Career Planning Centre at Srinagar and Jammu headquarters, they opine.  These  central  career planning centers at capital headquarters will arrange for the students to work with local, national and international organizations in part-time as well as full time  careers, prepare students with professional job skills, provide opportunities for students to contact organizations that provide lucrative careers, help students manage between various career options available to them and provide information and planning through staff development programs, comprising of specialized workshops for faculty. It can maintain links with employing companies in order to keep the process of recruitment going on. Career counselors, classroom teachers, and special educators can work together to tailor a program to meet the needs of youth with learning disabilities in their community.

Our youth feel disillusioned and bewildered   due to lack of proper guidance. Unfortunate enough, our young minds have seen the worst upheavals of times especially during the last 30 years of violence in Kashmir .In this context professionalizing career counselling and guidance assumes much more significance.

Professionalizing career planning and guidance is the only way forward to establish a coherent and holistic guidance system to let free our youth and help them see light across the tunnel. Let academia, civil society and other stakeholders come forward to make it happen.

A former faculty at Media Education Research Centre University of Kashmir , the author is a columnist , blogger and  a free lance media professional.