Campus Times | Lucknow 

A two-day international seminar on the transformative role of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in shaping a developed India concluded at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) on Thursday, bringing together academicians, researchers, industry leaders and policymakers to deliberate on education, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Organised by the Department of Management Studies, the seminar focused on aligning higher education with the vision of Viksit Bharat by promoting academic excellence, research, industry collaboration and skill-driven learning. The valedictory session was chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal, while Dr. T. Damodaran, Director of ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow, attended as the chief guest. Federal Bank Senior Vice President and Country Head (Government & Institutional Business) Anoop Thalachal was the guest of honour.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Mittal said Indias journey towards becoming a developed nation requires balanced progress across education, society, economy and governance. Stressing that education remains the strongest catalyst for social transformation, he urged students to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship instead of limiting themselves to conventional employment opportunities. He also encouraged the youth to adopt an earn while learning approach by integrating skill development and entrepreneurial thinking into their academic journey.

Dr. Damodaran highlighted the need to strengthen Indias global competitiveness in agriculture by improving quality standards, adopting multidisciplinary research and leveraging emerging technologies. He also underlined the growing significance of biofuels, scientific crop disease management and innovation-driven agricultural practices for sustainable development.

Speaking on the changing professional landscape, Anoop Thalachal said technical expertise alone is no longer sufficient for success. He emphasised the importance of adaptability, humility, continuous learning and emotional intelligence, while describing the magic of listening as a critical leadership skill in todays rapidly evolving workplace.

The second day featured a plenary session with senior academicians, including Dean of Academic Affairs Prof. S. Victor Babu, School of Education Dean Prof. Rajsharan Shahi, IGNOU Professor A.K. Jha and seminar coordinator Prof. Taruna.

Participants also presented research papers across three technical sessions covering research and industry interface, equity and social justice, and science and technology. Outstanding presenters were felicitated with certificates during the closing ceremony in recognition of their academic contributions.