Need to foster strong, symbiotic relationship between industry and academia in tier 2,3 institutions: Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Govt of Maharashtra

Jun 05, 2024

Imperative to move away from traditional teaching methods to fostering critical thinking, global citizenship skills in students: Chief Secretary, Govt of Maharashtra

 

MUMBAI, 05 June 2024: Mr Chandrakant Patil, Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Government of Maharashtra, today said that as we navigate the challenges and opportunities of the future, it is imperative that we foster a strong and symbiotic relationship between industry and academia. He emphasized the importance of revising curriculums and making it industry relevant. Mr Patil proposed incorporating micro credentials that would ensure graduates possess the skills most relevant to current industry needs and strengthen the link between educational institutions and the workforce.

Addressing the ‘3^rd FICCI Industry Academia Conference 2024’, Mr Patil highlighted the need to actively engage industry with institutions and facilitate knowledge sharing with faculty, curriculum development and work-related learning apprentices for students. The minister said that the efforts to promote industry academia engagement should be focused on tier two and tier three institutions.

Dr Nitin Kareer, Chief Secretary of the Government of Maharashtra, advocated for a significant shift in teacher training. He stressed the need for faculty members to be equipped to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Dr Kareer said that this necessitates moving away from the traditional teaching methods to fostering critical thinking and global citizenship skills in students. These skills would empower them to become responsible agents of change in a rapidly changing world.

Mr Mike Hankey, U.S. Consul General, Mumbai, proposed a collaborative strategy where universities equip students with industry-specific skills alongside theoretical education. This, coupled with strong intellectual property protection, could position India as a leader in developing innovative solutions for global challenges like clean energy and resilient supply chains.

Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, Chair, FICCI Higher Education Committee & Pro-Chancellor, Symbiosis International University, advocated the need to create faculty induction programs, incorporating live industry examples in classrooms, board-level industry representation, and effective internship and apprenticeship opportunities. “These efforts would ensure graduates from all institutions are well-equipped for success in the workforce,” Dr Yeravdekar added.

Dr Rajan Saxena, Advisor FICCI Higher Education Committee & Former Vice-Chancellor, NMIMS, underscored the critical need for industry-academia collaboration, as envisioned in the National Education Policy (NEP). He highlighted FICCI's role in facilitating dialogues to understand industry needs and guide curriculum design, research initiatives, and multidisciplinary problem-solving for India's economic future. Dr. Saxena emphasized the need for project-based learning to develop graduates with the skills necessary for a thriving Indian economy.

Mr Samir Somaiya, Co-Chair, FICCI Higher Education Committee & President, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, in his concluding remarks highlighted that FICCI would work with Maharashtra State Government in promoting a robust industry-academia ecosystem.

The conference brought together over 250 leaders from industry, academia, and government.

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