Summary
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) hosted the third edition of the Education East Summit in Kolkata on November 8 and 9, 2024.
With a forward-looking theme, ‘Navigation for the Future – Preparing for What’s Next,’ the summit aimed to strengthen ties between academia and industry, paving the way for a future-ready workforce.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) hosted the third edition of the Education East Summit in Kolkata on November 8 and 9, 2024. With a forward-looking theme, Navigation for the Future – Preparing for What’s Next, the summit aimed to strengthen ties between academia and industry, paving the way for a future-ready workforce.
In an exclusive conversation with The Telegraph Online Edugraph, Ujjal Chakraborti, Chairman of the CII ER Education & Skill Development Sub-Committee and Executive In-Charge (Designate) at Tata Steel Limited’s Tinplate Division, stressed the importance of aligning education with the evolving demands of the future.
He said, “Each conference brings something unique, and this one is crucial as it aligns with our vision for India at 100 in 2047. To leverage our young population effectively, we need to focus on skills like design thinking and critical analysis. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for students to understand and innovate across various fields, preparing them for real world challenges. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is already guiding this shift toward more holistic learning.”
Chakraborti, further, delineated CII’s role in fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, including representatives from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). He explained, “Platforms like that of CII’s bring together industry experts, academics, and policymakers to co-create and refine curricula for the next generation. This collaboration ensures that these advancements reach not just top tier institutions but also those at all levels, leading to widespread adoption.”
Day 1 Highlights
The conference featured enlightening panel discussions aimed at aligning government, society, educational institutions, and industry toward common goals to enhance education outcomes.
(L-R) Dr Mamta Rani Agarwal, Additional Secretary, AIU, former Adviser, AICTE & former Joint Secretary, UGC; Ujjal Chakraborti, Chairman, CII ER Education & Skill Development Sub-Committee & Executive-in-Charge, Tinplate Division, Tata Steel Ltd; Prof Saibal Chattopadhyay, Director-in-Charge, IIM Calcutta; and Dr V M S R Murthy, Director, IIEST Shibpur, at the Education East Summit. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
Dr Mamta Rani Agarwal, Additional Secretary at the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), former Adviser at AICTE and Joint Secretary at UGC, discussed the need for stronger industry-academia partnerships, while highlighting the growing importance of skillset based training in keeping with current and future job requirements, blending logical and creative thinking to enhance students' capabilities.
She referenced a recent McKinsey survey, which revealed that 85% of managers now prioritise skills over formal degrees for freelance roles. This shift underscores the rising value of practical skills in a rapidly evolving job market.
Bridging Industry and Academia
The British Deputy High Commissioner to Kolkata Andrew Alexander Fleming, spotlighted the growing appeal of the UK as an education destination for Indian students in his special address. He informed the audience that in 2021-22, over 126,500 Indian students enrolled in UK institutions, thereby making India the largest group of international students in the UK.
When The Telegraph Online Edugraph asked him about the UK’s support for NEP 2020’s interdisciplinary approach and global outreach, Fleming remarked, “The NEP offers significant potential to enhance education in India, and we’re committed to supporting that through the initiatives of the British Council.” He emphasised the role of international partnerships in enhancing educational quality and standards.
The British Deputy High Commissioner to Kolkata also expressed the UK’s interest in increasing student mobility to India, noting, “Very few UK students currently study in India, and we’re exploring ways to change that. The exposure that Indian students gain in the UK is invaluable, and a similar experience for UK students in India would benefit both nations given that India is of immense significance to us.”
Professor Saibal Chattopadhyay, Director-in-Charge of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, offered a thought-provoking perspective on the indispensable need for aligning higher education with future workforce demands. He observed that adapting to the unpredictable future demands flexibility and awareness of technological trends. “Our panel focused on future-readiness, especially as we look toward India in 2047. Staying informed about technological changes, such as large language models and tools like ChatGPT is essential,” he stated.
Highlighting IIM Calcutta’s Post Graduate Diploma in Business Analytics (PGDBA) programme, a two-year collaborative endeavour with the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI Kolkata) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, which incorporates six months of industry internships; Professor Chattopadhyay illustrated the success of the programme. This hands-on approach has seen high employability among students, with almost 99.9 % programme-takers securing jobs with the companies they spend time learning at.
Several key themes emerged from the summit, including the importance of democratising education and the need for industry-academia collaborations to meet the demands of an evolving workforce.
Madan Mohanka, Mentor of CII Eastern Region Education Subcommittee & Executive Chairman of Tega Industries Ltd, emphasised that while technical skills are crucial, human connections and understanding remain vital in shaping well-rounded educational experiences.
Sandeep Kumar, Chairman of CII West Bengal State Council & Managing Director of Tata Steel Downstream Products Ltd, discussed the demographic changes in India and reinforced the need for industry-academia collaborations to prepare students with the new skills required for this workforce transformation.
Day 2 Highlights
(L-R) Simarpreet Singh, Co-Chairman, CII ER Education & Skill Development Sub-Committee & Director, JIS Group; Pradip K Agarwal, CEO, Heritage Group of Institutions; Binod Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Dept of School Education, GoWB; Ujjal Chakraborti, Chairman, CII ER Education & Skill Development Sub-Committee & Executive-in-Charge, Tinplate Division, Tata Steel Ltd; Subhankar Chakraborty, CII Secretariate. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
The second day kicked off with a keynote address by Binod Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of School Education, government of West Bengal. Kumar reiterated the pillars of an effective education system – inclusivity, accessibility, and excellence.
He highlighted the state government’s substantial budgetary allocation for school education, and several other empowering social welfare schemes geared towards upliftment of the deprived sections of society, reflecting its commitment to improving educational infrastructure.
Kumar also emphasised the importance of mental health in education, stating that it is just as critical as academic success in today’s educational environment.
A Vision for the Future of Education
Professor Indrani Bhaduri, CEO & Head of Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH), NCERT, delivered an address on the future of education under NEP 2020. She discussed PARAKH's role in implementing a credit framework for holistic progress cards, offering a comprehensive evaluation of students' learning across different board exams. This initiative is part of a more nuanced approach to evaluating student development.
Additionally, Pradip K Agarwal, CEO of Heritage Group of Institutions, drew attention to the importance of achieving 100% gross enrollment rate at the secondary education level as a key milestone towards India’s development. He underlined that achieving this target is essential for India to attain developed nation status by 2047.
Prof (Dr) Indrani Bhaduri, CEO & Head, PARAKH, NCERT at a panel discussion. CII
In an insightful conversation with The Telegraph Online Edugraph, Simarpreet Singh, Co-Chairman of the CII Eastern Region Education & Skill Development Sub-Committee and Director of JIS Group, shared his thoughts on how industry and academia must collaborate to meet future challenges, especially given the theme of this year’s Education East Summit, Navigation for the Future – Preparing for What’s Next.
Singh observed, "CII’s broad industry base makes this conference unique, as it goes beyond just higher education to also focus on school education. The development of students begins at the school level, and how they are mentored early on significantly impacts their future trajectory. This is a key strength of this event.
The substantial industry participation is another highlight. In the West, universities thrive due to strong industry engagement, but in India, industry participation is still below 1%. For India to become a knowledge superpower, this needs to change. While the shift won’t be immediate, increased awareness of what institutions are doing will help industries understand the value in collaborating.”
The two day Education East Summit 2024 hosted by CII Eastern Region was a rich platform for engaging discussions, with a diverse range of sessions that brought together key stakeholders from both academia and industry.
Whether you're a student navigating your academic journey, a parent supporting your child's education, or an educator shaping future minds, if there’s something on your mind, we would love to know. Share your views, feedback, and suggestions with us at editorial@tt-edugraph.com.Join the conversation!
Last updated on 14 Nov 2024
