The InSync Industry-Institution Connect Program, organized by InUnity – Innovation for Community in collaboration with the Global HR Community (GHRC), Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), and Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), with Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management as the sponsor, was a resounding success.
With 40+ institutions and 30+ corporates participating, the event became a vibrant platform for industry leaders, academia, and policymakers to collaborate on bridging the skill gap and enhancing institutional readiness. Delegates from across Chennai, Hyderabad, Mysore, Mangalore, and even Korea reinforced the global relevance of this initiative.
Key Highlights
💡 Expert-Led Discussions
The event featured distinguished speakers, including:
Sreekanth Arimanithaya, CHRO & Entrepreneur in Residence, Machani Group
Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, CEO, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM)
Senthil Indiran, VP-SCM, Oracle Consulting
Prakrithi Shetty, Director & CHRO, TE Connectivity India
Vijay Yellapragada, Director Americas – AI & Data Science, EY GDS
Dr. Putturaj, Ex-VC, Mandya University, Academic Director, SJBIT
Johnson Tellis, CEO, Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management & InUnity
Their insights shed light on bridging the gap between academia and industry, employability challenges, and the role of digital transformation in shaping the future workforce.
💬 Panel Discussion
Moderated with thought-provoking questions, the panel addressed:
✔ Outcome-Based Education vs. Market Needs – Aligning academic curriculums with industry expectations.
✔ Bridging the Skills Gap – Institutions vs. industry: Who takes responsibility?
✔ The Role of Industry-Academia Collaboration – Driving India’s aspirations forward.
Key Takeaways
✅ Employability over Placements: Universities must shift focus from just securing jobs to equipping students with the skills and mindset for long-term success.
✅ Beyond IT & Engineering: Opportunities span across BFSI, Manufacturing, FMCG, Pharma, and other industries, not just technology.
✅ 10x Mindset for Growth: A slow 10-15% improvement isn’t enough—institutions must aim for exponential innovation and transformation.
✅ Regional Talent Utilization: With companies expanding into Tier 2 & 3 cities, students should be prepared for remote and hybrid work models to leverage local opportunities.
✅ Real-World Learning: Hackathons, live projects, and hands-on case studies must be embedded into curriculums to enhance learning outcomes.
✅ Digital Skills & Storytelling: The industry values problem-solving, creativity, and articulation as much as technical expertise.
✅ Industry-Academia Integration: The future lies in setting up innovation labs, co-creating solutions, and leveraging government initiatives like KDEM to build digital-ready talent.
The Role of InUnity in Industry-Academia Collaboration
At InUnity, we believe in moving beyond traditional interactions—it’s not just about “Industry-Institution Connect” but Institutions in Industry. Through our innovation ecosystem, we:
🚀 Enable Real-World Exposure – Providing students with live industry projects, internships, and startup incubation opportunities.
🤝 Build Strong Networks – Creating a dynamic ecosystem where academia, industry, and policy leaders co-create solutions.
📈 Drive Digital & Entrepreneurial Transformation – Empowering students and institutions to stay ahead of market disruptions.
What’s Next? Expanding InSync Across India!
The overwhelming response and impact of InSync have motivated us to scale this initiative to multiple cities across India.
🌍 Institutions, industries, and policy leaders—join us as we shape the future of employability, innovation, and academia-industry synergy.
A huge thank you to our speakers, sponsors, and attendees for making this event a milestone in the journey towards a future-ready workforce.
🔗 Follow InUnity for updates on our next initiatives!
#InSync2025 #IndustryInstitutionConnect #FutureWorkforce #DigitalSkills #Employability #AcademiaMeetsIndustry #InnovationEcosystem #InUnity #BridgingTheSkillGap
