As workforce needs evolve, universities must go beyond traditional teaching to better prepare students for real-world challenges. In this session, Kamaljeet Kaur Sanghera, Executive Director of Global Engagement and Tech Talent Development, discusses how stronger collaboration between universities, industry, and government can bridge the gap between education and practice. Through examples of experiential learning, applied partnerships, and global engagement, the session highlights practical ways institutions can align academic programs with workforce needs while giving students opportunities to work on meaningful, real-world problems.

Presenter:

Dr. Kamaljeet (Kammy) Sanghera serves as Executive Director of Global Engagement and Tech Talent Development in the College of Engineering and Computing at George Mason University, where she leads initiatives that connect universities with industry, government, and global partners to strengthen talent pipelines and expand experiential learning opportunities for students.

In this role, she works to build partnerships that align academic programs with workforce needs and create opportunities for students to engage with real-world challenges. Her work focuses on fostering global collaboration, advancing innovation ecosystems, and preparing the next generation of leaders. Previously, Dr. Sanghera was the founding Executive Director of Mason’s Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA), where she helped advance interdisciplinary research and partnerships focused on the future of digital society, including areas related to security, well-being, and economic prosperity. She has also served as Executive Director of STEM Outreach for the Volgenau School of Engineering and as Associate Chair of the Information Sciences and Technology Department.