IUST Holds HR Conclave to Bridge Academia-Industry Gap

Srinagar, June 24: The Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora, on Wednesday organised the HR Conclave 2026, bringing together leading human resource professionals, industry experts, policymakers, academicians and students to deliberate on workforce readiness and emerging industry expectations. Organised by the Centre for Career Counselling and Placements (CCCP) in collaboration with Industry Connect under the aegis of the Dean Outreach, the conclave was themed “Youth, Skills and Employment: Bridging Academia and Industry for Sustainable Careers.” The inaugural session was chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof. Shakil A. Romshoo and attended by Dr. Subi Chaturvedi, Global Senior Vice President and Chief Public Policy & Corporate Affairs Officer at InMobi, and Harish Mahadevan, Vice President-HR, OneCell AI Inc., as guests of honour. In his keynote address, Prof. Romshoo underscored the crucial role of universities in preparing students for future opportunities through innovation, entrepreneurship and stronger industry engagement. He said educational institutions must nurture talent, promote innovation and build meaningful partnerships that transform education into opportunities and impact. Speaking on the transformative influence of technology on careers and economies, Dr. Chaturvedi highlighted the need to equip young people with relevant skills to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth. She said platforms such as the HR Conclave help strengthen industry-academia collaboration and prepare students for the rapidly evolving world of work. Harish Mahadevan shared insights into changing workplace dynamics and talent requirements in an increasingly technology-driven environment. He noted that future success would depend on a combination of technical expertise, adaptability, creativity and a commitment to lifelong learning. Addressing the gathering, Registrar Prof. Shameem A. Shah reiterated IUST’s commitment to enhancing student employability and professional excellence. He stressed that higher education institutions must focus not only on academic achievement but also on developing competencies that support career growth and employability. Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Sheikh Ajaz Bashir, emphasized the importance of aligning academic programmes with evolving industry demands. He observed that sustained industry engagement enables universities to remain responsive to emerging trends and equip students with future-ready skills. A major highlight of the conclave was two parallel panel discussions on “Industry Expectations and Workforce Readiness,” which featured senior representatives from leading national and regional organisations. The event witnessed participation from a wide spectrum of organisations representing sectors such as technology, telecommunications, healthcare, hospitality, finance, manufacturing and consulting. Among the participating organisations were InMobi Global, Rising Kashmir, OneCell AI Inc., TechArc, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII J&K), Kashmir Trade Forum (KTF), Reliance Jio, Kyber Group, Arco Group, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Taj Group of Hotels, FICCI FLO, Paras Hospitals, Ujala Cygnus Hospitals, The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa Gulmarg, Ernst & Young (EY), Apexure, BQE Software Pvt. Ltd., Kyber Industries Pvt. Ltd., Maxpro Exhibitions, iQuasar Software Solutions, J&K Bank Ltd. and SJT BioTech Innovations Pvt. Ltd. Earlier, Dean Outreach Dr. Ruheela Hassan, in her welcome address, highlighted the significance of stronger academia-industry linkages in preparing students for the changing employment landscape. The inaugural session was moderated by Dr. Taiba Sahaf and Dr. Hajra Manzoor of the School of Business Studies, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Prof. Parvaiz A. Mir, Dean, School of Business Studies. The conclave was coordinated by Dr. Zahoor A. Ganie, Head, CCCP, and Dr. Asif Naqashbandi, Coordinator, Industry Connect. The event concluded with an interactive networking session, enabling direct engagement between industry representatives, university leadership, faculty and students, and paving the way for future collaborations in training, internships, placements, research and industry partnerships.