INSTITUTIONALISING THE INDUSTRY-ACADEMIA INTERFACE

There is a lack of sufficient interaction and regular interface with industry, hindering the ability of engineering institutes to understand and incorporate emerging trends into their course curriculum

- S.Y. Siddiqui

THE industry-academia interface has been a much discussed and deliberated subject over the past two decades or so but the gap between industry expectations and the students coming out of professional education continues to exist. As a result, the industry is required to spend time, energy and resources on further training the fresh entry-level engineering professionals - diploma engineers and graduate engineers - to make them ready for industry roles and responsibilities.

Presently, when we analyse the external business environment being faced by the corporates, one critical challenge stands out - need for continuous change, transformation and adaptability. Today, people wellbeing including mental wellbeing has become a top leadership priority. Also, we need to factor-in the emerging digital era and its direct impact on business framework and people processes with potential of speed, reach, efficiency, transparency and measurement. Future of work, jobs of tomorrow and emerging new skill sets are challenging the traditional order and the emphasis is on de-learning, reskilling, and upskilling. We cannot afford to ignore the global business connect and consequent volatility, turbulence and intense competition. Moreover, we need to focus on environment concerns - green energy, carbon credit, long-term plans.

Some major global trends especially post Covid (2021 onwards) are as follows: