"Collaborative programs, internships and industry-led research projects are crucial for creating a job-ready graduate who can contribute to a rapidly evolving economy. We are in the process of establishing research parks at major state universities where Academy and industry can work hand in hand on real world projects," said K.Gopal, Additional Chief Secretary of Higher Education Department - Govt of Tamil Nadu at the inaugural edition of CII's Edu-Tech Expo in Coimbatore on Friday. 

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) launched the 1st edition CII Edu-Tech Expo and also organized the 8th Edition of National Higher Education Conclave and CII AI Connect event at CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex on Friday.

K.Gopal, Additional Chief Secretary of Higher Education Department - Govt of Tamil Nadu participated as the Chief Guest and delivered the inaugural address and released a report on Emerging Technology Trends in Higher Education (prepared by KPMG).

S.Malarvizhi, Chairperson & Managing Trustee, Sri Krishna Institutions received the first copy of this insightful report.

Earlier, R.Nandini, Chairperson, CII Southern Region; K.Senthil Ganesh, Immediate Past Chairman, CII Coimbatore; Rajesh Varrier, CMD, Cognizant India; Shankar Vanavarayar, Past Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu; Narayanan Ramaswamy, Partner, KPMG and G.Radhakrishnan, Chairman, CII Coimbatore addressed the gathering. 

In his inaugural address, K.Gopal, Additional Chief Secretary of Higher Education Department - Govt of Tamil Nadu expressed that the Government of Tamilnadu is committed to make the State a leader in integrating technology with education. Through the use of Technology, he said that the government aims to create a seamless bridge between education sector and industry to ensure that our youth are ready to meet the demands of the future workforce. 

"We are now taking the next step by focusing on improving learning outcomes and integrating technology in a way that enhances the educational experience. As a part of our vision we are calling to implement outcome based education in a more robust and meaningful way," he said.

By combining technology with education, the government is aimimg to ensure that students are well versed in academic knowledge and equipped with the skills that employers and industries and partners are seeking. One of TN Govt's flagship schemes 'Naan Mudhalvan' is another step in this direction, the Addl.Secretary expressed.

With the advent of industry 4.0, Tamil Nadu's young learners need to be adept in fields like artificial intelligence, data science, robotics cloud computing while they should also master essential soft skills; and in this regard Tamil Nadu Higher Education Department has rolled out skill enhancement initiatives, where it partners with technical leaders to offer specialised courses and certifications.

He added that the Higher Education Department is deeply committed to the reimagine our educational ecosystem but the journey towards an inclusive, innovative and impactful education system requires the combined efforts of every stake holder. He thanked CII for partnering with the government in this venture.