Vice Chancellor, Prof. Manoj K Arora, an esteemed member of the Governing Council of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), took part in its 99th Annual General Body Meeting and National Conference of Vice Chancellors. This significant event hosted by Amity University Uttar Pradesh in Noida on June 23–24, 2025, witnessed the participation of eminent leaders of the Higher Education System, National and International delegates exchanging ideas on various policies and initiatives for the betterment of higher education institutions in the country and worldwide.
The Conference, centred around the theme of Envisioning Future Higher Education: The Pivotal Role of India, featured multiple parallel tracks, such as Promoting Quality Research, Innovative Assessment Methods and Experiential Learning, Catering Diversity & Inclusivity on Campus, Incorporating Indian Knowledge System in Curriculum & Pedagogy, and so on.
During the Plenary session, Prof. Manoj K Arora emphasised the impact of AI on Learning, Research, and Governance, as well as the need for Restructuring of Future Higher Education Institutions and the importance of Preparing Students for Future Jobs. He remarked, “Education reforms, as envisaged in NEP 2020 shall continue to happen in an age when AI, Automation and Technological intervention are at their peaks. The world is also going through lots of uncertainties. It is therefore important that we have a relook at our education. It is the prime duty of the educators to mould our younger generation to make them holistic global citizens of the world and make them ready for the Viksit Bharat in 2047. Our educational systems need to devise a curriculum that integrates knowledge, skills, training and certification, all together. The so-called 21st-century skills need to become part and parcel of each course being taught by the faculty in the classroom. The role of a teacher may not be limited to just teaching, but to facilitating learning in many different forms. Collaborative learning, fostering a growth mindset, use of technology, blended and hybrid learning, project-based learning, industry-relevant learning, value-based education and career guidance and counselling are the need of the hour. All these, a teacher can do in their courses and create an environment where learning happens.”
The plenary session was chaired by Prof. Dinesh Singh, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi, also featured insights from other distinguished education leaders, including Dr S Vaidhyasubramaniam, Vice Chancellor of SASTRA University, and Prof. (Dr) G S Bajpai, Vice Chancellor of National Law College, Delhi. Their collective expertise contributed to a substantive dialogue regarding the future of education in India.
The AIU Annual General Body Meeting is a flagship event that brings together Vice Chancellors, national and international academic leaders, and higher education policymakers to build consensus on the way forward for academic institutions across the country.
