3-Day, 2nd International Conference on Innovation and Sustainability in Business Development inaugurated at University of Jammu

JAMMU: The International Centre for Cross Cultural Research and Human Resource Management (ICccR & HRM), University of Jammu, inaugurated the 2nd International Conference on “Innovation and Sustainability in Business Development”, under the overarching theme “Future of Work: Global Institutions, Policy, Practices, and Perspectives – Transforming Work, Driving Innovation, Sustaining Futures.” The three-day international conference is being organized in collaboration with California State University, San Bernardino, USA; The University of the South Pacific, Fiji; and the Directorate of Industries and Commerce (DIC), Jammu & Kashmir.

The keynote speakers for the inaugural ceremony of the 2nd International Conference on Innovation and Sustainability in Business Development were Prof. Gurmeet Singh, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation), School of Business Management, The University of the South Pacific, Fiji, and Prof. Soumodip Sarkar, Professor, Department of Management, University of Évora, Portugal. Industry perspectives were shared by Dr. Arun Manhas, Director, Directorate of Industries and Commerce (DIC), Jammu & Kashmir. The inaugural ceremony was presided over by Prof. Neelu Rohmetra, Dean Research Studies, University of Jammu and Founder Director, International Centre for Cross Cultural Research and Human Resource Management (ICccR & HRM), University of Jammu Jammu. 

The inaugural session was presided over by Prof. Neelu Rohmetra, Dean Research Studies, University of Jammu, who, in her expert and presiding remarks, underscored the centrality of institutional quality in responding to the evolving demands of the future of work. She observed that institutions which consistently uphold high academic and ethical standards build credibility, resilience, and long-term societal relevance. Commending the International Centre for Cross-Cultural Research and Human Resource Management, she lauded the organising team for their meticulous planning, academic rigour, and seamless execution of the conference.

Prof. Rohmetra emphasised that academic conferences are meaningful not by the scale of participation but by the seriousness of deliberations and the quality of intellectual engagement they generate. She highlighted that such platforms play a critical role in promoting interdisciplinary dialogue, global academic collaboration, and reflective thinking on contemporary challenges related to innovation and sustainability. Stressing the importance of student and researcher engagement, she encouraged participants to view conferences as spaces for learning, networking, and intellectual growth.

She further noted that institutional strengthening, rooted in commitment, collaboration, and an institutional mindset, is essential for preparing universities to contribute effectively to national priorities and global discourses. Aligning academic pursuits with ethical leadership, innovation, and societal responsibility, Prof. Rohmetra asserted that institutions driven by quality and purpose are best positioned to create sustainable impact and support inclusive development in a rapidly changing world.

Prof. Gurmeet Singh, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation), School of Business Management, University of the South Pacific, Fiji in his keynote address underscored how human resources act as the backbone of sustainable economic transformation, bridging the gap between technology and human capability. He deliberated that the focus on human capital development, supported by Government of India initiatives such as Skill India, Startup India, Make in India, etc. was highlighted as essential for building a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable future of work in India.

Prof. Soumodip Sarkar, Department of Management, University of Évora, Portugal, in his keynote address spoke on entrepreneurial ecosystems, sustainable innovation, and strategic leadership in an era of technological transformation and global uncertainty.

Offering an industry perspective, Dr. Arun Manhas, Director, Directorate of Industries and Commerce (DIC), Jammu, shared practical insights on policy initiatives, industrial development, entrepreneurship promotion, and the role of innovation in strengthening regional and national economic ecosystem.

Earlier, the inaugural session commenced with a welcome Address by Prof. Hardeep Chahal, Conference Convener and Director, ICccR & HRM, University of Jammu, who highlighted the significance of the conference and noted the enthusiastic response from academicians and researchers, with over 80 research papers received from across the country and abroad. She spoke about the well-structured conference tracks, parallel technical sessions, and the specialized workshop designed to facilitate focused discussions and meaningful knowledge exchange. The Director emphasized that such academic engagements contribute significantly to research excellence, innovation, and the strengthening of institutional quality.

The session also witnessed the release of the Conference Proceedings and the presentation of mementos to the distinguished speakers and dignitaries. The formal session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Isha Sharma, Conference Convener and Senior Assistant Professor, ICccR & HRM, University of Jammu, who expressed gratitude to the international collaborators, speakers, delegates, organizing team, and participants for making the inaugural session a success.

Prominent others present in the inaugural ceremony were Prof. Sanjay Nadkarni, Plakhnov University, Dubai; Prof. B K Mohanty, IIM Lucknow; Prof. R D Sharma, Former Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu; Prof. Rishi Raj Sharma, GNDU, Gurdaspur Campus; Prof. Soumya Mukherjee, Swami Vivekananda University, Kolkata faculty members, officials from other departments of University of Jammu, conference delegates, media personnel, conference sponsors, alumni of ICccR & HRM and students of ICccR & HRM.

The inaugural ceremony was coordinated by Dr. Neha Gupta, Assistant Professor, ICccR & HRM, University of Jammu. Dr. Bhanu Pratap Singh, Dr. Shivani Rana, Dr. Swati Sharma and Dr. Parul Mahajan, faculty ICccR & HRM co-convened the conference tracks, conference workshop and plenary sessions.

Following the inaugural ceremony, a special workshop on “AI Powered Academics: Leveraging AI for Teaching and Research Excellence” was conducted by Prof. B. K. Mohanty, Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow. The workshop provided perspectives on the effective and ethical integration of artificial intelligence in academic teaching, research, and scholarly productivity. The day concluded with 4 parallel tracks for paper presentations by scholars and researchers from various universities and institutions, showcasing cutting-edge research aligned with the conference theme.

Day 1 of the conference was conducted in online mode, witnessing enthusiastic participation from academicians, researchers, and scholars from India and abroad. The programme commenced with Plenary Session I on “Industry 5.0: A Look into the Future”, delivered by Prof. Vipin Gupta, California State University, San Bernardino, USA. Prof. Gupta offered a futuristic perspective on Industry 5.0, emphasizing human-centric innovation, sustainability, and the convergence of technology and societal well-being in the evolving world of work. The plenary session was followed by parallel technical paper presentations by researchers and scholars on diverse and contemporary themes.