October 10, Rayat-Bahra University (RBU) organized HR Conclave 2026, bringing together leading human resource experts, corporate executives, industry specialists and academicians. The conclave featured discussions on enhancing students’ employability, changing workplace trends, and bridging the gap between academic education and industry expectations.
Organized under the leadership and guidance of Chancellor Gurvinder Singh Bahra, the conclave was themed “From Education.exe to Corporate.exe—Understanding the Reality No One Told You About.” Its main objective was to prepare students for the rapidly evolving needs and challenges of the corporate world.
The conclave was attended by representatives from various organizations, including Unmesh Pawar, advisor at Neev Ventures and angel investor; Gunjan Ramchandani, Director, Leadership Transformation at KPMG; Kapil Gautam Kaila of NCS Group; Smita Narkar of Infinite Uptime; Dr. Dhruv Chopra, AVP-HR at EXL Services; Amita Karadkhedkar of Mastercard; Parvez Siraj of Lupin; Mekhola Ganguly of Welspun; Sahil Nair of KPMG; and Sushant Sharma of EY. Gurinder Singh Bahra, Vice Chairman of the Rayat Bahra Group; Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar, Vice Chancellor of the university; and Vikram Singh, Group Vice President, Placements, were also present.
Addressing the gathering, Chancellor Gurvinder Singh Bahra emphasized the need to strengthen partnerships between industry and academia. He said that aligning higher education with the emerging needs of the professional sector was an important requirement of the time.
Unmesh Pawar delivered the keynote address on “The MBA Trapbook: Five Mistakes, Five Solutions and Five Ways to Move Forward.” He discussed common career mistakes and practical ways to overcome them. A panel discussion titled “Hired or Overlooked—What Makes an MBA Graduate Employable?” was moderated by Gunjan Ramchandani. The panelists shared their views on employer expectations and the skills management students need.
Representatives from NatWest, Mastercard, Lupin and Welspun familiarized students with industry expectations during the Corporate Boardroom session. Meanwhile, the session titled “Congratulations, You’re Hired” focused on workplace readiness and the transition from campus to corporate life.
Another important session was held on “Building a Future-Ready Workforce: Integrating AI into University Curricula to Bridge the Education-Industry Gap.” Senior university officials, deans, directors and industry representatives discussed ways to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies into academic programmes.
Chancellor Bahra reiterated the university’s commitment to promoting innovation, experiential learning and stronger partnerships with leading corporate organizations. The conclave concluded by emphasizing the need for continued collaboration between academia and industry to prepare students for future professional challenges.
