The JEL-India and South Asia Business Centre at the University of Leeds has enjoyed a vibrant semester filled with initiatives designed to strengthen collaboration between industry and academia. November 2025 saw three events that brought in businesses to the university campus to engage with students and academics. Diwali was celebrated across the Leeds University Business School, featuring special guests Sharon Jandu OBE (Yorkshire Asian Business Association/ NPH) and Fajli Bibi (Global Sustainability & Inclusion Centre of Excellence). Guest lectures were delivered by Alex Wright (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) and Arif Zaman (Bloomsbury Institute, London) for students and academics in the International Business department, discussing how South Asian businesses navigate the geopolitical challenges of 2025 and exploring the FTA between UK and India. Most notably, we hosted the JEL-ISABC and Edupro Green Talent Awards, which recognized 3 winning teams for their innovative ideas to address sustainability issues through innovation and entrepreneurship. With the participation of 150 teams from 20 countries, this grand finale saw numerous businesses support and encourage student initiatives. Looking ahead, we are excited to build on these successes and foster even deeper partnerships between businesses and academia in 2026.
