“Education and Industry Must Collaborate to Equip Youth for the Global Stage”: Guv

Bengaluru Express
Bengaluru, June 29: Emphasizing the need to bridge the gap between education and employment, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot called for a robust collaboration between academia and industry to prepare India’s youth for global opportunities.

He was speaking at Pankh-2025: Building Bharat with Industry-Academia Collaboration (Bengaluru Edition), organized by the Bansal & LNCT Group. “Education and industry are two strong pillars—one nurtures knowledge, values, and skills, while the other drives productivity, innovation, and economic growth. When these two align, education becomes more practical and the industry gains a skilled workforce,” he said.

Mr Governor highlighted the changing landscape of the global workforce, noting the growing significance of creativity, digital fluency, critical thinking, remote work models, artificial intelligence, data science, and sustainable development. He stressed the importance of human values such as ethics, time management, multilingual communication, and entrepreneurship in today’s professional world.

Addressing the issue of rising unemployment among degree holders, he attributed it to the persistent “skill gap” between academic learning and industry needs. “To address this, we must embed practical elements in education—internships, live case studies, project-based learning, and closer industry-academia interaction,” he urged.

He further recommended that educational institutions establish formal partnerships with industries to offer real-time exposure to students, while also advocating for faculty development through exchange programs and industrial training. The Governor proposed the creation of joint courses, common laboratories, and skill parks focusing on emerging sectors such as AI, robotics, IoT, cybersecurity, green tech, and health tech.

Mr Gehlot appreciated government initiatives like the Skill India Mission, PMKVY, and Future Skills Centres, and lauded the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for fostering skill development, internships, and flexible learning pathways. He cited successful collaboration models such as Centres of Excellence at IITs, industry projects at Delhi University, and live internships at IIITs as benchmarks for broader adoption.

Referring to global practices, he said, “India can benefit by adopting dual degree systems and work-integrated learning models from countries like Germany, Singapore, and South Korea.”

Commending the efforts of Bansal and LNCT Group, he said, “Their vision goes beyond academics—they are creating strong linkages with industries, ensuring students receive not just quality education but meaningful employment opportunities as well. Initiatives like campus drives, guest lectures, and skill-building activities are helping students understand real industry demands.”

Concluding his address, the Governor described Pankh as more than just a program—“It is a movement to give wings to students and a solid foundation for India’s journey towards self-reliance.”

The event was attended by several dignitaries including Parth Bansal and Dr. Anupam Choukse, along with leading figures from industry and academia.