PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
UPES, in collaboration with the Government of Uttarakhand, concluded Shiksha Samvad, a two-day conclave on higher education that commenced on October 8. Themed ‘Reimagining Higher Education for Viksit Bharat and Sammridh Uttarakhand’, the initiative brought together government leaders, academicians, industry representatives, international diplomats, non-governmental organisations and education experts to deliberate on the future of higher education.
Notably, the conclave was inaugurated in the presence of the chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami; minister of Higher Education, Dhan Singh Rawat and secretary, department of Higher Education, Government of Uttarakhand, Ranjit Sinha along with senior representatives from the Union Ministry of Education, foreign missions and industry.
Over two days, participants engaged in discussions on governance reforms, implementation of the National Education Policy 2020, employability, industry readiness, innovation and research. Sessions examined challenges such as infrastructure gaps, terrain constraints, faculty development and the need for cross-disciplinary collaborations while also identifying opportunities to strengthen digital capacity, foster international partnerships and integrate traditional Indian knowledge systems into modern curricula.
Speaking at the event, the vice- chancellor, UPES, Ram Sharma said, “We need deep engagement with the industry, to define real problem statements, support joint research, set up labs and mentor students. Universities need to prepare graduates who are both industry-ready today and adaptable for the future transformations.“
The event concluded with a roadmap that emphasised innovation, employability and sustainability as the cornerstones of a resilient, future-ready higher education ecosystem.
