APCDA meet calls on industry to give thrust to Industry 5.0 vision

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr. 27: The four-day Asia Pacific Career Development Association (APCDA 2024) conference, hosted by Technopark-based startup Lifology, has called on industries to improve efficiency, productivity and overall worker well-being aligning well with the vision of Industry 5.0 along with the larger economic and social development goals.

Being held for the first time in Kerala, the April 24-27 conference hosted at Technopark was themed ‘Re-invention 5.0’.  

The hybrid format of the annual conference inspired career practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to embrace the transformative shifts brought about by Industry 5.0. The conference aimed to foster a global community that values inclusive, research-driven, and theory-based career services.

Ms Marilyn Maze, Executive Director, APCDA, said choosing 'Re-invention 5.0' as the theme reflects the commitment to integrating human-centric values in workplace practices.

The special edition of Lifology Magazine that delineates career resources and global career challenges, besides how to keep pace with technological changes was also unveiled at the event.

A study report titled ‘Understanding Kerala’s Workforce: A Comprehensive Analysis of Job Seeker Behaviors and Employment Challenges in Kerala,’ prepared by Lifology’s Research and Development team, was released at the event. The report involves an intensive survey of 51,021 job seekers and provides an in-depth analysis of the employment landscape in Kerala.

Mr Matt Tompkins, Vice President, Gems Education; Ms Marilyn Maze, Executive Director, APCDA; Mr Allan Gatenby, APCDA Office bearer; Dr Serene Lin-Stephens, APCDA Office bearer; Mr Praveen Parameswar, CEO, Lifology, and Mr Rahul J Nair, Co-Founder & Director, Lifology,  released the report along with unveiling the special edition of Lifology Magazine.

The keynote speakers at the event included Dr. Brian Hutchison, Core Faculty at Walden University and APCDA Past President; Mr Matthew Tompkins, Vice President, GEMS Education; Dr. Britt Andreatta, CEO, Brain Aware Training; and Dr. PV Unnikrishnan, Member Secretary, Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), who spoke on various topics at the conclave.

APCDA, a US-based non-profit association in education field, serves as a forum for sharing career development ideas and practices in the Asia Pacific region and engaging with global perspectives.  

Delegates from more than 20 countries attended the hybrid conference.