Rayat Bahra University HR Conclave 2026 Focuses on Industry-Academia Collaboration
Rayat Bahra University HR Conclave 2026 Focuses on Industry-Academia Collaboration
From classroom to boardroom: RBU HR Conclave focuses on industry-ready graduates
Chandigarh ,October 10
Rayat Bahra University organised HR Conclave 2026, bringing together leading human resource professionals, corporate executives, industry experts and academicians to deliberate on employability, emerging workplace trends and bridging the gap between academic learning and industry expectations.
Held under the leadership and guidance of Chancellor Gurvinder Singh Bahra, the conclave, themed “Education.exe to Corporate.exe — Installing the Reality Nobody Told You About,” focused on preparing students for the rapidly changing demands of the corporate world.
The conclave featured senior professionals from leading organisations, including Unmesh Pawar, Advisor and Angel Investor, Neev Ventures; Gunjan Ramchandani, Director, Leadership Transformation, KPMG; Kapil Gotam Kella, NCS Group; Smita Narkar, Infinite Uptime; Dr Dhruv Chopra, EXL Services; Amita Karadkhedkar, Mastercard; Parvez Siraj, Lupin; Mekhola Ganguly, Welspun; Sahil Nayar, KPMG; and Sushant Sharma, EY. Gurinder Singh Bahra, Vice-Chairman of the Rayat Bahra Group, and Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Vikram Singh Group vice president (placements) were also present at the conclave.
The programme commenced with high tea with the Chancellor, followed by a showcase of innovative engineering projects by university students
Addressing the gathering, Chancellor Gurvinder Singh Bahra emphasised the importance of strengthening industry-academia partnerships to ensure that higher education remains aligned with emerging professional requirements.
Unmesh Pawar delivered the keynote address, “The MBA Trapbook: 5 Mistakes, 5 Fixes & 5 Ways Back”, focusing on common career mistakes and practical ways for young professionals to navigate the corporate world.
A panel discussion, “Get Hired or Get Ghosted… What Actually Makes an MBA Employable?”, moderated by Gunjan Ramchandani, examined the skills and attributes employers seek in management graduates. Panellists Kapil Gotam Kella, Smita Narkar and Dr. Dhruv Chopra shared perspectives on recruitment trends, employer expectations and essential workplace skills.
A Corporate Boardroom Session featuring leaders from NatWest, Mastercard, Lupin and Welspun offered students first-hand insights into corporate expectations.
The session “Congratulations. You Are Hired.” further focused on workplace readiness and the transition from campus to corporate life.
A significant highlight was an interactive discussion on “Building a Future-Ready Workforce: Integrating AI into University Curricula to Bridge Academia and Industry.” The session brought together university leadership, deans, directors and industry delegates to explore ways of incorporating artificial intelligence and emerging technologies into academic programmes.
Chancellor Bahra reiterated the university’s commitment to fostering innovation, promoting experiential learning and building strong partnerships with leading corporate organisations.
The conclave concluded with an emphasis on sustained collaboration between academia and industry to enhance students’ employability and prepare them for future professional challenges.