Jammu, May 14: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education Sakeena Itoo inaugurated a two-day international conference on “Manoeuvring Business, Society and Culture in the New World Order” at Government SPMR College of Commerce, Jammu.
The event witnessed participation from senior academicians, policymakers, researchers, industry experts, and students from across India and abroad.
Among those present were MLA Jammu East Yudhvir Sethi, Vice Chancellor Cluster University of Jammu Prof. K. S. Chandrasekar Rao, Director Colleges Prof. Sheikh Aijaz Bashir, Director CEC UGC Prof. Prikshit Manhas, Principal SPMR College Prof. Sunil Gupta, along with several other dignitaries and scholars.
Addressing the gathering, Sakeena Itoo emphasized the transformative role of education in building an inclusive, progressive, and innovation-driven society. She stressed the need for academic institutions to promote ethical leadership, social responsibility, and global awareness to address emerging global challenges.
She also highlighted the importance of collaborative thinking and innovation to ensure sustainable development while preserving cultural values in a rapidly changing world. The Minister appreciated SPMR College for providing an international platform for meaningful academic dialogue.
The Minister also interacted with scholars and expressed confidence that the conference deliberations would contribute to policy-oriented outcomes and valuable academic insights.
Vice Chancellor Prof. K. S. Chandrasekar Rao spoke about the evolving dimensions of global business, education, and cultural integration, stressing adaptability and innovation in higher education.
Director Colleges Prof. Sheikh Aijaz Bashir underlined the importance of collaborative academic ecosystems that encourage research and critical thinking.
In his keynote address, Prof. Prikshit Manhas highlighted changing paradigms in education and stressed the integration of technology, innovation, MSME learning, and research-driven teaching methods.
Principal Prof. Sunil Gupta reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, research, and global engagement.
The technical sessions featured international experts including Dr. Gurpreet H. Kaur from Purdue University–MICA, USA, and Prof. Gurmeet Singh from the University of South Pacific, Fiji, who addressed themes related to sustainability, innovation, and cultural resilience.
The conference will continue for two days with panel discussions and technical sessions involving experts from countries including the USA, UK, Fiji, Malaysia, and Israel, along with institutions such as IIT Bombay, IIM Ahmedabad, University of Delhi, and others.
The Minister also released the conference abstract book highlighting research contributions from participants across disciplines.
