23rd May, 2026

We are gathered here today for our One-Day Seminar, an occasion that brings together academicians, administrators, and institutional leaders under one shared purpose: to reflect, to deliberate, and to act.

Our theme for today is: “Bridging Skill Gaps and Strengthening Institutional Effectiveness in Professional Education.” A theme that could not be more timely, given the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education and the mounting expectations of industry and society.

Theme: Bridging Skill Gaps and Strengthening Institutional Effectiveness in Professional Education.

 

Time	Session	Details
09:30 AM – 10:00 AM	Registration & Tea	Participant check-in and networking.
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM	Inaugural Session	• Welcome Address :Dr. Umair Wahedi
		• About the conference: Dr. Manisha Saxena
		• Chief Guest’s Address :Dr. Syeda Amtul Yafe (Head HR, DCMS & AI)
		• Guest of Honour Address: Dr.Aleemuddin Naveed (MS, PEH)
		• Vote of Thanks :Dr Subhana Tasneem
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM	Technical Session I	“Assessment of Employability Skills Among Graduates of Deccan School of Management: Industry Expectations and Skill Gaps”
		• Presentation & Discussion :Dr. Raza Shah (Principal, DSM) &Dr. Manisha Saxena (Principal, DSHM)
11:30 AM – 11:45 AM	Tea Break	Short networking break.
11:45 AM – 01:00 PM	Technical Session II	“Digital Readiness and ICT Integration in DCET: A Study on Barriers and Opportunities for Modern Teaching”
		• Presentation & Discussion:Dr.Vishwapathi
01:00 PM – 02:00 PM	Lunch Break	Networking lunch.
02:00 PM – 03:15 PM	Technical Session III	“Declining Admissions in Deccan School of Planning and Architecture: Causes and Trends”
		• Presentation:Dr. Sudarshan (I/c Principal, DSOP)
03:15 PM – 03:30 PM	Tea Break	Short networking break.
03:30 PM – 04:30 PM	Technical Session IV	•Round Table: Industry-Academia • Curriculum Reforms • Branding • Policy Recommendations
		• Moderator: Dr.D.k Lal Das
		• Participants: All Principals, including one faculty representative from each college.
04:30 PM – 05:00 PM	Valedictory Session	• Welcome– Dr Umair Wahedi
		• Summarising – Dr Subhana Tasneem
		• Address by: Dr D.K Lal Das, Dr Manisha Saxena
		• Vote of thanks: Dr Subhana Tasneem

Welcome Note:

Salar-E-Millat Research Centre (SEMRC) welcomes all faculty members and dear students of Deccan Group of Instituitions to the One-Day Seminar on- “Bridging Skill Gaps and Strengthening Institutional Effectiveness in Professional Education”.

Respected Chief Guest, Dr.Syeda Amtul Yafe, Head of HR, DCMS & AI

Distinguished Guest of Honour, Dr. Aleem, MS, PEH

Our esteemed colleague Dr. Manisha Saxena, Principal,Deccan School of Hospital Management Respected Principals, faculty members, and all participants – a very warm good morning to you all.

It is both a privilege and a responsibility to stand before this gathering and extend a heartfelt welcome on behalf of this institution.

We are here today not merely to attend a seminar. We are here to engage in a conversation that is long overdue. The question of whether our graduates are truly prepared to meet the demands of a dynamic and competitive professional world is one that every educator, every principal, and every institution builder must confront with honesty.

Today’s seminar provides us with exactly that space, a space for honest reflection, rigorous discussion, and forward-looking recommendations. We have with us today voices from the frontlines of professional education: our principals, our faculty leaders, and our distinguished guests who bring the perspective of industry and governance.

I extend a particularly warm welcome to our Chief Guest, Dr.Syeda Amtul Yafe, whose expertise in Human Resources and AI-driven management systems brings a vital perspective to today’s discussions. We are honoured by your presence.

I also welcome our Guest of Honour, Dr. Aleem, whose leadership and administrative vision have long been a source of inspiration for institutions like ours.

To all the participants, your presence here is itself a statement of commitment. I trust that today’s sessions will be rich in insight, and that the deliberations of this seminar will translate into meaningful action within each of your institutions.

Thank you.

 

Vote of Thanks:

Distinguished guests, respected colleagues, and dear participants.

There are many people to thank, and I shall take that responsibility seriously.

To Dr. Raza Shah and Dr. Manisha Saxena for Technical Session I, for the courage it takes to present honest data about one’s own institution, and for the quality of scholarship you brought to this seminar. Your work today has set a standard for the sessions that will follow in future years.

To Dr. Vishwapathi for Technical Session II, for your meticulous research on digital readiness, and for the constructive yet unflinching way in which you presented your findings. The conversation you initiated today is one this institution must continue.

To Dr. Sudarshan for Technical Session III, for your analytical rigour in examining a difficult subject, and for the clarity with which you articulated both the problem and the path forward.

To Dr. D. K. Lal Das for moderating the Round Table with a combination of intellectual depth, patience, and precision that kept our discussion both productive and focused. Your closing challenge to us is to measure this seminar not by its words but by its outcomes will remain the standard against which we hold ourselves accountable.

To Dr. Umair Wahedi our anchor, our welcome, and the quiet backbone of this entire day. Your ability to hold the day together with grace, warmth, and perfect timing is something every participant has noticed and appreciated.

To every principal, every faculty representative, and every participant who travelled to be here today, who engaged with full attention, and who contributed their voice to our discussions, this seminar belongs to you as much as it does to us.

We close today not with a conclusion, but with a beginning – the beginning of implementation, of reform, and of renewed commitment.

Thank you all. It has been a privilege.