CII Continues Multi-City Industry-Academia Connect 2025 in Bengaluru, Ignites Dialogue on Future-Readiness of the Education Ecosystem
Bengaluru, 11 June 2025:
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) carried forward the momentum of its flagship Industry-Academia Connect 2025 at ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru, following successful editions in Delhi, Agra, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad. The initiative is part of a nationwide effort to align academic institutions with the evolving needs of industry, building a future-ready talent pipeline.
The Bengaluru chapter witnessed robust participation from over 60+educators and industry leaders representing sectors including Information Technology, Hospitality, Gaming, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Chemicals, and Pharmaceuticals. The initiative, aligned with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2025, will next travel to Mumbai and Chennai.
The day-long engagement featured high-impact panel discussions, sectoral insights, and a strong emphasis on synchronizing curriculum design with real-world industry demands. The consensus among participants was clear: India’s education system must evolve in tandem with industry expectations to ensure students are not just qualified, but job-ready.
Key speakers included:
Mr. Sougata Roy Choudhury, Executive Director – Skills, Affirmative Action, IR, CII
Mr. Nilesh Mitra, Vice President – Talent Management, ITC Hotels
Mr. Anish Dhiman, Programme Head, CII Institute of Hospitality
Mr. Harish Nachmani, Head of Didactic, Festo India Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Kanav Mata, Director and Regional Head (South Asia, Myanmar & Middle East), EHL
Mr. Victor Sundararaj, Associate Vice President, Infosys Limited
Dr. M. Dharma Prasad, CEO & Chief Scientist, Prosetta Bioconformatics
Quoting the India Skills Report 2025, Mr. Sougata Roy Choudhury highlighted that only 54.81% of Indian graduates are employable. He added, “This disconnect between education and employment is a growing concern for students and the economy alike. The Industry-Academia Connect initiative is a strategic intervention to close this gap by fostering collaboration and co-creation of future-ready talent.”
Mr. Nilesh Mitra emphasized the need for agility in the service and hospitality sectors. “With industry dynamics evolving rapidly, the CII Institute of Hospitality is committed to delivering talent with both technical skills and service excellence. Our training ecosystem is designed to meet real-world expectations from day one.”
Echoing the call for synergy, Dr. M. Dharma Prasad noted: “In the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical skills is critical. Our sector’s future relies on academia and industry working hand-in-hand to develop innovation-ready professionals.”
The CII Industry-Academia Connect 2025 aims to engage over 600 educators and industry leaders across India, building stronger bridges between classrooms and boardrooms to secure the country’s economic future through collaborative learning and workforce development.
City Today News 9341997936
City Today News 