Southern Cross Institute (SCI) is pleased to recognise Associate Professor Anju Kalluvelil Janardhanan, Deputy Dean, who was invited by the International College of Management Sydney (ICMS) to speak at the ICMS Symposium 2026 and share her expertise in industry-integrated learning, student capability development and contemporary higher education practice.

Hosted by ICMS, the symposium brought together academics and higher education professionals to engage in meaningful dialogue on contemporary approaches to learning, teaching and student success.

Assoc Prof Janardhanan presented “From Classroom to Career: Lessons from an Industry-Integrated Business Capstone Unit”. Drawing on her academic practice, the session examined how authentic, industry-connected learning experiences can support students in developing the capabilities, confidence and agency required to transition successfully from higher education to professional practice. Her session highlighted the importance of moving beyond traditional disciplinary learning to create opportunities for students to engage with authentic professional contexts. The presentation emphasised that preparing graduates for the world of work involves more than developing disciplinary knowledge. Meaningful engagement with authentic challenges allows students to connect theory with practice while developing the skills, judgement and confidence required in contemporary professional environments.

Assoc Prof Janardhanan’s invitation to speak at the ICMS Symposium reflects her contribution to the broader higher education sector and her leadership in learning and teaching practice. Her participation provided an opportunity to share insights from SCI’s educational practice while engaging with academics and educators from across the sector. The symposium also enabled the exchange of ideas and perspectives on approaches to enhancing student learning, graduate capabilities and industry engagement.

The event reinforced the value of collaboration and professional dialogue in advancing higher education practice. Insights from the symposium will continue to inform Assoc Prof Janardhanan’s work in supporting student-centred, authentic and industry-connected learning at SCI.

SCI congratulates Assoc Prof Janardhanan on her contribution to the ICMS Symposium 2026 and acknowledges her ongoing contribution to academic leadership, learning and teaching innovation, industry engagement and student success.