Industry exposure, practical skills and entrepreneurship
The lecture, arranged by the Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Community Science, PAU, in collaboration with the Ludhiana Chapter of the Nutrition Society of India (NSI), featured Lavleen Kaur, professor of practice in the department, as the resource person. Kaur, described in the report as a clinical dietitian and nutritionist with more than a decade of experience, outlined the changing contours of the dietetics profession and the skills expected of new entrants.
Speakers emphasised that modern dietetics is no longer confined to hospital wards and outpatient counselling. Instead, opportunities span clinical dietetics, holistic nutrition counselling, lifestyle management, and wellness entrepreneurship. The session drew students, research scholars and faculty members who engaged actively during a question-and-answer segment on career progression, internships, client management and setting up independent practice.
“importance of connecting students with accomplished practitioners”
Renuka Aggarwal, senior scientist in the department and convener of NSI Ludhiana Chapter, underlined the need for first-hand exposure to practising professionals so that students understand real-world expectations and workplace demands. The Tribune report quotes her stressing the importance of connecting students with accomplished practitioners to provide such exposure.
What the session recommended
Key recommendations that emerged from the lecture, as reported, included a strong focus on practical training, continuous upskilling, evidence-based practice and developing effective communication skills. The speaker also advised students to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset if they aim to enter wellness businesses or independent clinical practice.
- Practical skills: internships and hands-on clinical exposure
- Continuous learning: keeping updated with evidence-based nutrition
- Communication: client management and counselling skills
- Entrepreneurship: opportunities in wellness centres and independent practice
Local context and implications for students and health services
For Ludhiana and neighbouring districts, the thrust on practical training and industry–academia engagement has direct implications. PAU trains a significant number of community-science professionals who may serve in hospitals, public-health programmes and private wellness ventures across Punjab. Strengthening ties with practising dietitians and nutritionists can help bridge the gap between academic curricula and the competencies required in clinical and community settings.
Kiran Bains, dean of the College of Community Science, is reported to have reiterated the value of industry–academia collaboration in readying graduates for an evolving health and nutrition sector. For students, this means greater emphasis on procuring internships, participating in supervised clinical rotations and seeking mentorship from established practitioners to improve employability.
| Opportunity | Suggested skill focus |
|---|---|
| Clinical dietetics | Medical nutrition therapy, patient counselling |
| Holistic counselling | Behaviour change communication, psychosocial skills |
| Wellness entrepreneurship | Business planning, client management |
Session turnout and next steps
The Tribune reported that the session attracted enthusiastic participation from students, research scholars and faculty members and included an interactive segment on career development and professional opportunities in dietetics. While the lecture highlighted broad career avenues, its recommendations point to concrete next steps for local institutions: expand internship placements, invite practising clinicians for regular guest sessions and integrate communication and business modules into dietetics training.
As Punjab's health and wellness industry diversifies, graduates from Ludhiana-based institutions such as PAU may find an expanding job market — but their ability to capitalise on it will depend on vocational exposure and continual professional development, the lecture underlined.
