Connecting Matters

To address the talent readiness and employability challenges and help students become ‘future-ready’, La Fondation Dassault Systèmes recently launched its virtual conference ‘ConnectNext Conference,’ a committed program to create a vibrant industry-academia ecosystem. It is a unique platform to demonstrate emerging talent from Indian engineering colleges to industries across the country. The conference showcased emerging engineering talent through student projects demonstrating their engineering knowledge and adoption of upcoming technologies.

Showcasing young talent

The virtual conference served as a conduit for engineering industries to witness ‘future-ready’ young talent, which is raring to work on the challenges of the future. It kicked off with a plenary session showcasing exemplary state-of-the-art student projects like ‘Pavan Mitra’ by Vishwakarma Institute of Technology-Pune; 2-Seater Solar Car ‘Dream to Reality’ by Nagesh Karajagi, Orchid College of Engineering and Technology-Solapur; and Multi-Nozzle Pesticide Sprayer for Agriculture by Sanjivani College of Engineering, Kopergaon.

The program aimed to address ‘Employability and Talent Readiness’ challenges by helping students to be ready for the future equipped with a sound engineering base and a willingness to embrace and get comfortable with the upcoming technologies.

One of the main highlights of the ConnectNext Conference was the virtual playground where 100 innovative projects selected by technical experts from the colleges across India were showcased in virtual booths. The industry visitors had an opportunity to witness these projects and also interact with the concerned students over interactive chat sessions.

Thought leaders unite

The plenary session of the conference was addressed by thought leaders from the industry, academia, government agencies, French embassy and La Fondation Dassault Systèmes including Chief Guest Venkatesh Natarajan, Chief  Digital Officer & CIO, Ashok Leyland; Guest of Honor Dr Deepak Kumar Hota, Chairman & MD, BEML; Dr Neeraj Sharma, Secretary, Technology Development Board, Government of India; Prof Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director, IIT Mumbai; and Olivier Fudym, Science and Academic Attaché, Western Region. Also present were Sudarshan Mogasale, India CEO, Dassault Systèmes Solutions Lab; Deepak NG, Managing Director, Dassault Systèmes India; and Thibault DE Tersant, Senior Executive Vice President, Dassault Systèmes & Honorary Chairman, La Fondation Dassault Systèmes India.

Sovan Tudu
Correspondent
Magic Wand Media Inc
Sovan.tudu@magicwandmedia.in

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