Bhopal: In a bid to align and bridge the gaps between educational inclinations with industry practices, the Institute for Excellence in Higher Education (IEHE), Bhopal, hosted 'Academia-Industry Research Interface 2.0' on Wednesday. The director, Dr. Pragyesh Kumar Agrawal, and vocational cell convener, Dr Ruchira Choudhary, welcomed guests with mementos.
Dr Choudhary noted the increase in industry expert participation from 40 to 60 compared to previous years. She highlighted the importance of aligning academic programmes with industry requirements, as specified in NEP 2020. The event featured experts from eight sectors: Agriculture & Allied, Commerce & Banking, Education & Literature, Healthcare, Pharma & Chemical, Textile & Manufacturing, Food & Beverages, IT, Electronics & Sustainable Energy, and Real Estate & Steel Industry.
The programme aimed to provide students with practical insights from successful entrepreneurs. Dr Agrawal discussed the importance of research, education, and

industry collaboration

, sharing his experience at a private nuclear reactor to illustrate the significance of industry-based skill development.
Avi Maheshwari, Chief Management Officer of Sagar Group of Institute, encouraged students to establish clear career objectives. Aruna Mohan Rao, former IPS officer, emphasised preparing students for competitive examinations. Dr. Rajeev Agrawal from CND Ananya Package Pvt. Ltd. stressed the need for practical research applications.

The institute's newsletter was unveiled during the session. In technical sessions, students engaged with industry experts across various domains. Parth Sarathe discussed agricultural business aspects with Pulkit Saxena of Bhumi Agro Industries. ICICI Bank's Zonal Manager highlighted employment opportunities in banking.
In the education sector, fashion designer Mr. Mumtaz Khan discussed professional skills. Dr. Medhavi Chourey emphasised positive mindset development. Haya Khan sought guidance on UPSC preparation from Aruna Mohan Rao, who advised strategic study approaches.
Dr Mohammad Zakaria from New Life Pharmaceuticals established an MoU with IEHE. MSME representatives Mr. Vipin Jain and Nilesh Trivedi provided information about entrepreneurship schemes and opportunities.
The sessions concluded with industry experts evaluating students through various assessments, resulting in internship offers for outstanding participants.