Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan attended the 25th anniversary celebrations of Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology in Kochi on 31 August 2026. At the event, he inaugurated Confluence 3.0, an Industry-Academia Summit examining the impact of artificial intelligence on India. The visit brought together Kerala’s top government leaders and education officials to discuss the future of technology education and industry partnerships.
What was discussed
The Vice President emphasised that higher education must move beyond simply awarding degrees. Institutions need to align their teaching with what employers actually demand in the job market, he said. He called for stronger connections between academic institutions and industry, describing such partnerships as vital if India is to become a global technology and start-up hub.
On research and innovation, the Vice President urged Kerala to invest in research-driven higher education and create an environment where new ideas can flourish. He pointed to China’s progress in recent decades as an example of what sustained investment in these areas can achieve.
Addressing Kerala’s specific economic challenges, the Vice President suggested that the state’s limited land and high real estate costs make traditional large-scale manufacturing difficult. Instead, he recommended focusing on high-technology and knowledge-based industries that could tap Kerala’s strong education system and skilled workforce. Such industries could create jobs locally, he argued, and potentially reverse the pattern of migration out of the state.
The Vice President also appealed to students to reject drug use, describing it as a threat to their potential and future contributions to society.
The Vice President laid the foundation stone for a new Administrative Block at the engineering school, marking the next phase of the institution’s expansion.
What this means for you
If you are studying engineering or technology in Kerala, your institution may face renewed pressure to connect coursework more closely with industry needs and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. If you are seeking employment, the focus on industry-academia links suggests more internship and placement opportunities may develop through stronger college-employer partnerships. For Kerala’s economy broadly, the emphasis on high-tech industries signals where government attention and potential investment may be directed.