HYDERABAD: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Jammu held a roundtable conference on the theme ‘Fostering Academia and Industry Partnership: The Way Ahead’ in Pune.
The event which brought together policymakers, academic professionals, and industry leaders aimed to explore innovative ways to foster collaboration between academia and industry, while addressing the evolving the nature of work, and leveraging technology to equip students with the necessary skills for jobs.
Participating as the chief guest, Maharashtra Education Minister Chandrakant Dada Patil emphasised the vital role of academia-industry partnerships in bridging the gap between education and employment.
He highlighted NEP-2020 as a transformative step toward creating a more flexible, interdisciplinary education system that can swiftly adapt to the changing economic landscape. He underscored the importance of continuous learning, upskilling, and developing both technical and soft skills. He lauded IIM Jammu’s proactive approach in aligning its academic programmes with industry demands, preparing students to be industry-ready and future-focused leaders.
Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Vice-President of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, who participated as the guest of honour, emphasised the importance of ethical leadership in the future of work, highlighting the need to balance technological progress with human-centric values. He advocated for curriculum updates to include emerging fields like data science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Virtual Reality (VR), and emphasized the need for feedback mechanisms to ensure education remains relevant with changing times.
Dr. Milind P. Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, said the roundtable conference represents IIM Jammu’s ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry practices. He reaffirmed IIM Jammu’s commitment to driving impactful collaborations that benefit both students and industry partners, contributing to the overall development of a skilled workforce ready to meet future challenges.
Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, highlighted the institute’s growth, particularly the MBA in Hospital Administration and Healthcare Management developed in collaboration with IIT Jammu and AIIMS Jammu, in alignment with the NEP-2020.
Shrikant Badve, Member, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, highlighted the importance of continuous academia-industry engagement, saying that such events were crucial for fostering collaboration, aligning goals, and driving innovation, ultimately contributing to the development of future-ready talent and enterprises.
Ashok W. Kakade, Managing Director, SARTHI, Pune, commended IIM Jammu’s selection of Pune for the conference, emphasising the need for collaboration between industry and academia.
Rajesh Pande, Advisory Council Member, SPPU Pune, and Chairman, National Yuva Cooperative Society, said aligning education with global standards is the need of the hour.
Kailash Zanzari, Head of Manufacturing, Bajaj Auto Ltd., emphasised the importance of skills in smart manufacturing, IoT, and AI.
Panel discussions
The first panel discussion titled ‘Fostering Academia-Industry Partnership’ featured Dr. Ramakrishnan Raman, Vice Chancellor, Symbiosis International University; Hrishikesh Dhande, Head of Education Alliances, TCS; Prashant Girbane, Director General of MCCIA; Jugal Bhutada, Zonal Head, ICICI Bank Pune; and Kailash Zanzari, Head of Manufacturing, Bajaj Auto Ltd. They stressed that robust academia-industry partnerships were crucial for addressing skill gaps and fostering innovation, commending IIM Jammu’s initiatives to ensure its students are well-prepared to make meaningful contributions to the workforce.
The second panel titled ‘Navigating the Future of Work: Integrating AI, Ethical Practices, and Human-Centric Skills’ discussed how organisations could adopt AI while maintaining ethical standards.
The third panel discussion titled ‘The Role of Corporates under NEP 2020’ focused on strengthening research and enhancing corporate involvement in academia, with panelists highlighting the critical role that corporations play in shaping industry-relevant curricula.
The event culminated with the National Anthem, followed by dinner and networking session, which allowed participants to further explore collaborative opportunities and exchange ideas.
The roundtable conference marked a milestone in strengthening the collaboration between academia and industry and the insights shared would pave the way for actionable outcomes benefiting both students and the corporate world, the organisers said.