Bhubaneswar, March 17: In a significant step toward bridging the gap between academic knowledge and industry requirements, a new Skill Development Centre (SDC) was inaugurated at the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), faculty of engineering and technology of SOA Deemed to be University, here on Monday.
The centre has been established in the Mechanical Engineering Department of ITER in collaboration with Blue Star Limited, India’s leading HVAC service provider with the objective to equip engineering students with practical skills and industry-oriented training which can enhance their employability and prepare them for future career opportunities.
The event, which was graced by several senior officials representing both the university and Blue Star Limited, was attended by faculty members, students and industry professionals. The establishment of the Skill Development Centre reflected a growing emphasis on industry–academia collaboration to address the challenges faced by engineering graduates in securing meaningful employment.
Several key representatives from Blue Star Limited, including Akshat Sharma, Assistant Vice President – UCPG Service, Suranjan Sen, AGM and Regional Customer Service Head for Eastern Region, Satyabrata Samal, Branch Manager – Customer Service, Bhubaneswar, Manas Ranjan Behera, AGM and Branch Sales Head, Bhubaneswar, Sudip Dutta and Ratish Tripathy, Senior Territory Managers and Saumik Saha, Deputy General Manager – Training, attended the program.
The university was represented by several distinguished academicians and administrators including Prof. P. K. Patra, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Sahoo, Dean, ITER, Prof. R. K. Hota, Dean, Training and Placement Cell, Prof. Saroj Kumar Acharya, Head, Mechanical Engineering Department, Mr. Ashok Kumar Nayak, DGM, Skill Development and Corporate Relations and Mr. Sumit Mitra, Head, Career Development Cell. Prof. Saroj Kumar Acharya also supports student skill enhancement, training and placement.
In his address, Prof. Patra said engineering education needed to evolve to meet industry expectations. He pointed out that many graduates faced difficulties in securing employment not because of lack of knowledge but due to insufficient practical training and industry exposure. The newly established Skill Development Centre, he hoped, would address this challenge by offering specialized training modules, practical workshops and technical demonstrations.
Representatives from Blue Star Limited also shared their perspective on the initiative saying that the centre would provide students with training in modern mechanical systems, HVAC technologies, service engineering and other industry-relevant areas. Through such programs, students would get exposed to a deeper understanding of how engineering concepts were applied in real-world industrial environments.
The collaboration between the university and the company represented a model of industry–academia partnership which is becoming increasingly important in modern higher education. With rapid technological advancements and evolving job requirements, industries require engineers who not only possess academic knowledge but also demonstrate practical competence, problem-solving abilities and adaptability.
