Gurugram-based business school, Masters’ Union, recently held 3rd edition of its flagship event, Intersect, focused on addressing India’s skills gap and improving employability and it brought together global leaders, educators, and industry experts to engage in meaningful discussions on bridging the gap between academia and industry through a series of keynotes and various panels during the day-long event.
Notable speakers included Dr. Edward Rogers, former Chief Knowledge Officer at NASA, Dr. James Oldroyd, former Lecturer at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, Srivalsan Murugan, Principal & CEO of GEMS Education, Sharjah, UAE, and renowned journalist Barkha Dutt, who shared their views on the dynamic role of education in preparing a future-ready workforce.
A highlight of Intersect 3.0 was the panel discussion on “Global Best Practices in Bridging the Industry-Academia Divide.” This session featured prominent educators and industry experts, including Asna Nafees of DPS-Modern Indian School, Qatar, Srivalsan Murugan, Principal & CEO of GEMS Education, Sharjah, UAE, Dr. Manish Kr. Semwal from GMIS, Jakarta, Indonesia, and Ms. Seema Kaushik of GIIS, Singapore. Together, they discussed innovative approaches to aligning educational curricula with industry needs. The panellists shared their valuable insights on how different regions across the world are addressing the skills gap and equipping students for the rapidly evolving job market. They also spoke about how the industry-academia gap is real, and it is important to focus on employability rather than just employment.
Swati Ganeti, Director of Undergraduate Programme at Masters’ Union, speaking on Intersect 3.0 commented: “This event is not just a one-time dialogue but part of our ongoing commitment to bridging the gap between traditional education and the demands of the modern business landscape. By fostering collaboration between educators and industry leaders, we aim to prepare our students to become the innovators and leaders of tomorrow, equipped to navigate and shape the future of global business needs.”
Another significant panel at Intersect 3.0 focused on “Innovative Collaborations Between Academia and Industry.” The discussion highlighted successful university-industry partnerships across various sectors, with an emphasis on how these models can be adapted for the business domain. The panel included experts such as Dr. Edward Rogers, Chief Knowledge Officer at NASA and Professor at Masters’ Union, Dr. James Oldroyd, former Lecturer at Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management, Adarsh Khandelwal, Co-Founder of Collegify, and Kavitta B Bedi, Co-Founder & CEO of Head Start Mentorship. These pioneers shared their insights on the challenges and opportunities in fostering collaborations within domains like science, engineering, and beyond.
Dr. Edward Rogers, reflecting on global trends, remarked, “The collaboration between universities and industries in fields like science and engineering has set a benchmark. However, the business sector has yet to fully embrace this integration. Events like Intersect are crucial for initiating this much-needed dialogue.”
Senior journalist, Barkha Dutt’s fireside chat, which sparked lively discussions was another highlight. The enthusiasm carried through panels like ‘Global Best Practices in Bridging the Industry-Academia Divide’ and ‘Innovative Collaborations Between Academia and Industry.’ The student panel, ‘Why MU?’ by the UG class of 2027, was particularly praised for showcasing the effectiveness of Masters’ Union’s new-age educational approach.
