Learning Ecosystem Quality and its influence on Skill Acquisition and Industry Readiness among Digital Natives in Chennai

Rapid changes in labour markets have intensified concerns about the preparedness of higher education graduates for professional practice. Against this backdrop, the present study investigates the influence of Learning Ecosystem Quality on Skill Acquisition and Industry Readiness among Digital Natives in Chennai. An exploratory and descriptive design with a quantitative approach was adopted, and data were collected from 200 digital natives (undergraduate and postgraduate students) using a structured questionnaire covering learning infrastructure, teaching quality, industry exposure, academic support, skill acquisition, and industry readiness. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and correlation analyses were employed to examine the proposed relationships.
The results indicate that Learning Ecosystem Quality significantly predicts Skill Acquisition, with learning infrastructure, teaching quality, and academic support emerging as major contributors, while industry exposure shows a weaker effect. Skill Acquisition exhibits a strong positive association with Industry Readiness, and Learning Ecosystem Quality also directly influences professional preparedness. The study provides empirical evidence from an Indian metropolitan context and highlights the need for integrated learning ecosystems that combine effective teaching, institutional support, and stronger industry engagement to enhance graduate readiness.