Heritage Institute of Technology (HITK), Kolkata, has been conferred with the “Promising Institute of the Year” Award by the National Council on Education, The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) during the 18th National Education Leadership & Skill Development Summit 2026, held in New Delhi on 9th July 2026.

The prestigious award was received on behalf of the institution by Pradip Agarwal, CEO, Heritage Group of Institutions, Kolkata, from Shri Brijmohan Agarwal, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, in the presence of distinguished leaders from the education fraternity, policymakers, industry experts and academicians from across the country.

The summit was inaugurated by Dr. Laxmikant Bajpai, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, and witnessed the presence of eminent personalities including Shri Kunwar Shekhar Vijendra, Chairman, National Council on Education, ASSOCHAM, Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Co-Chairperson, National Council on Education, ASSOCHAM, Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities (AIU), along with vice chancellors, educationists, policymakers, industry leaders and institutional heads from across India.

The summit served as a significant platform for deliberations on the evolving landscape of higher education in India. Key discussions centred around the implementation of NEP 2020, strengthening employability through skill-based education, the role of universities and technical institutions in nation-building, innovation, entrepreneurship, industry collaboration and preparing graduates for the rapidly changing global workforce.

A major highlight of the summit was the panel discussion on “Bridging Industry and Academia – Strengthening Skills and Employability,” chaired by Prof. Prateek Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Delhi Technological University.

The distinguished panel comprised:

Er. B. S. Yadav, Chancellor, IES University

Kamini Taneja, Assistant Director – Examinations, British Council

Prof. Maneek Kumar, Dean, School of Engineering, BML Munjal University

Dr. Nagajyoti Koripella, Vice Chancellor, BEST Innovation University

Dr. Nagmani Nagaratna, Chief Strategy & Systems, Global Academy of Technology

Pradip Agarwal, CEO, Heritage Group of Institutions, Kolkata

During the panel discussion, Pradip Agarwal highlighted the transformative initiatives introduced by AICTE and UGC aimed at making higher education more flexible, multidisciplinary, industry-oriented and globally competitive. He emphasised the growing importance of outcome-based education, experiential learning, industry internships, innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurship as critical drivers for enhancing employability among graduates.

He further elaborated on how institutions must continuously align their curriculum with evolving industry requirements while fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, digital literacy and lifelong learning skills among students.

The panelists collectively stressed the importance of stronger partnerships between academia and industry, strategic institutional leadership, interdisciplinary learning, transferable skills, global exposure and continuous curriculum reforms to create future-ready professionals capable of thriving in an increasingly dynamic employment landscape.

“This recognition from ASSOCHAM is a proud moment for the entire Heritage family. It validates our commitment towards delivering quality education that is relevant, future-oriented and aligned with the aspirations of industry and society. At Heritage, we believe education must go beyond classrooms to create innovators, problem-solvers and responsible professionals. We shall continue strengthening industry-academia collaborations, research, innovation and skill-based learning in line with the vision of NEP 2020.” said Pradip Agarwal, CEO, Heritage Group of Institutions, Kolkata

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