Bridging the Skill Gap between Academic Learning and Industry Expectations among Management Students: A Study of Kalaburagi District Karnataka State

The increasing mismatch between academic learning outcomes and industry expectations has emerged as a critical challenge in management education. Employers frequently report that management graduates lack essential employability skills, practical exposure, and workplace readiness, resulting in a persistent skill gap. This issue is particularly pronounced in semi-urban and educationally developing regions. Against this backdrop, the present study examines the nature and extent of the skill gap between academic learning and industry expectations among management students in Kalaburagi District of Karnataka. The study adopts a descriptive and analytical research design using a mixed-method approach. Primary data were collected from management students, faculty members, and industry representatives through structured questionnaires and interviews. The sample was selected using stratified random sampling and purposive sampling techniques. Statistical tools such as percentage analysis, mean and standard deviation, correlation, regression analysis, t-test, ANOVA, and factor analysis were employed using SPSS software. The findings reveal that while management education contributes to foundational knowledge and basic communication skills, it falls short in developing industry-relevant competencies such as decision-making, analytical thinking, digital proficiency, and practical application of knowledge. Industry expectations were found to be significantly higher than the skill levels possessed by students, confirming the existence of a substantial skill gap. Regression analysis indicates that curriculum relevance and industry exposure have a significant negative impact on the skill gap, suggesting that improvements in these areas can effectively reduce the mismatch. The study concludes that bridging the skill gap requires curriculum reform, experiential learning, stronger industry–academia collaboration, faculty development, and student-centric skill training initiatives. The research provides region-specific insights and offers practical recommendations to enhance employability and industry readiness of management graduates.