CII Continues Multi-City Industry–Academia Connect 2025 in Chennai, Picks Up Dialogue on Future-Readiness of the Education Ecosystem
Chennai:
Following a high impact run in Delhi, Agra, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in collaboration with ITC Hotels and EHL (École hôtelière de Lausanne), hosted its Industry–Academia Connect 2025 initiative at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai, on 12th June. The Chennai edition of the initiative drew strong participation from academicians, institutional heads, and sectoral experts. The engagement featured thought-provoking exchanges, actionable insights, and a strong emphasis on harmonizing curriculum frameworks with dynamic industry demands.
Aimed at strengthening the ties between India’s educational institutions and the evolving industry ecosystem, the initiative is designed to align educators and industry leaders to foster stronger collaboration between industry and academia.
Over 50 senior representatives from the 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.
The session was headlined by Mr. Sougata Roy Choudhury, Executive Director, Skills, AA, IR Confederation of Indian Industry; Mr. Nilesh Mitra, Vice President, Talent Management, ITC Hotels Limited; Mr. Anish Dhiman, Programme Head, CII Institute of Hospitality; Mr. Mike Muralidharan, Chairman, Ethiraj College for Women, Board Director, Bahwan CyberTek Group; Mr. Kewyn George, Centre Head & Director, Expeditors International; and Mr. R V Chari, Managing Director, GH Induction India Private Limited.
Mr Nilesh Mitra, Vice President Talent Management, ITC Hotels said, “In the hospitality sector, success is defined by adaptability, empathy, and hands-on precision, qualities that can’t be taught in theory alone. Initiatives like the VET by EHL programme, delivered by ITC Hotels with CII, brings industry knowledge to students and that’s where transformation truly begins.”
Mr Mike Muralidharan, Chairman, Ethiraj College for Women, Board Director, Bahwan CyberTek Group, said, “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. Going forward, the CII Industry-Academia Connect will allow us to jointly shape a learning roadmap that is proactive and Industry-aligned.”
Mr Sougata Roy Choudhury, Executive Director, CII said, “Future-readiness isn’t just about digitizing our classrooms or introducing new courses—it’s about creating an ecosystem where industry and academia co-own the responsibility of shaping talent. At CII, we see immense value in aligning skills with opportunity, and this platform is where that alignment becomes actionable.”
The CII Industry-Academia Connect 2025 follows the resounding success of the 18-month VET by EHL Swiss Professional Diploma Program, delivered in 10 ITC Hotels across India. Through this programme, over 800 students have been trained to achieve 100% placement with prominent hospitality brands—demonstrating the strength of industry-led vocational education in India.
