Al-Ameen Institute of Management Studies in association with Indian Society for Training & Development (ISTD) convened a Seminar on “Evolving Human Resource Management : Bridging Industry, Practice, and Academia”, inviting industry leaders and academicians in higher education to discuss how both industry and academia can bridge the employability gap with the evolving HRM practices, especially in the context of the ever-changing dynamics of the global job market and thus the need to equip graduates with comprehensive skillsets.
The programme commenced with the recitation of Qirath by Dr. Mohammed Wajid, faculty. The Principal, Dr. B. A. Anuradha heartily welcomed the dignitaries to the seminar. In her address, she highlighted the achievements of the institutions. She emphasized the need for institutions to identify industry requirements early on and integrate certifications and skill-building initiatives to prepare students proactively. She was of the opinion that “Not a shark in a suit, not a corporate wolf, in business all you need to be is a human being with insight” and understand that “Bridge & Wall are made with the same material, but the bridge joins people while a wall divides people, so it’s important to choose the right one.
The technical session was moderated by Dr. C. Manohar, Chairman, ISTD, Bangalore Chapter who said that technological intervention is so deep that it is essential to keep acquiring new learning, infact one must constantly unlearn & relearn. He stressed that today AI has a great impact on HR too in terms of business transformation & business development. Thus it is pivotal to Reimagining HR Education, adapt to research driven approach, and develop critical skills in order to make students Industry Ready.
Dr. K. S. Anandaram, Advisor, ISTD & Senior Director, ISBR was the Special Guest for the inauguration of the seminar. He took up the example of Tata Motors & Mico/Bosh to explain that change is a constant and so is business. He opined that Educational Organizations need to adapt to changes, and be a constant learner to remain successful & viable. In older times, organizations followed the paternalistic culture but today’s business environment has become challenging, we need to cater to the changes in the market, customer needs, and technology, which presents opportunities for growth, innovation, and staying competitive. To bridge the gap, both companies as well as educational institutions should increase investing in upskilling initiatives, ensuring that students and employees are equipped to meet the demands of the changing workplace.
With the paradigm change happening, the business world today has become BANI (brittle, anxious, non-linear & in-comprehensive) observed Dr. Bhargavi V R, Director, Sheshadripuram College, Bangalore. For career advancement, it’s essential to get the pulse of the industry & market. Institutions need to continuously acclimatize their curricula to align more closely with industry needs & understand the landscape of work ensuring that students graduate not just with technical knowledge but with the holistic skillset. She suggested that students opt for micro credential courses, have regular updates on the World Economic Forum and spoke about the importance of skill mapping. Apart from this the students need to constantly undergo internships and adapt to shadowing in order to be on par with global developments. This is the mantra for success in today’s hyper competitive market she said.
Mr. S Raghunandan, State Head, Strategic Adviser, MSME Business Forum India remarked that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation evolve rapidly and are key players in shaping industries, the need for continuous learning is paramount. The role AI is playing in shaping the workforce and how employees can adapt is a key point of discussion. He spoke about managing different generations of HR, where each comes with complex thoughts and perceptions and for this we require a multifaceted approach. AI tools are constantly being transformed; are used to understand different areas of management and help bridge generation gaps in order to cater to diverse preferences & work styles he said.
Mr. Sunder Rajan, Human Resource Management Consultant spoke about the different stages of evolution in HR practices in the past 50 year from labour management to labour welfare to personal management to the present HRM which is driven by technology, stating the profound transformation HR practices has undergone in the last 20 years. His suggested that students (a) have mentors/gurus (b) read economic times every day (c) adapt cross functional integration approach (d) chase competence and money will follow them (e) own failure to be successful.
He further said that Leaders are those who get involved & work with the people. A Leader who uses only authority is the weakest leader while a leader who uses least authority but still inspires others and builds trust and creates a positive change is the strongest leader. The responsibility of HR is to transform the organization, transform the people and transform the business - bring change through innovation and creativity, ensuring to improve value proposition. Be ready for today & prepare for tomorrow.
The technical session was followed by a Question & Answer Session to assess learning, provide feedback & insights.
A global economy, demands a workforce that is not only skilled but adaptable, empathetic, and essentially technological ready for maintaining global competitiveness and driving innovation. The discussions at the seminar represented a crucial step forward in creating a more holistic approach to talent development, ensuring that graduates are not only job-ready but future-ready too.
Mrs. Ayesha Rabbani, faculty proposed vote of thanks.
