Kurukshetra University Forges Strategic Partnership with Naveen Jindal Foundation to Boost Student Employability
In a significant move to enhance career prospects for engineering students, Kurukshetra University (KU) has entered into a formal collaboration with the Naveen Jindal Foundation (NJF). The two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the 'Naveen AVSAR (Advance Vocational Skills for Aspirational and Rewarding Lives) UIET Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Employability Skills' at the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET). This initiative is designed to fortify employability, career readiness, and international exposure among the student body.
Official Signing Ceremony and University Leadership's Vision
The MoU was officially executed by Registrar Prof Virender Pal representing Kurukshetra University and Maneesh Mishra, Vice-President of the Naveen Jindal Foundation. During the signing event, KU Vice-Chancellor Prof Som Nath Sachdeva emphasized the transformative potential of the AVSAR Centre of Excellence. He stated that the center will be instrumental in improving students' career clarity, professional confidence, and preparedness for placements. Prof Sachdeva further highlighted that this partnership aligns with KU's overarching vision of evolving into a future-ready institution dedicated to holistic student development and achieving global competitiveness.
Comprehensive Framework and Key Interventions of the AVSAR Center
Director of UIET, Prof Sunil Dhingra, outlined the operational blueprint of the Centre of Excellence, which will be implemented through three primary interventions:
- AI-Enabled Career Counseling and Personalized Mentoring: Leveraging artificial intelligence to provide tailored career guidance and one-on-one mentoring sessions.
- Focused Training in English Language and Employability Skills: Offering specialized programs to ensure students are fully prepared for the workplace environment.
- International Mobility Pathways: Facilitating access to global internships and international exposure opportunities to broaden students' horizons.
Maneesh Mishra assured that all services under the AVSAR Centre of Excellence will be provided free of cost to students, guaranteeing equitable access to high-quality career development support without financial barriers.
Implementation Strategy and Additional Collaborations
KU Deputy Director of Public Relations, Jimmy Sharma, provided details on the execution plan. The MoU will commence as a one-year pilot project, with provisions for potential expansion and long-term continuation based on the outcomes and mutual agreement of both institutions. In a related development, Sharma mentioned that a separate MoU was signed on February 4 between Ruhil Future Technologies Private Limited (RFT) of Bahadurgarh and UIET, KU, to establish a Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence. This additional collaboration further strengthens the industry-academia partnership at Kurukshetra University, underscoring its commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology with educational excellence.
