Why curiosity could be the most valuable skill for future tech professionals

India Today

2 days ago

In a world where technology evolves faster than syllabi can keep pace, curiosity may be the most powerful skill a student can cultivate. The rapid rise of AI, robotics, and emerging software engineering tools has already changed how we work, and industry leaders predict even more transformation in the next decade. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs report, problem-solving, creativity, and adaptability will be amongst the most in-demand skills by 2030.advertisementWHY CURIOSITY MATTERS IN TECHCuriosity acts as the bridge between what we know and what we are yet to discover. It fuels experimentation, encourages risk-taking, and helps students embrace ambiguity rather than fear it. In technology where answers are rarely final, this mindset turns challenges into opportunities for innovation.In fast-moving fields like computer science and AI, skills can become outdated in as little as two years. A NASSCOM study highlights that 65 percent of today's students will work in roles that do not yet exist. This means future professionals must be able to adapt, experiment, and approach problems from unconventional angles.
MIT's Media Lab fosters open-ended projects, IIT Bombay's Maker Spaces enable innovation without fixed curricula, and European universities run AI labs where interdisciplinary teams tackle tech ethics. The common thread: when students are trusted to explore, they develop deeper, lasting skills.
Educators say this requires a shift in technical learning—from knowledge delivery to mindset development. 'Technical education needs to equip students with the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn. Curiosity is not a nice-to-have; it's survival,' said Anshuman Singh, Co-founder and Dean at Scaler School of Technology (SST). Learning happens when we engage honestly and explore what's unfamiliar. It's about building the ability to navigate uncertainty, not just mastering what's already known.SST held its Orientation Day at its campus in Bengaluru, marking the start of the 2025–2029 undergraduate cohort. The Orientation Day reflected this philosophy, focusing on fostering curiosity-driven learning from the outset. According to the institution, more than 20,000 candidates took the National Scaler Entrance Test this year, with over 600 joining the new batch.Rather than focus solely on rules and schedules, the event encouraged students to set personal learning goals, engage in peer-led activities, and reflect on the kind of problems they want to solve. 'Think of your time here as a challenge to your thinking and growth,' said Program Director Shruti, an IIT Kharagpur alumna, in her address to students.The day also featured Yash Kumar, Programme and Tech Lead at OpenAI, who shared his journey from IIIT Hyderabad to developing agent technologies. His advice: stay consistent, be resilient, and never stop learning. BUILDING CURIOSITY INTO THE CURRICULUMadvertisementAcross institutions, some common strategies are emerging to integrate curiosity into technical education:Project-based assignments with multiple possible solutionsCross-disciplinary learning blending engineering, design, and humanitiesHackathons and workshops with industry expertsPeer learning models where students teach and learn from one anotherThese methods encourage not just competence, but the capacity to thrive in uncharted professional territory.Curiosity-driven education is steadily moving from an experimental niche to a core philosophy across technical institutions worldwide. By creating environments where questioning is as valued as answering, educators hope to prepare students not just for the jobs of today, but for the unknown challenges of tomorrow.- Ends