Bridging the Gap Between Industry and Academia: Events and Initiatives in Focus
At Ashoka, the graduates are empowered with a vision and the practical skills to translate their aspirations into realities.
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The synergy between academia and industry is crucial for addressing contemporary challenges, driving progress, and ensuring that the new-age workforce is well-prepared for the demands and hustle of businesses. While industry can provide input on the skills and attributes they seek in graduates, it is academia that can tailor education to meet those very needs.
At Ashoka University, we undertake various initiatives to bridge knowledge gaps between academia and industries. Our events bring together students, HR professionals, business leaders, Ashoka founders, and faculty in dialogue with each other to shape the future of work.
On January 18, 2024, the office hosted a “Future of Work” conference in Bangalore titled “Bridging Tomorrow: Nurturing Talent, Shaping Futures” with the aim to reinvigorate discussions around inclusivity, flexibility and adaptability in a modern dynamic workplace. The first panel discussion revolved around the theme of recruitment and artificial intelligence—highlighting the possibilities and challenges of introducing technology into recruitment. Industry experts from top companies like Adobe, Flipkart, Titan Company Ltd, SAP Labs, HCCB, and Peak XV came together to share their thoughts on the future of hiring and the way graduates need to be prepared for changes in hiring patterns. The topic of AI in recruitment was particularly enthralling to our audience, who asked questions about human subjectivity in candidate selection. Many of our panellists shared their own dilemmas with technology in recruitment and the practices already in place.
The second panel discussion, “Beyond B-Schools: Hiring Liberal Arts and Sciences Graduates,” focused on sharing best practices for integrating people from diverse educational backgrounds into their dream teams. While the mindset to hire liberal arts graduates requires persistent efforts, many companies are experimenting with apprenticeships, hackathons, and various other initiatives to absorb people from diverse backgrounds. The panellists from Aditya Birla Group, Udaan, IBM, EY, LLP also discussed the challenges of not being able to hire generalists due to the specialised nature of some work outcomes and deliverables.
Both panels contributed to our understanding of the challenges faced by industries in hiring, as well as the expectations from academia in preparing students for careers that go beyond traditional checklists of who is the right fit or not. These discussions underscore the importance of continuous collaboration between academia and industry to create a workforce that is adaptable, mature, talented, skilled, and ready to look at the bigger picture.
Another example of our bridging gaps endeavour was the “Startup Collaborative,” held in April at the Ashoka campus. This event exemplified the power of bridging the academia-industry gap. Three esteemed startups – Aviotron Aerospace, Mensa Brands, and Pine Labs – joined us for a panel discussion on “Vision to Venture: Decoding Emerging Trends Shaping Startups.” The panellists shared their valuable insights on the startup world, their journeys, and the essential skills needed to thrive in this fast-paced environment. Fueled by active questioning and participation from students, the event wasn’t just about information sharing; it was about forging connections and nurturing a network that extends far beyond the event. The insights provided by potential recruiters served as guiding beacons for students on their career journeys.
Collaborations like these play a vital role in nurturing graduates and aspiring entrepreneurs. By bringing in industry experts, we provide students with knowledge and expose them to real-world scenarios that complement their academic foundation and equip them with essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication through academic programmes, career prep, and exposure to clubs and societies.
At Ashoka, we are dedicated to fostering a culture of lifelong learning and a robust network that connects our students with industry leaders and alumni. It’s not just about placements; it’s about sculpting the future of work. By acknowledging the unique value proposition of our graduates, we forge a pipeline of adaptable and innovative minds poised to lead in a dynamic world. We empower our students to become not just successful graduates but the architects of a thriving future.
