The L&T Academic Leadership Summit ’22 brought together industry experts, HR leaders and senior academicians onto one platform to discuss, deliberate and evolve strategies for creating industry-oriented learning approaches. It was held at the Convention Centre in L&T’s Manapakkam campus in Chennai on 12 May, 2022.
Inaugural Session
The inaugural session commenced with MF Febin, Head CollegeConnect, L&T EduTech and Sabyasachi Das, CEO, L&T EduTech welcoming the assembled guests and setting the mood for the riveting discussions that followed.
In the opening session, three of the nation’s leading educators, Professor Bhimaraya Metri, Director, IIM Nagpur, Dr Velraj R, Vice-Chancellor, Anna University and Professor Rajive Kumar, Member-Secretary, AICTE spoke about bridging the talent gap.
The Chief Guest of the Summit, Professor Rajive Kumar emphasised that the government and academic institutions have been trying to make education inclusive. If a student did not have the opportunity or resources to study a subject in school, they should be able to take a bridge course in that subject in college and earn a diploma. He went on to say that this vision seems more achievable with the help of the emerging edtech sector.
Professor Kumar exclaimed that he felt L&T EduTech was different from most edtech companies that only offer soft skills. With its superior strength in newer technologies and core engineering capabilities, L&T EduTech has created courses that would be very helpful to students, faculties and institutions across the country.
Recognition for Academic Institutions and MoU Signing
The Summit recognised and celebrated the great work done by the institutes. The L&T EduTech Excellence Recognition for Best Industry-Engaged State University went to Anna University and KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, received the L&T EduTech Excellence Recognition for Best Engaged Engineering College. An MoU was signed with UiPath, a global software company specialising in automation platforms.
Panel Discussion
There were two panel discussions. The first one saw panellists Dr Anand Gurupatham, Head Powertrain CAE, Renault Nissan, Dr Santhosh Annadurai, Head R&D, GE Renewables and S Kumar, Head HR, Godrej & Boyce and moderator Ram Kishore, VP HR, L&T Construction, discuss the “Evolving Opportunities in Engineering, Technology and Manufacturing”.
In the second discussion, panellists Senthil Nayagam, SVP, Hexaware, Balaji Kumar, CHRO, LTI and Satish Rajarathnam, SVP HR, Mphasis along with the moderator Manju Bharadwaj, CPO, Straive, deliberated on “Developing the Future of Work for IT/ITES Sector” in the second panel discussion.
Mission Empower 100
Bikram Keshori Nayak, Head Marketing, L&T EduTech, and Anbuthambi B, Head Strategy and Partnership, L&T EduTech, announced Mission Empower 100. L&T EduTech will empower 100 engineering institutions and work closely with them for three years focusing on institutional capability-building and enabling a fully industry-driven approach in the teaching and learning ecosystem.
The day drew to a close with a vote of thanks by Ravinder Saini, Head HR, L&T EduTech.