Career Compass Conclave in Chandigarh Calls for a Student-Centric and Globally Aligned Career Guidance Ecosystem

The conclave was presented by Testler, an educational consultancy, along with Tutela, a test preparation specialist, and TRINITi. The event brought together school principals, education leaders, career counsellors, and industry experts to deliberate on how students can be equipped to navigate a rapidly evolving future shaped by Artificial Intelligence, international education pathways, and emerging career opportunities.

The event featured a series of insightful panel discussions that examined how educational institutions can foster career clarity beyond academic scores and how skill development must take precedence over conventional resume-building. The conclave witnessed the participation of pioneers from several distinguished educational institutions in Chandigarh.

One of the major highlights of the event was an engaging fireside chat with Manish Pandey, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BeerBiceps Media. During the discussion, he shared valuable perspectives on the mindset of young people, the rise of digital careers, and the critical role of self-awareness in making informed career decisions in the modern world.

The conclave was further elevated by the presence of Rajesh Kumar Gupta, Regional Officer of the Central Board of Secondary Education, Chandigarh. His participation underscored the growing importance of collaboration among schools, institutions, and the broader education ecosystem to provide structured and effective career guidance to students.

Addressing the gathering, Ankur Malhotra, Founder Director of TRINITi, said that Career Compass was not merely an event but the beginning of an essential dialogue. He noted that while students today are surrounded by numerous opportunities, many continue to lack direction. He emphasized that the objective of the conclave was to bridge this gap by uniting schools, counsellors, and industry experts on a common platform to ensure that career clarity becomes an integral part of mainstream education.

Nagina Bains, Director of Testler, stated that the most pressing challenge facing students is not a shortage of opportunities but a lack of personalised guidance. She said that every student possesses unique potential and that career counselling should be treated as a structured roadmap rather than a last-minute decision. According to her, Career Compass is an important step toward making that roadmap accessible, practical, and aligned with global standards.

Srinjay Ray, Director and Partner at Tutela, said that the future belongs to students who are not only academically strong but also strategically prepared. He observed that international admissions and test readiness are evolving rapidly and that students require mentorship that is highly personalised, data-driven, and focused on skill development. He added that platforms such as Career Compass help schools and students understand what global readiness truly entails in the current environment.

Renowned educationist Renu Puri stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between technological advancement and human values. She remarked that although Artificial Intelligence has made information more accessible than ever, qualities such as empathy, individuality, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness remain indispensable to holistic development.

Major General TPS Waraich reflected on the changing dynamics of parenting and education. He observed that emotional support systems available to children have weakened over time and called for renewed attention to these aspects both within families and educational institutions.

Also present at the conclave were Gulshan Kaur, Anju Mehta, Naomi Atkins, and Sourav Roy, who joined the distinguished panel of educators and experts committed to shaping the future of student guidance and development.

The conclave concluded with a collective call for stronger collaboration among schools, counsellors, institutions, and industry stakeholders to create a more student-centric, skill-oriented, and future-ready career guidance ecosystem in India. The event marked an important step in redefining how students are guided toward meaningful and globally competitive careers in an increasingly complex world.