Academia-industry collaboration key to sustainability: Kurukshetra varsity VC
Skill-based workshop on environment and sustainable development begins
A one-week industry-linked skill-based workshop on environment and sustainable development was inaugurated at Kurukshetra University on Monday.
The workshop organised to strengthen academia–industry collaboration in the field of sustainability, by the Institute of Environmental Studies, will conclude on February 6.
Prof Som Nath Sachdeva, Vice-Chancellor, Kurukshetra University, emphasised the urgent need for universities to move beyond theoretical instruction and actively contribute to real-world solutions for environmental challenges.
Addressing the participants, the Vice-Chancellor stated that higher education institutions must play a transformative role in addressing climate change, environmental degradation and resource depletion through applied research and industry partnerships.
Sachdeva underscored that effective collaboration between academia and industry was essential for translating research outcomes into scalable and implementable sustainability solutions. He called for the development of a ‘zero discharge’ model campus at Kurukshetra University, integrating research, innovation and sustainable practices to create measurable environmental impact. He added that such initiatives would position the university as a leading institution in sustainability-driven education and research.
Sachdeva further remarked that the workshop aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aimed at nurturing graduates who are not only professionally skilled but also socially and ethically responsible.
Earlier, Prof Parmesh Kumar, Director, Institute of Environmental Studies, outlined the objectives of the workshop. He explained that the programme was designed to bridge the gap between knowledge and action through hands-on, skill-oriented training, aligned with Haryana’s Revised State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC Phase II, 2021–2030).
Workshop coordinator Dr Bhawna Dahiya briefed the participants about the programme structure and experiential learning modules.
A total of 75 postgraduate students and research scholars from Kurukshetra University are participating in the programme.
