Cotton, careers, collaboration: UNIQLO eyes PAU for partnership

What happens when a global fashion giant meets India’s premier agricultural university? At Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, that question sparked a dynamic exchange of ideas, innovation, and opportunity.

Recently a high-level delegation from UNIQLO Japan walked into PAU’s campus — not just to admire its legacy, but to explore a future woven with cotton research and student placements.

I’ve been wearing UNIQLO for years — it’s minimal, comfortable and smart. To think that a brand I admire might offer career opportunities through PAU is incredibly motivating.

Simran Kaur, a postgraduate student, PAU

To see UNIQLO here, opening doors for placements and research, feels surreal. It’s not just about a job — it’s about being part of a country that’s finally inviting us in.

A postgraduate student, PAU

From lab breakthroughs to career launches, the meeting marked the beginning of a promising partnership — one that could connect Punjab’s cotton fields to UNIQLO’s global supply chain, and PAU’s scholars to international platforms.

The delegation comprised Zheng Luojie (Roger), Manager, Human Resources; Sumit Sisodia, Manager, Cotton Farming; and Neeraj Khanna, Consultant, UNIQLO India, Bangalore.

Their visit was facilitated by Dr Sandeep Jain, in-charge, University Placement and Counselling Cell, who outlined a forward-looking agenda focused on long-term recruitment, fellowships, and collaborative research.

While emphasising on PAU’s global stature, Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal said, “We stand among the top 100 agricultural universities worldwide and our strength lies in innovation, and partnerships like these help us translate that into impact.”

Discussions centered on cotton — a crop integral to both Punjab’s agrarian economy and UNIQLO’s global supply chain. Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research, presented PAU’s thematic priorities in cotton improvement and assured technical support for joint projects.

The UNIQLO team expressed keen interest in PAU’s expertise and global reputation, particularly in cotton research. The delegation, which will soon return to PAU to start recruitment activities as planned with Dr Sandeep Jain, in-charge Placement Cell. They also held detailed discussions on opportunities in student placements, fellowships, CSR initiatives and training programmes.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides agreeing to work towards a structured framework for long-term collaboration, combining PAU’s scientific leadership with UNIQLO’s global vision to enhance cotton productivity and create career opportunities for students.

For students, the visit sparked excitement and aspiration. “I’ve been wearing UNIQLO for years — it’s minimal, comfortable, and smart,” said Simran Kaur, a postgraduate student. “To think that a brand I admire might offer career opportunities through PAU is incredibly motivating,” she said.

“Japan has always felt like a distant dream — so rich in culture and innovation, yet so closed off to outsiders,” said a final-year student of MSc (Agricultural economics).

“To see UNIQLO here, opening doors for placements and research, feels surreal. It’s not just about a job — it’s about being part of a country that’s finally inviting us in,” the student said.From cotton fields to corporate corridors, the partnership promises new prospects for research, innovation, and student empowerment.

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