C4IR Telangana Life Sciences skilling program: Bridging industry and academia for workforce development

The Hindu

12-05-2025

The C4IR Telangana initiated the development of the Life Sciences Skilling Program in collaboration with Telangana Life Sciences (TLS), industry leaders, and academic institutions. As part of this initiative, C4IR Telangana organised a roundtable discussion with CEOs and HR Heads from key industry partners. This was alongside representatives from 17 academic institutions across Telangana.
The purpose behind the effort was to address the existing supply gap in the skilled workforce and to explore collaborative strategies between industry and academia. The primary focus was on strengthening talent development within India's life sciences sector through student-centric skilling initiatives.
As part of the outreach efforts, roadshows were conducted across M.Sc. Chemistry and M.Pharm colleges in Telangana. Over a span of 45 days, they visited 40 colleges and engaged with approximately 2,000 students to raise awareness about the C4IR Life Sciences Skilling Program.
The candidate selection process took place in October 2024. It involved assessments and interviews validated by the industry. Around 1,500 students from across Telangana participated in the assessment and interview process. Out of these, 140 students were selected for the pilot program.
The training phase spanned from November 2024 to February 2025, during which students received both technical and soft skills training, including communication skills. Industry experts from Sai Life Sciences Ltd., Aragen Life Sciences, Syngene International Limited, and Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services Limited led the sessions alongside faculty members from ICT Mumbai, NIPER, HCU, and Cambridge-certified English trainers.
In total, students underwent 64 hours of technical training and 40 hours of communication skills training, delivered by top faculty and industry leaders. February 2025 was dedicated to practical learning. This involved eight days of hands-on laboratory sessions at HCU, where students conducted experiments aligned with the theoretical content previously taught. A total of 125 students completed both the theoretical and practical components of the training.
In March 2025, students engaged in mini-projects and presentations. Working in groups of two or three, they applied theoretical concepts to synthesise a simple drug molecule or drug intermediate in the lab. These projects were based on faculty recommendations and aligned with the curriculum. The student groups presented their work to a panel of industry and academic experts on Project Demo Day.
The final stage of the program, held in March 2025, involved internship interviews and offer rollouts. Six companies participated in interviewing the 108 candidates from the program. All interviews were conducted at JNTU. As of now, 72% of students from the first batch have secured internships, with some receiving multiple offers.