Event Details

Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) Declares 2025 as 'Year of Skills-Based Education'

FROM 07 Feb 2025   TO   09 Feb 2025

Venue : Sikkim @

Advancing the mission of Skills India and recognizing the growing importance of skills-based education, Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) has declared 2025 as the “Year of Skills-Based Education.” Announcing this initiative at SMU Retreat 2.0, Air Vice Marshal Dr. Dilip Chandra Agarwal, (Retd.) VSM, Vice Chancellor of SMU, underscored the urgent need to equip students with practical skills alongside their degrees. He emphasized that enhancing students' employability is crucial in today's competitive and rapidly evolving job market. Dr. Agarwal highlighted that several skills-based courses have already been introduced at SMU, particularly at the SMIT (Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology) campus in Majhitar. He further stated that these initiatives will soon be expanded across all constituent colleges and departments at both the Majhitar and Tadong campuses. He stressed the importance of industrial collaborations, an industry-aligned curriculum, interdisciplinary research, and expanding course electives to ensure students gain relevant expertise. “This is the need of the hour—to ensure our students are employable in an increasingly demanding and shrinking job market,” he stated. He also directed all departments to introduce at least two new skillsbased courses in 2025 that will enhance the curriculum and improve students' career prospects. It is worth noting that in 2024, SMU had declared the 'Year of Research' to promote academic and research excellence across multiple disciplines

The SMU Retreat 2.0, themed "Connect, Reflect, Rejuvenate," was held in Pakyong, Sikkim on 7-9 Feb, 2025, which served as a platform for fostering collaboration, sharing best practices, reflection, and innovation among university leaders. This annual event encourages meaningful social interactions, acknowledges contributions, and promotes teamwork to drive continuous institutional growth. The Retreat brought together key officials from SMU and its constituent colleges to review progress, share best practices and achievements in all departments, facilitating the exchange of ideas and the development of innovative solutions. The event was led by Prof. Dr. K. Ramnarayan, Pro Chancellor of SMU, and Vice Chancellor Dr. Dilip Chandra Agarwal. Through a series of professional and social engagements, Team SMU conducted comprehensive reviews of the activities within each unit and department of the University. These discussions were centered on bolstering teamwork and fostering a collaborative ethos to cultivate innovative ideas and effective solutions, ultimately striving for academic and research excellence. This involved establishing objectives, formulating strategies, and aligning efforts with the University's vision and mission. Moreover, the review process extended to SMU and its constituent units, enabling the identification of strengths and weaknesses and the development of future-oriented strategies and goals.