CII Chandigarh Summit: Bridging the Gap Between Schools and Industry
The CII Chandigarh Education Summit 2026 focused on linking school education with industry needs to build a future-ready workforce for Viksit Bharat.
The CII Chandigarh Education Summit 2026 has brought together key policymakers, academic leaders, and industry giants to address a critical challenge: transforming the education system from a degree-focused model to one centered on talent, skill acquisition, and real-world opportunities.
Addressing the summit, Mahipal Dhanda, the Cabinet Minister for School & Higher Education in Haryana, emphasized that the ultimate goal of education must be to equip India's youth with the capabilities necessary to contribute to a Viksit Bharat. He called for a massive collaborative effort between schools, universities, and the industrial sector to ensure students are prepared for the complexities of the future workforce.
Building a Knowledge Hub in Greater Chandigarh
The summit highlighted the immense potential of the Greater Chandigarh region to evolve into a premier global education and knowledge hub. Reekrit Serai, Chairman of the CII Chandigarh Education Summit 2026 and Managing Director of the Satluj Group of Schools, noted that the decisions made in classrooms and institutions today are what define the world children will inhabit tomorrow.
Serai specifically pointed toward Panchkula, suggesting it has the potential to become a major destination for higher education, capable of attracting top-tier Indian and international universities, including those from the United Kingdom.
Supporting this vision, Alba Smeriglio, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Chandigarh, remarked on the importance of international partnerships, stating that the UK is proud to be a long-term partner in this educational journey to equip young people with creativity and adaptability.
The Role of Technology and Artificial Intelligence
As the landscape of learning shifts, the summit also delved into how digital transformation is reshaping the classroom. Vivek Verma, Chairman of CII Chandigarh UT and Managing Director of Spray Engineering Devices Ltd, discussed the profound impact of Artificial Intelligence and digital tools on the ecosystem.
While acknowledging that technology can facilitate personalized learning and better access to information, Verma issued a vital caveat: "Technology can enable personalised learning... but it must remain an enabler and not a replacement for the human element of education."
Key Focus Areas for a Future-Ready Ecosystem
The dialogue at the summit centered on several strategic pillars designed to align education with the evolving needs of the global workforce:
- School-to-Industry Connection: Strengthening the link between early schooling and eventual professional skills.
- Experiential Learning: Moving beyond rote memorization toward vocational and hands-on training.
- Teacher Development: Enhancing the capabilities of educators to meet modern standards.
- Technology Integration: Using emerging tools to improve teaching and assessment methods.
- Industry Exposure: Providing young learners with early insights into real-world professional environments.
The summit concluded with a reaffirmed commitment from CII Chandigarh to lead industry-driven engagement, ensuring that the education system remains inclusive, skills-oriented, and capable of nurturing the intellectual and social capabilities of the next generation.