As industries evolve at an unprecedented pace, the gap between what students learn and what the workforce demands continues to widen—making industry-academia collaboration more critical than ever.
ICT Academy’s Industry Skills Symposium made a strong debut as a thoughtfully curated, day-long engagement designed to bring academia and industry closer than ever before. In collaboration with Oracle Academy, in early March the first edition of the symposium was hosted across three key cities—Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur—bringing together educators from across Maharashtra for a rich and immersive learning experience.
Hosted in association with Thakur College of Engineering and Technology (Mumbai), MES Wadia College of Engineering (Pune), and G. H. Raisoni College of Engineering & Management (Nagpur), the symposium saw participation from 129 educators representing over 50 academic institutions. Across all three venues, the energy was consistent—curiosity, collaboration, and a shared intent to better prepare students for the future.
Bridging the gap between academic learning and industry needs
At its core, the symposium focused on a pressing need: bridging the gap between academia and industry. Through a mix of expert-led sessions, interactive discussions, and hands-on learning, educators explored how Oracle technologies can be effectively integrated into teaching, enabling students to gain practical, industry-relevant skills.
The day began with inaugural addresses by Dr. B. K. Mishra in Mumbai, Dr. Mrs. Pranoti Mane in Pune, and Dr. Achal Shahare in Nagpur, setting the tone for the sessions ahead. This was followed by a welcome and context-setting by Saravanan G from ICT Academy, who outlined the purpose and expected outcomes of the symposium.
Keynote sessions by Oracle leaders Salman Shaik and Pravin Sheth offered valuable perspectives on how Oracle is shaping the technology landscape and why it is important for educators to align with evolving industry needs. Their insights helped participants connect the dots between classroom learning and real-world application.
The technical sessions that followed brought Oracle’s ecosystem to life. Experts Patrick Solanki, Ambarish Joshi, and Rahul Kapadne led detailed presentations and demonstrations, introducing participants to Oracle’s core technology stack and showcasing how these tools can be brought into teaching to enhance learning outcomes.
One of the most engaging segments of the day was the fireside chat featuring Saravanan G, which explored the opportunities and challenges in higher education today. The discussion highlighted the growing importance of industry partnerships and platforms like Oracle Academy in addressing skill gaps.
Educators share value of Oracle Academy resources
The symposium also provided a platform for peer learning through the Oracle Academy Adoption Best Practices session. Educators including Dr. Omprakash Mandage, Ms. Charul Singh, Dr. Zainab Mirza, Prof. Satish Salunkhe, Dr. Sonali Kadam, Prof. Roshana Sapkal, and Prof. Sonali Lunawat shared their experiences of integrating Oracle Academy resources into their teaching, offering practical insights and inspiring takeaways for fellow participants.
Bharadwaj Asokan, Lead Program Manager, South Asia, Oracle Academy, was involved across multiple segments of the symposium, including sharing perspectives, moderating the fireside chat, and facilitating the hands-on session on the Oracle Academy Member Hub.
The day concluded with an open Q&A session, where educators actively engaged with Oracle experts, seeking clarity and exploring possibilities for implementation.
Event receives outstandingly high marks
More than 85% of the participants conveyed their willingness to learn and teach Oracle Academy courses for their students, and a little over 94% felt that the workshop was an invaluable experience for them.
Overall, the Industry Skills Symposium delivered on its promise—creating a meaningful platform for dialogue, learning, and collaboration, and taking a strong step forward in aligning education with the needs of the industry
Not yet a member of Oracle Academy? Join now. Learn more at academy.oracle.com.