Dhanda said India’s youth must be equipped with the skills and capabilities needed to contribute meaningfully to the vision of a Viksit Bharat. He invited education and industry leaders to share their ideas and work alongside the government to strengthen the education ecosystem and prepare young people for emerging opportunities.
Emphasising the role of international collaboration in shaping future-ready education, Alba Smeriglio, British Deputy High Commissioner, Chandigarh, said, “The future is something we build together. The Greater Chandigarh region has all the ingredients to become a model for connecting education, skills and industry. By bringing government, academia and businesses together, we can equip young people with the skills, creativity and adaptability needed for tomorrow. The UK is proud to be a long-term partner in this journey.”
Reekrit Serai, Chairman of the CII Chandigarh Education Summit 2026 and Managing Director of Satluj Group of Schools, stressed that decisions taken today would shape the opportunities available to future generations.
“The future is not something our children will one day enter. It is something we are building for them—in our classrooms, our institutions and in the decisions we make today,” Serai said.
Highlighting the Greater Chandigarh region’s potential to emerge as an education and knowledge hub, Serai said Panchkula could develop into a higher-education destination attracting leading Indian and international universities, including British institutions.
“Greater Chandigarh has the ingredients to emerge as a major education and knowledge hub. Panchkula, in particular, has the potential to become a higher-education destination, attracting leading Indian and international universities, including British institutions. Education must ultimately prepare young people not simply for the jobs of today, but to think, adapt, create and lead in the world of tomorrow,” he added.
Vivek Verma, Chairman of CII Chandigarh UT and Managing Director of Spray Engineering Devices Ltd, highlighted the growing influence of technology on education and the need to balance innovation with human interaction.
“The education ecosystem is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by Artificial Intelligence, digital technologies and changing industry requirements. Technology can enable personalised learning, improve access and create new approaches to teaching and assessment, but it must remain an enabler and not a replacement for the human element of education,” Verma said.
The summit’s discussions focused on strengthening the connection between schools, skills development and industry, promoting experiential and vocational learning, enhancing teacher development, integrating emerging technologies and expanding industry exposure for young learners.
The event also brought together perspectives from academic and institutional stakeholders, enabling discussions on how schools, higher-education institutions, policymakers and industry could collectively respond to rapidly changing workforce and societal requirements.
Participants emphasised the need for closer coordination between government, academia and industry to ensure that education remains aligned with evolving workforce demands while continuing to nurture the intellectual, social and human capabilities of young people.
The CII Chandigarh Education Summit 2026 reaffirmed CII Chandigarh’s commitment to facilitating industry-led engagement on education and supporting the development of a future-ready, inclusive and skills-oriented education ecosystem.
About The Author
Comment List