CII Skills Summit 2025

CHIEF GUEST – Dr. Sharanaprakash Rudrappa Patil, Minister of Skill Development, Government of Karnataka.

Dr. Sharanaprakash Patil highlighted the industry's need for skilled candidates, suggesting collaboration between industries and educational institutions to bridge the skill gap. (Industries are ready to provide jobs but skill is not available)

Panel 1: Skilling for Viksit Bharat

Dr. Ramana Reddy, IAS (R), Chairman, Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA), Government of Karnataka played a key role in policy innovation and promoting Karnataka as a global tech hub for AI growth but still unemployment prevails in large scale due to lack of skill.

Mr. Soma Rajeswaran, Associate Vice President, Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation, Government of Tamil Nadu, NANMUTHALVAN focuses on outcomes-driven programs, ensuring that students gain practical skills. Notably, they have achieved over 1 lakh placements in Tamil Nadu. The organization provides training and coaching to students, including initiatives like "Vetrinichiyam Umbrella" with programs such as "Kalluri Kanavu" and a curriculum aligned with GER standards for boys, under the guidance of Na Muthuval.

Mr. Shrikant Sinha, CEO, Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge, spoke about engaging about 10.5 lakh people and faculty members in skill development programs.

Panel 2: Evolution of Technology – Driving Growth Through Skills in the Age of AI

Ms. Jyothi Pradhan, Managing Director, Kanara Consumers Pvt Ltd, discussed bridging the gap at industry, departmental, and overall levels.

Mr. Sabesan Sargunesan, Vice President – Finance and Corporate, emphasized the need for a structured approach toward AI. He highlighted HR perspectives on freelancing, digital education, and technology improvement.

Ms. Radhika Nair, Head People & Culture, Volvo Group India, talked about the industry point of view and talent evaluation, encouraging professionals to learn skills in depth to create new dimensions.

Panel 3: Fostering Collaboration Between Industry and Academia

Mr. Thyagu Valliappa, CEO, Valliappa Software Tech Park (VSTP), shared the initiative to minimize paper use. By 2029, most engineering colleges are expected to significantly reduce paper usage through fully digitalized examination systems, bridging theoretical research and practical application.

Dr. Ray Titus, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Incubation and Innovation) & Dean, Alliance University, stated that fostering collaboration between industry and academia is a strategic necessity for national competitiveness and knowledge-driven growth. Structured and sustainable partnerships benefit students, researchers, industries, and the economy as a whole.

Mr. H. S. Raghuprasad, Senior Manager Learning & Development India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, emphasized the systematic process of creating cooperative relationships between educational institutions and business organizations for mutual benefit.

Key Learnings

• Lifelong learning and adaptability are essential for students, supported by collaborations and job platforms that encourage continuous skill development.
• Social innovation and entrepreneurship are driven by mindset programs that foster both creativity and practical skills for employability.
• Industry partnerships and digital education initiatives (like those at Mahindra India or Volvo India) are crucial for structured skill improvements and technology adoption.
• Retention, upskilling, and cross-departmental learning remain major concerns in the industry to bridge skill gaps and improve workforce outcomes.
• Large-scale government programs and panel discussions highlight the scale of skill development efforts, with targeted training, recognition of both internal/external talent, and emphasis on employability outcomes as core objectives.