3rd CII Education East Summit 2024: Bridging Education and Industry for Future Workforce – A Report

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) hosted the third edition of the Education East Summit in Kolkata on November 8 and 9, 2024. With the theme “Navigation for the Future – Preparing for What’s Next”, the summit served as a platform to bridge the gap between education and industry.

It brought together education leaders, university administrators, researchers, faculty members, and industry experts to address critical challenges in India’s education system and explore strategies to unlock its potential.

Highlights from the 3rd CII Education East Summit 2024

Inaugural Session: Key Focus on 21st-Century Skills

The inaugural session featured an esteemed panel of speakers, Mr. Simarpreet Singh, Co-Chairman, CII ER Education and Skill Development Sub-Committee and Director, JIS Group; Mr. Sandeep Kumar, Chairman, CII West Bengal State Council and MD, Tata Steel Downstream Products Ltd; Mr. Andrew Alexander Fleming, Deputy High Commissioner, British Deputy High Commission; Mr. Ujjal Chakraborti, Chairman, CII ER Education and Skill Development Sub-Committee and Executive-in-Charge, Tinplate Division, Tata Steel Ltd; Mr. Madan Mohanka, Mentor, CII ER Education Sub-Committee and Executive Chairman, Tega Industries Ltd.

The speakers shared insights on building 21st-century skills, emphasizing the integration of technology, public-private partnerships, and innovative approaches to workforce development:

• Mr. Ujjal Chakraborti: Stressed the importance of NEP 2020, multidisciplinary skill development, and PPP models for building India’s workforce in line with India@100 goals.
• Mr. Madan Mohanka: Highlighted the role of creativity and critical thinking in the AI era and encouraged nurturing curiosity for lifelong learning.
• Mr. Sandeep Kumar: Discussed the need for practical skills through internships, a learning mindset, and the potential for innovation in industry-academia collaboration.
• Mr. Andrew Alexander Fleming: Recognized NEP 2020 as a game-changer, promoting self-reliance, internationalization, and regional investments, especially in East and Northeast India.

The two-day summit featured a variety of sessions focused on critical themes shaping the education sector:

Session Highlights: Day 1

• Pioneering knowledge: This session emphasized the role of industry-driven research in addressing real-world challenges and driving innovation
• The skill connection: Role of academia in creating industry-ready talent. The session explored how academia can bridge the gap with industry by incorporating practical skill development, internships, and hands-on learning.
• Curriculum design in the age of generative AI: The session focused on transforming traditional curriculum to balance specialization with holistic education. Topics included leveraging AI, virtual reality, and data analytics to create adaptive, student-centered learning experiences that equip students for future careers.
• Automation in academic design: This session highlighted how AI and automation are revolutionizing education by enabling personalized learning and enhancing institutional efficiency.

Session Highlights: Day 2

• The PARAKH yatra: On the second day of the Education East Summit 2024, Prof. (Dr.) Indrani Bhaduri, CEO and Head of PARAKH, NCERT, emphasized the futuristic and progressive nature of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Prof. (Dr.) Indrani Bhaduri also highlighted the importance of educating and training India’s 430 million youth under the age of 25 to prepare them for their future. Aligning education boards’ practices for Viksit Bharat. This session examined the implementation of PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development), emphasizing its role in standardizing education practices across boards.
• Game on: Integrating sports into education for holistic development. Experts discussed the powerful impact of blending sports with academics to promote physical well-being and life skills like leadership, teamwork, and resilience.
• AI in education: This session explored the transformative potential of AI tools like ChatGPT in delivering personalized and interactive learning.
• InspirED with Dattatray Ware: Dattatray Ware, renowned for transforming ZP School Wablewadi into a global model of excellence, shared his inspirational journey.
• Roadmap for AI in schools: This session focused on integrating AI into school systems, showcasing its role in personalized learning and institutional efficiency.
• Global benchmarks: This session explored how adopting global benchmarks in teaching, curriculum design, and technology can elevate the learning experience.

We at National Skills Network – NSN were glad to have the opportunity to participate in this prestigious summit. Dr. Madhuri Dubey, Ph.D., Founder and Director, NSN, led the panel discussion on ‘The Skill Connection: Where Academia Fuels Industry-Ready Talent’, emphasizing the need for a transformative approach to education. Her insights focused on placing practical skills, adaptability, and seamless collaboration with industry at the heart of education to create a workforce equipped to tackle future challenges.

A holistic approach for the future

The CII Education East Summit underscored the pressing need for a comprehensive approach to align education with the demands of an evolving workforce. Building the skills of the future requires a deliberate focus on cultivating adaptability, critical thinking, and collaboration; core attributes essential for navigating the challenges of the 21st century. Developing these soft skills must go hand-in-hand with the integration of advanced technologies such as AI, generative AI, and automation into the curriculum. These tools are no longer optional but foundational for capacity building and preparing learners for innovation-driven industries.

Also read: CII Telangana and TDF – USA Conference on Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurial Opportunities – A Report

Strengthening industry-academia partnerships emerged as a central theme, emphasizing the importance of experiential learning and internships in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Collaboration with industry can pave the way for a more dynamic and future-ready education system that nurtures talent while addressing global and local workforce needs.

Additionally, the expectations of Gen Z – marked by their aspirations for purpose-driven careers and technologically enriched learning experiences and demand significant transformation in how education is designed and delivered. Institutions must strive to create ecosystems that not only meet these expectations but also empower the next generation to lead with resilience and confidence in a rapidly changing world.

Summits like these provide a vital platform to explore these dimensions, enabling stakeholders to co-create strategies that prepare India for an innovation-led future while achieving the larger vision of a self-reliant, knowledge-driven economy.