Industry Institute Inglish Interface conference begins

Chennai, Mar 1 (UNI) A two-day national conference on Industry Institute Inglish Interface (4Is) began here today with a focus on improving the communication skills of the students to make them industry-ready while getting placements.

The conference, organised by the Department of English and Foreign Languages of the SRM University at its campus in suburban Kattankulathur, aims at bridging the gap between the teaching approaches of the institution and the expectations of the industry by suggesting innovative methodologies to train the students for better employability.

The conference was an interface with the institute and industry to explore the needs and demands of the industry and to impart tailor made training programmes on communication skills, to help budding professionals to have an edge on placement opportunities.

''The interface helps the language trainers and the students to get first hand information on the needs and demands of the industry by hearing from speakers at the conference,'' Head Department of English and Foreign Languages Abraham Benjamin Samuel said today.

The list of speakers included experts from various fields like IT, BPO, Production, Media, Finance and Academics from the country and abroad.

Inaugurating the conference, Technip India Private Ltd Managing Director K Shanker said, with India all set to become the knowledge capital of the world, the industry needs to keep pace with the rapid growing economy.

''In this context, institutions should provide men and women with necessary communication skills to make industry grow. There were several talented students in rural areas, where they can read, write and understand English. But they might lack in communication skills,'' he pointed out.

Stressing on the importance of constant interaction between institutions and industry in developing the communication skills, Mr Shanker said effective communication was the need of the hour in the global market.

''One need not learn about Shakespearean English. Simple English and effective communication is enough. The students should be able to speak fluent English. It is the major requirement of the industry,'' he added.

UNI