About Symbiosis

With a distinguished legacy of over five decades in educational excellence, Symbiosis is recognized as one of India’s leading education groups. In alignment with its vision to empower youth with industry-relevant skills, Symbiosis established India’s pioneering skill universities—Symbiosis Skills & Professional University (SSPU), Pune in 2017, and Symbiosis University of Applied Sciences (SUAS), Indore in 2016.
These institutions are dedicated to fostering a skilled workforce equipped for meaningful employment and entrepreneurship. SSPU has been ranked 1st in the Skill Category of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, for both 2024 and 2025. Read More

About Conference

UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development has been established with an aim to create a society offering ample opportunities to girls and women through STEM oriented skill development initiatives.

The conference aims to convene policymakers, industry leaders, academia, entrepreneurs and international organizations to advance dialogue on strengthening women’s participation and leadership in skills ecosystems, STEM fields and innovation-driven industries. It seeks to generate actionable insights on policy frameworks, institutional reforms, and ecosystem interventions that enable women to transition from education to employment, leadership and enterprise development.

Key Takeaways

  • Policy Recommendations : Evidence-based inputs to inform gender-responsive policies
  • Strengthened Partnerships: Collaboration between academia, industry, government and international organizations
  • Knowledge Outputs: Conference report, white paper and dissemination of best practices
  • Institutional Initiatives: New programmes supporting women’s leadership, employability and entrepreneurship
  • Capacity Building: Enhanced understanding of inclusive workforce ecosystems and innovation systems

Patrons

Dr. S. B. Mujumdar

President, Symbiosis

Dr. Swati Mujumdar

Pro-Chancellor, SSPU

Conference Program

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Inaugural Ceremony

Welcome Address by
Dr. Swati Mujumdar

Pro Chancellor, SSPU

Introduction of the Conference
Mr. Jian Xi Teng

Program Specialist (Education) for South Asia, UNESCO

Felicitation of Dignitaries

Unveiling of the Research Compendium: Impact Studies of Gender Inclusion & Skill Development
Launch of   Kushal Saathi
Keynote Address
Mr. Niraj Bisaria

Managing Director & President, Premium Group

Unveiling of the Research Compendium: Impact Studies of Gender Inclusion & Skill Development Launch of Kushal Saathi

Guest of Honour
Ms. Monica Nagelgaard

Hon’ble Consul General of Norway

Chief Guest of Honour
Shri Jayant Chaudhary ji

Hon'ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Govt of India

Address by Guest of Honour
Ku. Aditi Varda Sunil Tatkare,

Hon’ble Minister for Women & Child Development, Govt. of Maharashtra

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

Transforming the Future of Work

Symbiosis Skills & Professional University (SSPU) has established the UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development with an aim to create a society offering ample opportunities to girls and women through STEM oriented skill development initiatives.

Stories of Change: Women Leading Transitions in Work and Society

Ms.Mary Overington,

Head of Global Capability Center (GCC), Rockwell Automation

Nandini Raisinghani,

GCC Head, Pattern

Skills, Sustainability and Green Transitions

Mr. Anurag Pratap,

Vice-President, Digital Inclusion and Sustainability, Capgemini

Pradeep Bhargava,

Chairman, MECF Past President, MCCIA

Amit Kulkarni,

President, Maharashtra Solar Manufacturers Association

12:30 PM – 01:30 PM

Special Panel with Industry Leaders

Symbiosis Skills & Professional University (SSPU) has established the UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development with an aim to create a society offering ample opportunities to girls and women through STEM oriented skill development initiatives.

Future of Work 2030: Impact of AI and Digital Technologies

Dhimant Bakshi,

Chief Executive Officer, Imagicaa World Entertainment Limited

Nilesh Biniwale

GCC Head, Pattern

Mr B.N. Shukla

Managing Director, India JABIL

Jacob Verghese

Vice President – Human Relations, SKF India Ltd

Sudipto Marjit

Group CHRO & Head – Business Excellence, Tata Auto Comp JV Companies

Chanchal Chandiok

HR Director, NEC Software

Vaishali Sheelwant

ESG Strategist, Cognizant

Vikramjeet Singh

Senior President & Chief – HR, Bajaj General Insurance

MOU Signing between JABIL and SSPU

01:30 PM – 02:30 PM

Lunch Break & Networking

02:30 PM – 03:30 PM

Panel Discussion – Enabling Inclusive Labour Markets

Symbiosis Skills & Professional University (SSPU) has established the UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development with an aim to create a society offering ample opportunities to girls and women through STEM oriented skill development initiatives.

Panelist

Meera Shenoy

Fiunder-Youth4jobs

Pallavi Gandhalikar.

Head – Corporate Social Responsibility, Bajaj Finserv

Pratik Ghosh

Group Chief Human Relations Officer, Forbes Marshall

Dr. Smita Patel

Director – Commercial, Takshi Auto Components Pvt. Ltd.

Dr. Dhananjay Keskar

Former Vice Chancellor and Director, Amity

Ragini Pasumarthi

Head-Strategic Sustainability, Schaeffler

Ms. Vijeta Ananthkumar

Manager,National Skill Development Corporation

03:30 PM – 04:30 PM

Panel Discussion – Industry & Skills Gaps

Women in STEM - Changing Landscape of the Job Market in Emerging Sectors of: Global Capability Centers

Panelist :  Global Capability Centers

Anand Chitre

Managing Director – Head of Markets & Wholesale Lending; Technology & Operations, Barclays India

Yogesh Sharma

Head -Talent Acquisition, eClerx

Mr. Amit Dixit

Director, Capgemini

Ms. Shraddha Mundhe

Sr. Director, Nexdigm

Mr. Vinayak Sastri
Mr. Vinayak Sastri,

Global Shared Services Transformation Leader GCC IBM

Panelist :  Defence Technology

Sujata Bandyopadhyay

Director – Customer Excellence, Ansys

Vikas Madhok, CISSP

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) & Data Protection Officer (DPO), Lentra

Dr. Ashok G. Nagarkar

Chief Technology Officer, Nibe Systems

Sachin Deshpande

Co-founder, Aten Aerospace

Mr. Ravinder Saini

Head Talent Management Larsen & Toubro Precision Engineering & Systems

Dr Manish Bhardwaj

Technical Adviser, DRDO

Panelist :  Semi-Conductor Technology

Ajay Prasad Shrivastava

Jurisdictional Director, STPI – Maharashtra & Goa, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, GoI

Ashvani Shukla

Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Aeron Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Ajit Y. Chigteri

Founder Director, Mcube Partners LLP Management Diploma Ranjit

Ranjit Yewale

Business Head & Strategic Consultant Semiconductor, Emerging Technology Startup

Ms. Ashlesha Karandikar
Ms. Ashlesha Karandikar

Hardware Engineering Group Director, Cadence Design Systems

04:30 PM – 04:45 PM

Tea Break

04:45 PM – 05:45 PM

Valedictory Ceremony Keynote

Keynote Address

Mr. Gabriel Bordodo-

Skills Specialist, ILO

Soledad Patiño
Keynote Address by UNESCO – UNEVOC Representatives:
Ms. Soledad Patiño

UNESCO Global Skills Academy, Paris

Prashant Girbane

Director General, Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries & Agriculture (MCCIA), Pune Closing Remarks by UNESCO Chair

05:45 PM – 06:15 PM

Cultural Program

Blogs

The Future of TVET: Insights from the Upcoming International Conference at SSPU

In today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape, a significant shift is underway. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence, the growing emphasis on sustainability, and the importance of social inclusion, workforce dynamics demand that professionals be trained through more hands-on and strategic approaches. This is where Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) plays a pivotal role.

Why the International Conference on TVET & Skill Development Matters for Education Policy

In today’s rapidly evolving world, traditional education methods and models are no longer sufficient to prepare students for real-world challenges. This is where Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Skill Development come into play.

Skill Development for a Changing World: Previewing the International Conference at Symbiosis

Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), in collaboration with UNESCO and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), is set to host a landmark International Conference on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Skill Development. The conference, scheduled for 11:00 AM at SSPU's state-of-the-art campus, aims to reshape the global discourse around education, skills, and employability

Bridging Education and Employment: The Upcoming TVET Conference at Symbiosis

In today’s fast-paced world, the demand for new skills in the job market is constantly shifting—almost as rapidly as technological advancements themselves...

Global Experts to Converge at SSPU for TVET & Skill Development Discourse

In an age defined by rapid technological change and evolving industry demands, the role of practical, hands-on skills has become more crucial than ever. As traditional academic qualifications face increasing scrutiny, the global shift towards Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) signals a timely and necessary evolution in how we prepare individuals for the future of work.

Why the International Conference on TVET & Skill Development Matters for Education Policy

In today’s rapidly evolving world, traditional education models are no longer sufficient to prepare students for practical, real-world challenges. This is where Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), along with skill development, becomes essential. These approaches equip learners with the necessary competencies to meet the demands of modern industries. As nations face growing skill gaps among their youth, the International Conference on TVET and Skill Development serves as a critical pla

Technical Education Meets Global Standards: A Preview of the TVET Conference 2025

As the world rapidly evolves through digital transformation and industrial innovation, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) must rise to meet the growing global demand for skilled professionals. The TVET Conference 2025 is poised to be a landmark event, bringing together educators, policymakers, and industry leaders to shape the future of technical education in alignment with international standards.

Transforming Workforce Development: What to Expect at the International TVET Conference

Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU) is set to host the International Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Skill Development Conference in partnership with UNESCO and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) on 25th April 2025, at its campus in Pune. This prestigious event brings together educators, policymakers, and industry leaders, serving as a pivotal global platform to explore innovative strategies and foster inclusive economic growth by reshaping workforce development.

UNESCO and NSDC Partner with Symbiosis for Ground-breaking Skill Development Conference

UNESCO and NSDC Partner with Symbiosis for Ground-breaking Skill Development Conference In a significant stride towards enhancing skill development in India, UNESCO and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) have joined hands with Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU) to host a pioneering Skill Development Conference on April 25, 2025...

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