Industry–Academia Collaboration at Indira University with Philips

Introduction – Strengthening Industry-Academia Collaboration Through Strategic Partnerships

Higher education today has a powerful opportunity to grow stronger by bringing classrooms and industries closer together. Through industry-academia collaboration at Indira University, learning becomes more relevant, practical, and closely connected to the skills professionals need in today’s workplaces.

By partnering with global leaders like Philips, Indira University is strengthening university-industry collaboration that equips students with applied skills, an innovation mindset, and career clarity. Such academia-industry engagement ensures that graduates are not only academically strong but also prepared for real workplace challenges from day one.

Collaboration with Philips – A Strategic Industry- Academia Initiative

Indira University, Pune, has entered into a strategic industry-academia partnership in India with Philips, a global leader in technology and healthcare innovation. This collaboration introduces a structured Project Management specialization within undergraduate engineering programs and the first year of the MBA curriculum at Indira University.

The purpose of this initiative is clear: to strengthen applied learning, expose students to industry-grade practices and bridge the gap between academic theory and professional expectations. Through this collaboration, students gain early exposure to how global organizations operate, manage projects and solve complex problems.

Engaging with a global organization like Philips adds significant value, offering students insight into international standards, leadership practices and innovation oriented work cultures.

Why Philips? Learning from a Global Industry Leader

Philips operates across global markets with a strong focus on healthcare innovation, technology, and impact-oriented solutions. Its culture of continuous innovation and project-based execution makes it an ideal industry partner for higher education institutions.

For students, learning from a company like Philips means understanding how ideas move from concept to execution in business environments. Industry expertise shared by Philips enhances academic outcomes by introducing globally relevant practices, structured methodologies, and leadership-focused learning into the classroom.

This exposure helps students connect academic concepts with how industries actually function, making learning more meaningful and relevant.

Advancing Applied Learning Through Philips–Indira University Engagement

A key strength of this collaboration lies in its focus on applied learning. The Project Management specialization offers over 50 hours of blended learning, combining classroom instruction with online modules. The program is delivered by university faculty trained in project management and supported by Philips experts.

Philips also shares course content with the university, enabling faculty to seamlessly integrate industry-aligned learning within the academic framework. To further enhance exposure, Philips Project Managers conduct quarterly guest lectures on campus, allowing students to interact directly with industry professionals.

This approach ensures learning extends beyond classrooms, helping students understand real project workflows, leadership challenges and accountability in professional environments.

Impact of the Philips Collaboration on Students

The Philips collaboration has a direct and meaningful impact on students at Indira University. First, it strengthens skill development by building project planning, execution, communication, and leadership capabilities that are relevant across industries.

Second, it fosters an innovation mindset by exposing students to solution-focused approaches used in global organizations. Students also gain clarity on career paths, industry expectations, and workplace dynamics, an advantage that significantly improves employability.

Project management skills are transferable across engineering, technology, operations and management roles, positioning students for a wide range of internship and job opportunities, both within Philips and across industries.

Building an Innovation-Driven Academic Ecosystem Through Industry Collaboration

This collaboration with Philips aligns seamlessly with Indira University’s larger vision of creating an academic ecosystem that runs on innovation. By embedding industry-integrated learning into the curriculum, the university encourages critical thinking, accountability and practical problem-solving.

The initiative also supports national priorities such as the Skill India Mission and the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), both of which emphasize experiential learning and strong industry-academia linkages.

Over the long term, such collaborations enrich academic programs, strengthen faculty capability, and ensure that education remains relevant in an evolving industry landscape.

The Role of Industry Collaboration in Shaping Future-Ready Professionals

In today’s competitive environment, industry-academia collaboration in higher education is no longer optional, it is essential. Students must graduate with confidence, industry awareness and practical skills.

Indira University follows a sustained approach to academia industry engagement, building long-term partnerships rather than one-time interactions. By integrating industry participation into curriculum design, delivery and assessment, the university prepares students for changing roles, technologies and expectations.

This approach ensures that graduates are adaptable, skilled and ready to contribute meaningfully from the start of their careers.

Conclusion – Strengthening Education Through Collaboration with Philips

The industry–academia collaboration at Indira University with Philips demonstrates how strategic partnerships can transform education into a more applied, industry-relevant experience. By embedding project management expertise, leadership skills, and exposure into academic programs, this collaboration strengthens student readiness and employability.

Indira University remains committed to applied learning, innovation and meaningful industry engagement. As the university continues to build partnerships with global leaders like Philips, it reinforces its mission to deliver education that prepares students not just for jobs, but for long-term professional growth and impact.