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Industry
leaders from IBM, Biocon, Canonical, Kraft Heinz India and JLL join NIPM
Karnataka and MIT-WPU to discuss AI-ready talent and future workforce needs.
Bengaluru:
As Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and rapid technological
advancements continue to reshape workplaces globally, industry leaders and
academicians at the Industry Academia Conclave 2026 organised by
MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU), Pune, in association with the National
Institute of Personnel Management (NIPM), Karnataka Chapter, called for
stronger collaboration between academia and industry to create future-ready
talent and bridge the growing employability gap.
Held
in Bengaluru under the theme “Bridging Ideas. Building Futures,”
the conclave brought together senior HR leaders, academicians, technology
experts, manufacturing professionals, and industry stakeholders to deliberate
on the future of work, AI-led disruption, changing workforce expectations, and
the need for continuous upskilling and reskilling. The event featured multiple
panel discussions, keynote sessions, and industry-academia interactions focused
on preparing students and professionals for rapidly evolving workplace demands.
The
event featured keynote addresses and panel discussions with industry leaders
including Mr. Thyagu Valliappa, Vice Chairman, Sona Valliappa Group; Prof.
Prasad D. Khandekar, Chief Academic Officer, MIT-WPU; Mr. Sanjay Mitra,
Chairman, NIPM Karnataka Chapter; and senior professionals from IBM,
Biocon, Canonical, Kraft Heinz India, JLL, and other leading organisations.
In
his keynote address, Mr. Thyagu Valliappa highlighted how
industry-integrated learning models are improving employability outcomes for
students. He stressed that educational institutions must evolve from simply
responding to industry trends to actively anticipating future technologies and
workforce requirements.
“The
future belongs to institutions that can teach tomorrow’s technologies today.
One-size-fits-all models will no longer work in education or skilling,” he
added.
The
discussions also focused on the shrinking shelf-life of skills in sectors such
as technology, electronics, semiconductor manufacturing, and advanced
manufacturing, where rapid innovation is continuously changing job roles and
skill requirements. Industry experts noted that organisations today are
increasingly looking for talent with practical exposure, interdisciplinary
capabilities, problem-solving ability, and adaptability alongside academic
qualifications.
Mr.
Sanjay Mitra, Chairman, NIPM Karnataka Chapter, said closer collaboration between HR
professionals and educational institutions is critical to ensure academic
curricula remain aligned with evolving industry expectations and workplace
realities.
Addressing
the conclave, Prof. Prasad D. Khandekar said educational institutions
are facing increasing pressure to redesign curricula and teaching methodologies
to keep pace with AI-led transformation across industries.
“Industry
expectations are changing faster than ever before. Universities today are not
just preparing students for current jobs, but for roles that may evolve
significantly over the next three to four years. This challenge can only be
solved when academia and industry work together continuously,” he said.
He
added that universities must focus not only on technical knowledge, but also on
mindset development, adaptability, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary
thinking to prepare students for the future workplace.
The
discussions concluded with a collective call for long-term industry-academia
partnerships, innovation-driven learning ecosystems, and collaborative skilling
initiatives that can help India build globally competitive, AI-ready talent for
the future economy.