27/10/2026
Industry Academia Week (IAW) 2026 at GKCIET,
Malda
Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology (GKCIET), Malda, a
Centrally Funded Technical Institute under the Ministry of Education, Government of India,
organised Industry Academia Week (IAW) 2026 from 5 to 9 October 2026 on the theme
“From Campus to Career: Building Skills, Employability and an Aatmanirbhar
Bharat.” The programme aimed to strengthen industry–academia collaboration, enhance
employability and familiarise students with emerging technologies and industrial practices.
The inaugural ceremony was held on 5 October at Manthan Hall, Chanakya Building,
commencing with Vande Mataram, ceremonial lighting of the lamp, felicitation of dignitaries
and a video presentation introducing the Institute. Dr. Sandip Chanda, Chairperson, Training
and Placement, delivered the welcome address. The distinguished guests included Shri
Snehasis Banerjee, Lead Scientist, Tata Consultancy Services Research; Shri Aabhishhek
Mitra, CEO and Founder of Cyber Security Solutions and the Indian Institute of Cyber
Security, and CYBERSECOPS Pvt. Ltd.; Shri Suprakash Mukherjee, Deputy General
Manager, Steel Authority of India; Shri B. D. Chattopadhyay, former General Manager,
Coal India Ltd. and International Mining Consultant; Dr. P. K. Mukherjee, former
Chairman, Damodar Valley Corporation; and Shri Harsimran Singh, Chief Vigilance
Officer, Hindustan Copper Ltd. The scheduled technical programme also featured Mr. Nisith
Kr. Kar, Executive Engineer, Agri-Mech, Malda Division; Mr. Sohag Sutar, Manager
(Control Engineer), WBPDCL, Sagardighi Thermal Power Project; Dr. Deborshi De, Expert
and Consultant to the Food Industry; Shri Koushik Dey, Senior Manager, Damodar Valley
Corporation; Dr.Bittu Ghosh , Site Engineer associated with the National Highways
Authority of India, Regional Office Guwahati; Mr. Bodhisatwa Roy, Associate, AECOM
India Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata; Shri Sabyasachi Gupta, Lead Equipment Maintenance Specialist,
Alstom India Ltd.; Shri Subhas Bhattacharya, associated with Patanjali Food Product and
formerly with the Ministry of Food Industry. Prof. Siby John, Director, GKCIET,
addressed the gathering and emphasised the importance of connecting technical education
with industrial requirements and professional opportunities. His address was aligned with the
programme’s central objective of preparing students for the changing world of work through
technical competence, practical exposure, adaptability and continuous learning.. Dr. Sourav
Chakraborty, Associate Training and Placement Officer, delivered the vote of thanks during
the inaugural ceremony.
The technical sessions on the inaugural day covered “The Rise of AI & Future of Work:
From First Principles to AI 2.0” by Shri Snehasis Banerjee; “Technology, Ethics &
Upskilling for Viksit Bharat @ 2047” by Shri Harsimran Singh; “Sustaining Human
Civilization through Responsible Mining and Energy Transition” by Shri B. D.
Chattopadhyay; “AI-Based Load Forecasting and Demand Response Optimisation” by Dr. P.
K. Mukherjee; and “Brief Description of Steel Plant” by Shri Suprakash Mukherjee. The
subsequent programme was designed to cover cybersecurity, power generation, agricultural
engineering, food industry applications, highways, metro-rail infrastructure, industrial
maintenance and digital engineering services. Coordinated by the Training and Placement
Office in collaboration with departmental Heads of Departments, IAW 2026 provided a
platform for industry–academia interaction and multidisciplinary learning. By bringing
experienced professionals into the academic environment, GKCIET sought to strengthen
students’ career awareness and encourage their contribution towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat
and the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. The programme reflected the Institute’s continuing
commitment to bridging the gap between classroom learning and the practical demands of
modern industry.
