Nilesh Mitra, vice president of talent management at ITC Hotels, said that in the hospitality sector, success is defined by adaptability, empathy, and hands-on precision, qualities that can't be taught in theory alone.

Likewise, Mike Muralidharan, chairman, Ethiraj College for Women, and board director, Bahwan CyberTek Group, said that technology is evolving faster than curricula, and this pace will only accelerate. "But the real challenge isn't just upskilling; it's foreskilling: preparing students not for the jobs of today, but for challenges we haven't yet defined," he said, adding, "going forward, the CII Industry-Academia Connect will allow us to jointly shape a learning roadmap that is proactive and Industry-aligned."

Over 50 senior representatives from academia and industry reiterated the need to strengthen the connection between education and employment across the country, ensuring that academic output aligns with Industry demands and that workplaces benefit from a robust, future-ready workforce.

Speaking on the occasion, Sougata Roy Choudhury, CII's executive director, said, "Future-readiness is not just about digitising our classrooms or introducing new courses—it's about creating an ecosystem where industry and academia co-own the responsibility of shaping talent".