UPES has signed a strategic partnership with Samsung Heavy Industries India (SHI-I) to strengthen industry-aligned learning through its flagship Work-Integrated Learning for Leadership (WILL) initiative. The collaboration was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding and is aimed at enabling SHI-I employees to pursue structured higher education and skill development programmes while continuing in their professional roles.Under the partnership, UPES will offer a range of online degree and certification programmes through WILL across key domains including power management, oil and gas, logistics and supply chain, infrastructure management, AI/ML, data science, and cyber security. The programmes are designed to combine academic learning with practical workplace application, helping professionals enhance their expertise without disrupting their careers.The collaboration will also provide SHI-I employees with access to part-time PhD opportunities, allowing them to engage in research-driven learning while working on industry-relevant problem solving.As part of the agreement, Samsung Heavy Industries India employees will receive a 20% fee waiver across the programmes. The learning formats will include weekend live sessions, recorded lectures and online assessments to ensure flexibility for working professionals.Dr Sunil Rai, Vice Chancellor, UPES, said, “The future of learning lies in how seamlessly it integrates with the workplace. Through our work-integrated learning initiatives, we are building a model where education is not separate from work but embedded within it. This partnership with Samsung Heavy Industries India is a strong step towards enabling continuous capability building and creating a workforce that is future ready.”Ryan Park, Managing Director, Samsung Heavy Industries India, said, “In a rapidly evolving industrial landscape, continuous learning is critical to staying competitive. Our collaboration with UPES enables our workforce to access structured, high-quality education while continuing to contribute to business outcomes. This partnership aligns strongly with our focus on capability building and long-term talent development.”UPES said the WILL initiative is aimed at bridging the gap between academic education and industry needs by embedding learning within workplace environments. The partnership reflects a broader shift in higher education towards flexible, industry-integrated learning models that support continuous learning, specialisation and leadership development.