The Uttaranchal Institute of Management (UIM), under Uttaranchal University, organized an insightful guest lecture titled "From Books to Boarding Gates: Bridging the Academia–Industry Gap in Aviation” on 8 April, 2026. The session was conducted in the presence of Prof. (Dr.) Pradeep Suri, Director, UIM; Prof. (Dr.) Tilottama Singh, HoD, UIM; along with faculty members and students from the BBA Aviation Management program.
The session featured Mr. Vishal Bhadola, an aviation strategy and commercial expert with nearly two decades of experience across airlines, airports, and aviation consulting. Currently serving as Founder & CEO of Eyeforsy Aviation Consulting and Senior Advisor at CAPA India, he brings extensive expertise in airport strategy, commercial planning, route development, and aviation business modeling.
The lecture focused on the critical gap between academic learning and industry skill requirements in the aviation sector. Mr. Bhadola emphasized that while academic knowledge forms a strong foundation, the industry demands a more practical, skill-oriented approach. He highlighted the importance of developing competencies such as analytical thinking, adaptability, communication skills, and industry awareness to meet real-world challenges.
Drawing from his extensive professional journey with organizations such as GMR Airports and CAPA – Centre for Aviation, Mr. Bhadola shared real-world experiences, industry trends, and practical perspectives that helped students understand the dynamic nature of the aviation industry. His discussion encouraged students to go beyond theoretical knowledge and actively work on skill development, internships, and industry exposure.
The session concluded with an engaging interaction where students actively participated, asking questions related to career paths, required competencies, and future trends in aviation. The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Mr. Anirudh Arora, Assistant Professor, UIM, and the event was successfully organized by Ms. Pragati Kamboj, Assistant Professor, UIM. The lecture proved to be highly informative and inspiring.
