October 18, 2024 — Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham made a significant contribution to national discussions on the future of higher education at the 19th FICCI Higher Education Summit 2024, held in New Delhi. The prestigious annual event convened leading voices from academia, industry, and government to explore innovative pathways for transforming the higher education ecosystem in India and beyond.
As a precursor to the summit, a high-impact VC-CEO Roundtable took place on October 17, 2024, under the theme “Redefining Education: Integrating New Age Technologies.” Among the esteemed participants was Prof. Bhavani Rao R, Dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. She contributed to thought-provoking discussions on how cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), blockchain, and predictive analytics can revolutionize education and governance, shaping future-ready universities.
Continuing the discourse on global relevance, Prof. Bhavani Rao also took part in Panel 5: “One Planet, Shared Future: Role of Universities”, which focused on aligning higher education efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She highlighted Amrita’s unique model of compassion-driven research and community engagement, emphasizing the institution’s dedication to co-developing interdisciplinary solutions that address real-world, local challenges while uplifting marginalized communities.
Adding to Amrita’s active presence at the summit, Dr. Balakrishnan Shankar, Dean of the School of Engineering, participated in the session titled “Building a Thriving Higher Education Ecosystem with Effective Governance & Faculty.” He emphasized the urgent need to adopt innovative and experiential teaching methodologies to meet the evolving needs of learners in the digital age. Dr. Shankar advocated for a more hands-on approach to education that fosters critical thinking, creativity, and real-world problem-solving skills.
The summit also resonated with India’s broader educational vision as articulated in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which underscores internationalization, digital integration, and the empowerment of faculty as key pillars of reform.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s active involvement in multiple sessions reflected its ongoing commitment to academic excellence, technological innovation, and societal impact—core values that continue to shape its contribution to the global higher education landscape.
