SRM Executive Education hosts inaugural Industry–Academia round table to shape the future of executive learning

SRM Executive Education, an initiative of SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), convened its inaugural Industry–Academia Round Table, bringing together a galaxy of 35 distinguished industry leaders representing technology, FinTech, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), automotive, hospitals, healthcare, consulting, BFSI, manufacturing, enterprise AI, cybersecurity, human resources, product management, learning and development, and engineering to discuss the future of executive learning in India.

The round table served as a strategic platform for industry and academia to exchange perspectives on leadership development, workforce transformation, emerging technologies, and evolving business needs. The discussions focused on strengthening industry–academia collaboration to design executive education programmes that are relevant, future-focused, and aligned with organisational priorities.

Dr. M. Balaji, CEO, SRM Executive Education, outlined the vision of establishing SRM Executive Education as a premier destination for executive learning, bringing together academic excellence and industry expertise to empower professionals, organisations, entrepreneurs, government institutions, and business leaders through transformative learning experiences. He highlighted that the initiative seeks to create an inclusive executive learning ecosystem while addressing the growing need for reskilling and upskilling in the age of AI.

Presenting the roadmap for SRM Executive Education, Dr. Balaji shared that the institution plans to build a comprehensive portfolio comprising a one-year Full-Time Residential PGPM (Flagship Programme), PGDM-X in collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS), 11-month CXO Programmes with campus immersion, In-company Programmes for corporates, Short-Term Certification Programmes, and Management Development Programmes (MDPs). These offerings are envisioned to combine academic rigour with real-world industry insights and support lifelong learning for professionals across sectors.

Prof. A. Vinay Kumar, Pro Vice-Chancellor (FLABS), SRMIST, said:

"Executive Education plays a crucial role in preparing professionals to lead organisations through technological and business transformation. Strong partnerships between academia and industry are essential to ensure learning remains relevant, future-focused, and aligned with real-world challenges."

Participants worked across dedicated programme tracks to develop recommendations on curriculum design, AI-enabled learning, digital transformation, cybersecurity, product management, executive mentoring, practitioner-led teaching, and emerging executive education offerings. The discussions also highlighted the growing importance of lifelong learning, experiential learning, corporate partnerships, and sustained industry engagement in preparing future-ready leaders.

The insights and recommendations from the round table will help shape SRM Executive Education's programme development strategy, strengthen its industry partnerships, and guide the expansion of its executive learning portfolio to meet the evolving needs of professionals and organisations.