collaboration in education

Welcome, Professor Dr. Dharam Bir Singh. We’re honoured to have you with us. Could you tell us a bit about Haridwar University? Thank you so much. Haridwar University started in 2023, so we’re still quite a young institution. Being a new university comes with both opportunities and challenges. But we see great potential—sky is the limit. We currently offer programmes under five faculties: Engineering, Business Studies, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Agriculture. That’s a wide range—from medical sciences to management. How important do you think skilling is, and do you see a gap between skilling and employability? Yes, definitely. There is a gap. Students often have strong theoretical knowledge but lack hands-on skills and practical exposure. Bridging this gap is essential. We are already working with partners who specialise in providing enough skill training to our students. How has Haridwar University been implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020?   We’ve taken major steps this year. Earlier, we were affiliated with Uttarakhand Technical University, but now we have the autonomy to revise our curriculum. We’ve redesigned our syllabi in line with NEP 2020 and have included all the required components to meet the policy guidelines. Today’s event features stakeholders from schools to higher education, EdTech, skill development, and even government officials—truly a KG to PG representation. How do you think such forums benefit the academic community and society? This is a fine example of true collaboration. All stakeholders—schools, universities, corporates, and the government—must come together to work toward the common goal of student development. After all, today’s students are tomorrow’s citizens and leaders. Collective action is the only way forward. What has been your takeaway from the event so far? It’s been a wonderful experience. I attended a session with school principals and directors discussing real challenges in the education space. The conversations were insightful and solution-driven. I also visited several exhibition stalls, where I learned about various services being offered. Overall, a truly enriching day so far. We recently celebrated our fourth anniversary as a media startup. Would you like to share a message for ArdorComm Media Group? As they say, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step—and you have already taken four big ones. You’re calling yourself a small startup, but I see it from a different lens. I believe you are on a path to achieving much more than you’ve imagined. My best wishes to the entire team.