Panchkula: Academicians from over 300 Indian & international universities gathered together at the 4th Satluj Career Fest 2023 in Panchkula to discuss and deliberate on a range of esoteric academic themes. These varied from local issues like how the tr-icity is fast emerging as the hub of entrepreneurship in North India to global ones like career opportunities in Canada for undergraduates. The discussions also moved from the present to future with themes around how great businesses are building around social entrepreneurships, are today’s teenagers dreaming of jobs that will still be there in 15 years’ time to more prosaic jobs and skills of the future.
The largest career fest of the region ‘Satluj Career Fest’ was organized by the Satluj Public School, Sector 4, Panchkula (a part of Satluj Group of Schools—Satluj Public Schools, Little Satluj Pre-Schools), with an aim of guiding the students of class 9th to 12th and their parents about various career opportunities. This was the third year that the event was hosted virtually, leading to not only a pan-India, but international reach with student registrations from all over the world (5000+ students from 300+ schools).
Welcoming the esteemed guests, parents and students, Reekrit Serai, Managing Director, Satluj Group of Schools reiterated, “This is the fourth time we are hosting the career fest. Satluj School has started this initiative which is helpful for the students and different from career fairs where only universities interact with students. The idea behind holding such an event, which originated five years ago, was to support our students beyond the realms of our gates, helping and preparing them beyond school life.” He also stressed on the fact how startups were changing the employment scenario in our country and entrepreneurship is the engine to global growth.
Krit Serai, Co-Chairman of Satluj Group of Schools, said, a lot of hard work went into the planning of Career Fest, which is one of the biggest career shows. “Career planning is very important in our lives and for a proper career choice planning must start at plus two stage or even Class X. We have a variety of jobs for the youth available now”, he added.
Anurag Tripathi, Secretary, CBSE stressed on the need for inculcating life skills among students said, “The main objective of education was to develop your mind, body and soul. Such students turn out to be responsible citizens of the country. The new education policy aims at introducing a different approach to education, which was initially knowledge-based and rote learning. Are you making creative use of your studies in school, your performance in exams and overall learning in classes? While there has been rote-learning, there were no skills, which come handy when you enter the real world and cope with the society, because of which such students have been facing difficulties with facing actual life situations, which were never told to them. “
Ratan Lal Kataria, MP, Ambala and Former Union Minister, in his inaugural message eulogized how Satluj Public School was contributing towards providing quality education and by organizing a career fest, it will help students to make India self-dependent.
Ranjeeta Mehta, Honorary General Secretary, Haryana State Council for Child Welfare, said, “ Beauty business, entertainment industry and healthcare are the key sectors for employment opportunities, besides the e-commerce industry and social media which have also gained momentum especially after the pandemic.” She also spoke about other sectors and career opportunities and how AI was coming into being and helping in different businesses. Mehta also said rote learning should be done away with for a fruitful career ahead.
Harsh Kumar, Former Secretary NCERT, said, “The main objective of education is that we become good human beings. Indian education system is unique. Indian traditions are distinct and our children are intelligent and progressing. We must show them the right guidance in senior classes as educators and parents. National Education Policy has come with a lot of changes and even during the pandemic India handled the situation because we are educated. We have to convert knowledge into wisdom and become good citizens of the country and should do something to make our country proud of us.”
Other prominent speakers included, dignitaries such Harsuhinder Singh Brar, Director Secondary Education (Chandigarh UT); Dr. Parag Kalkar, Member of Senate of Savitribai Phule Pune University; Dr. PJ Singh, Founder & MD, Tynor Orthotics and Vice-President, CII Punjab; Manmohan (Mac) Sarin, Senior Advocate; and Dr. Dinesh Dua, Immediate Past Executive Director of Nectar Lifesciences and Past Chairman, CII Chandigarh.
