PUNE: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu held a landmark Roundtable Conference at Hotel Conrad, Pune, focusing on the theme "Fostering Academia and Industry Partnership: The Way Ahead” on 21st Feb 2024.The premier forum brought together policymakers, academic professionals, and industry leaders. The conference aimed to explore innovative ways of fostering collaboration between academia and industry, addressing the evolving nature of work, and leveraging technology to equip students with the necessary skills for future employment.
The main highlight of the event was the presence of Chief Guest Shri Chandrakant Dada Patil, Hon'ble Minister of Education, Government of Maharashtra, alongside Guest of Honor Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Vice President of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, who both graced the valedictory ceremony.
The inaugural and valedictory sessions were graced by Dr. Milind P. Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu; Shri Shrikant Badve, Member, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu; and Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu.The conference also saw participation from several industry and academic thought leaders.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Shri. Ashok W. Kakade (IAS), Managing Director, SARTHI, Pune, and Shri Kailash Zanzari, Head of Manufacturing, Bajaj Auto Ltd. Shri Rajesh Pande, Advisory Council Member, SPPU Pune, and Chairman, National Yuva Cooperative Society was present during the valedictory ceremony.
In his address, Chief Guest Shri Chandrakant Dada Patil, Hon'ble Minister of Education, Government of Maharashtra, emphasized 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 stressed that skill-based courses must be customized to meet sector-specific needs, ensuring graduates are equipped to drive India's growth. He commended IIM Jammu’s proactive approach in aligning its academic programs with industry demands, preparing students to be industry-ready and future-focused leaders.
In his address, Guest of Honor Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Vice President, Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, emphasized the importance of ethical leadership in the future of work, highlighting the need to balance technological progress with human-centric values. He praised IIM Jammu’s role in fostering such leadership and noted the critical importance of industry-academia collaborations for sustainable development. He advocated for curriculum updates to include emerging fields like Data Science, ArtificialIntelligence (AI), and Virtual Reality (VR), and emphasized the need for feedback mechanisms to ensure education remains relevant with changing times. He expressed optimism for stronger cultural and academic ties between Jammu and Pune.
Dr. Milind P. Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, highlighted the significance of such discussions for the future of education and industry. He stated that the Roundtable Conference represents IIM Jammu’s ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry practices. He further pointed out that these discussions are essential for continued innovation and adaptation to the fast-changing needs of the global economy. He reaffirmed IIM Jammu’s commitment to driving impactful collaborations that benefit both students and industry partners, ultimately 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 NEP 2020. He emphasized the USPs of IIM Jammu’s five Centers of Excellence and their collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Government of J&K. Expressing optimism about India's goal to become a developed nation by 2047, he encouraged youth to leverage government initiatives, notably Project YUVA (Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan) of Govt of Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at accelerating employment opportunities through entrepreneurship. He urged to everyone prioritize national contribution and align their goals with national development, reaffirming IIM Jammu's commitment to bridging academia and industry to prepare industry-ready professionals.
Shri Shrikant Badve, Member, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, emphasized the importance of continuous academia-industry engagement. He highlighted that platforms like the roundtable conference are crucial for fostering collaboration, aligning goals, and driving innovation, ultimately contributing to the development of future-ready talent and enterprises.
Shri Ashok W. Kakade, IAS, Managing Director, SARTHI, Pune, in his inaugural address commended IIM Jammu’s selection of Pune for the conference, emphasizing its importance in education and industrialization and the need for equal collaboration between industry and academia.
Shri Rajesh Pande, Advisory Council Member, SPPU Pune, and Chairman, National Yuva Cooperative Society, emphasized the need for aligning education with global standards in his valedictory address at the Roundtable Conference.
Shri Kailash Zanzari, Head of Manufacturing, Bajaj Auto Ltd., during his inaugural address emphasized the importance of skills in smart manufacturing, IoT, and AI.
The first panel discussion, titled “Fostering Academia-Industry Partnership,” was moderated by Shri Shrikant Badve, Member, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu. The panel featured interesting line-up, including Dr. Ramakrishnan Raman, Vice Chancellor, Symbiosis International University; Shri Hrishikesh Dhande, Head of Education Alliances, TCS; Shri Prashant Girbane, Director General of MCCIA; Shri Jugal Bhutada, Zonal Head, ICICI Bank Pune; and Shri Kailash Zanzari, Head of Manufacturing, Bajaj Auto Ltd. The panelists emphasized that robust academia-industry partnerships are 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,” was moderated by Shri Nitin Upadhyay, Chairperson, MBA program, IIM Jammu. Panelists included Shri Dinanath Kholkar, Independent Advisor and Former SVP, TCS; Shri Deepak Shikarpur, Director, Kinetic Communications Ltd.; Shri Sudhir Chikhale, Purchase Head, Tata Passenger EV; Shri H. P. Shrivastava, Founder, DCCIA; and Shri Sagar Wayangankar, AVP and Business Unit Head, Yazaki India Pvt. Ltd. They discussed how organizations can adopt AI while maintaining ethical standards. The panel stressed that as AI shapes the future of work, it is crucial to balance technological advancement with human-centric values to ensure sustainable development.
The third panel discussion, titled “The Role of Corporates under NEP 2020,” was moderated by Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, and featured a diverse lineup of panelists, including Dr. Arvind Natu, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IISER Pune; Smt. Prachi Pathak, Senior Consultant/Director of Product Management, Dell Technologies; Shri Abhijit Puri, Senior Director, LTIMindtree; Shri Bharat Gite, MD & CEO, Tarual India; and Shri Milind Pande, Pro Vice Chancellor, MITWPU, Pune. The discussion focused on strengthening research and enhancing corporate involvement in academia, with panelists highlighting the critical role that corporations play in shaping industry-relevant curricula.
During the event, the Audiovisual of IIM Jammu was showcased, highlighting the institute's state-of the-art facilities and initiatives. The event concluded with a grand valedictory session and vote of thanks by Shri Shrikant Badve, Member, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu. Present during the inaugural and valedictory ceremony were Dr. Nitin Upadhyay, Chairperson, MBA, IIM Jammu and Dr. Baljeet Singh, Co-Chairperson, Placements, IIM Jammu.Also present on the occasion were the Alumni of IIM Jammu on the momentous occasion. 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 Pune 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. IIM Jammu remains dedicated to fostering academia-industry partnerships that will shape the future of education and professional development. The Roundtable Conference underscores the institute’s commitment to driving innovation and excellence in both academic and industry spheres.
