KSOM hosts its 17th National HR Conclave on the theme – “Equalizing Effect of Generative AI in Bridging the Skills Gap”
KIIT School of Management (KSOM) hosted its 17th National HR Conclave on the theme, “The Equalizing Effect of Generative AI: Bridging the Skills Gap.” It explored AI’s growing role in democratizing access to skills, knowledge, and opportunity and its far-reaching implications for Human Resource Management.
A Special Convocation preceded the HR conclave, where KIIT-DU proudly conferred the Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) to Shri Sanjeev Agarwal, CEO & Managing Director – Middle East & India, Protiviti, in recognition of his remarkable contributions and distinguished professional journey. Prof. Saranjit Singh, Vice Chancellor, KIIT-DU, conferred the degree on Shri Sanjeev Agarwal.
Prof. Kumar Mohanty, Director, KSOM, welcomed the gathering and emphasized the growing relevance of AI-driven transformation in HR practices, underlining the importance of continuous up-skilling in an increasingly dynamic professional landscape. Prof. Saranjit Singh, Vice Chancellor, KIIT-DU, was requested to formally open the special convocation ceremony. In his address, he highlighted the need for responsible and human-centric integration of AI within organizations, stressing that while technology can bridge skill gaps, it must ensure inclusivity and ethical decision-making.
“Equalizing Effect of Generative AI in Bridging the Skills Gap”
“Equalizing Effect of Generative AI in Bridging the Skills Gap”
In his keynote address, Shri Sanjeev Agarwal emphasized that it is about Humans and AI and not Humans vs. AI. He said that with organizations becoming increasingly technology-driven, HR is now at another turning point. He shared valuable insights on how Generative AI is redefining talent acquisition, performance management, and workforce development. He noted that AI has the potential to level the playing field by making knowledge and learning resources more accessible across diverse sections of society.
The inaugural session also featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reinforcing collaboration between academia and industry, followed by the felicitation of the keynote speaker and the announcement of winners of the pre-conclave competitions.
The conclave’s two parallel panel discussions delved deeper into the theme – “AI for All or AI for Few? The expert panellists debated whether AI is genuinely closing opportunity gaps or creating new ones, with conversations centred on digital accessibility, algorithmic bias, and the need to build inclusive learning ecosystems.
The second half featured on Synergistics – parallel interactive workshops and expert-led sessions reinforcing KSOM’s commitment to industry-academia collaboration and preparing future-ready HR leaders for an AI-driven workplace. The workshops were on topics like AI in HR: From Hiring to High Performance; Impact of Gen Z and Digital Natives on Hybrid; AI for reducing workload and stress; and Employee Voice in AI Implementation.
The HR Conclave successfully connected theory with industry practice. It provided a dynamic platform for students, faculty, and professionals to connect.