Tag: Bridging Horizons

TechPulse

Goa Concludes ‘Bridging Horizons’ with a Strong Push for Industry-Academia Collaboration

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Panaji, July 2025: The Valedictory Session of Bridging Horizons: A Confluence of Industry, Institute & Innovation, organised by ASSOCHAM Goa State Development Council in collaboration with the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), marked the culmination of a high-impact dialogue focused on shaping Goa’s innovation ecosystem.

The event brought together leaders from academia, corporate industry, startups, and government to identify tangible strategies for enhancing synergy between educational institutes and the industrial sector. With a clear focus on skill development, research translation, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship, the valedictory session captured actionable insights and commitments.

Key highlights included:

  • Strengthening industry-led curriculum and faculty development.
  • Enhancing student internship pipelines and collaborative R&D opportunities.
  • Leveraging state initiatives like Goa Start-up Policy and Goa Tech Vision 2030.
  • Enabling infrastructure support and regulatory ease for MSMEs and tech startups.

Speaking at the event, representatives from DITE&C reaffirmed the Government of Goa’s focus on positioning the state as a hub for innovation, powered by partnerships across stakeholders. “The future of Goa lies in building knowledge-driven collaborations,” said a senior official.

ASSOCHAM Goa leaders emphasized the importance of continuous dialogue between institutions and enterprises. “We’re proud to catalyse a platform where ideas can grow into impact. Today’s discussions set the tone for sustained innovation,” they noted.

The Bridging Horizons series, throughout its sessions, has become a meaningful platform for advancing the convergence of knowledge, skills, and enterprise in Goa. As it draws to a close, it leaves behind a renewed momentum for industry-academia-government partnerships—paving the way for a smarter, more connected Goa.

Events in Goa

ASSOCHAM Goa’s ‘Bridging Horizons’ Explores the Future of Industry and Academia in collaboration with DITE&C

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Quepem, February 28 2025: The fourth edition of Bridging Horizons: Confluence of Industry, Institute & Innovation, organized by ASSOCHAM Goa State Development Council, in collaboration with the Department of IT, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, was held at the Government College of Arts, Science, and Commerce, Quepem. The event focused on the evolving relationship between education and industry, highlighting the need for skill-based learning, industry-academia collaboration, and workforce readiness.

The Department of IT, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, has been actively working to align talent with industry needs through skilling, reskilling, and upskilling initiatives. Efforts such as industry-academia meetings, venture capital events, and corporate partnerships are creating new opportunities for professionals and businesses, strengthening Goa’s position in the evolving job market. Bridging Horizons: Confluence of Industry, Institute & Innovation added to this momentum by facilitating discussions on skill development and industry collaboration, further emphasizing the need for a strong industry-academia connection.

The program featured a keynote presentation by Dr. Vijay Borges, Project Director, PMU CARES, Directorate of Technical Education, Government of Goa, on Skill-Based Education – Towards the Future of Work, emphasizing the need for skill-based education that aligns with industry demands. He highlighted the importance of Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) such as computational thinking, creativity, collaboration, and ethical awareness in preparing students for the workforce. He addressed foundational learning gaps and noted their long-term impact on academic progress and employability. He also discussed challenges like underemployment, demographic shifts, and the growing influence of automation, stressing the need for continuous upskilling and stronger industry-academia collaboration to bridge the skills gap.

A panel discussion on The Future of Industry and Academia brought together industry leaders to discuss Goa’s potential as an IT hub, sectors expected to expand, and the role of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in shaping education and employment. The discussion included perspectives from Shri. Mangirish Salelkar, Chairman, IT & ITeS Committee, ASSOCHAM Goa & CEO, Umang Group; Shri. Sudip Faldessai, Project Officer, Goa State Innovation Council, Government of Goa; Shri. Mohsin Shaikh, Founder Director, Haztech; Shri. Mahendra Tiwari, CEO, EthernetXpress India Pvt. Ltd.; Shri Bhavit Naik, Co-founder & CEO, Technorix; and Shri. Raghu Shetye, Director, DNA Goa Broadband. The panelists explored how industry-academia collaboration can help bridge skill gaps and create opportunities for economic development.

The discussions at Bridging Horizons highlighted the need for collaboration between academia and industry to align education with workforce requirements. The Department of IT, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, continues to support this effort by advancing skill development and promoting innovation.