Inaugural Session: Inaugural Session: Redefining Education and Skilling for a Viksit Gujarat, Viksit Bharat
The inaugural session on “Redefining Education and Skilling for a Viksit Gujarat, Viksit Bharat” set a powerful context for the summit, focusing on the pivotal role of education and skilling in driving inclusive growth, innovation, and economic resilience. The discussion highlighted the importance of aligning academic frameworks with industry demands, strengthening industry-academia collaborations, integrating vocational and digital learning, and nurturing future-ready learners equipped with both technical and life skills. The session commenced with a warm welcome address by Kumar Chandan Anand, Founder, CEO & Group Editor of ArdorComm Media Group, who emphasized the need for collective action in reimagining education for nation-building. The event was graced by special guest Hiranmay Mahanta, CEO of i-Hub Gujarat, who brought valuable insights on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the education ecosystem. Adding diverse perspectives, Prahar Anjaria, Founder & Chairman of Rangoli Group of Institutes, Archit Bhatt, Managing Director of Tripada Group of Schools, and Dr. Seema Negi, Director-Principal of Sanjeevani World School, shared their views on building agile, future-focused institutions that empower learners to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape. The session successfully brought together policy, industry, and academic voices, laying a strong foundation for meaningful discussions ahead. Watch the session on ArdorComm TV.
Panel 1: NEP 2020 in Action: Leadership Driving Transformational and Competency-based Framework
The first panel discussion on “NEP 2020 in Action: Leadership Driving Transformational and Competency-based Framework” brought together eminent education leaders to deliberate on the practical implementation of National Education Policy 2020 and its impact on transforming learning ecosystems. The session was effectively moderated by Mayuri Vasani, Executive Director of R.P. Vasani International School, Ahmedabad, who guided the conversation around leadership-driven change in education. The panel featured distinguished speakers including Prof. (Dr.) H. M. Nimbark, Provost & CEO of Gyanmanjari Innovative University, Dr. Anish Sinha, Registrar at the Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, and Prof. (Dr.) Apurv Raval, Director & Dean of Shreyarth University, Ahmedabad, who shared valuable insights on institutional transformation and competency-based education. Further enriching the discussion, Nirali Dagli, Director Principal of The Mindcraft School, Surat, Amar Jeet Soni, Director of EBC Group of Schools, Ahmedabad, Sabina Sawhney, Principal of Delhi Public School, Bopal, and Nijpriya Vikalp Panchal, Academic Director of Rising Kids Preschool, Ahmedabad, highlighted the importance of experiential learning, skill integration, and leadership in driving meaningful educational reforms. The session underscored how collaborative leadership and innovative practices are key to translating policy into impactful classroom outcomes. Watch the session on ArdorComm TV.
Panel 2: Digital Learning for All: Inclusive Education, Safety and Cyber Hygiene
The second panel discussion on “Digital Learning for All: Inclusive Education, Safety and Cyber Hygiene” focused on the growing importance of creating safe, inclusive, and accessible digital learning environments in today’s technology-driven education landscape. The session was moderated by Prahar Anjaria, Founder & Chairman of Rangoli Group of Institutes, Gandhinagar, who steered the dialogue towards balancing innovation with responsibility in digital education. The panel brought together esteemed leaders including Archit Bhatt, Managing Director of Tripada Group of Schools, Ahmedabad, Kamal Mangal, Founder Trustee of Anand Niketan Group of Schools, Ahmedabad, and Viral Jain, Chairman & Managing Trustee of Lokpriya Providentia International School, Jamnagar, who shared their perspectives on leveraging digital platforms for equitable learning opportunities. Adding further insights, Harsh Kapadia, Trustee of The H.B. Kapadia New High School, Ahmedabad, Jayashree Kad, Director of Future Learning Design and Training (FLDT), Kalorex Group, Ahmedabad, and Dr. Seema Negi, Director-Principal of Sanjeevani World School, Mumbai, emphasized the importance of cyber safety, digital literacy, and responsible technology use among students and educators. The discussion highlighted that while digital learning opens new avenues for inclusivity, ensuring security, awareness, and ethical practices remains equally critical for sustainable educational growth. Watch the session on ArdorComm TV.
Panel 3: EdTech Ecosystem and Teacher Development: Educators for 21st-century Teaching-Learning
The third panel discussion on “EdTech Ecosystem and Teacher Development: Bridging Teaching–Learning and Student Engagement in a Digitally Connected Education Landscape” delved into the evolving role of technology in enhancing pedagogy and empowering educators. The session was moderated by Prof. (Dr.) Indrajit Patel, Vice Chancellor of CVM University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, who guided an engaging dialogue on integrating EdTech solutions with effective teaching practices. The panel featured distinguished experts including Prof. Dharmendra Singh, Director of IIIT Vadodara, and Rahul Sood, Associate Manager – Business Development at Meritto, who shared insights on leveraging digital tools to enhance student engagement and institutional efficiency. Further enriching the discussion, Vinita Rohera, Managing Trustee of Gandhinagar University, Anveshbhai B Patel, Joint Managing Trustee & Secretary of Sardar Patel Education Trust, Anand, Parth Kotecha, Associate Vice President of Noble University, Junagadh, and Prof. (Dr.) Prafulkumar Udani, Provost of Sankalchand Patel University, Mehsana, highlighted the importance of continuous teacher training, digital readiness, and collaborative learning ecosystems. The session emphasized that a strong synergy between educators and technology is essential to create impactful, engaging, and future-ready learning experiences. Watch the session on ArdorComm TV.
Panel 4: Skill-Based Education: Job-ready Skills to Bridge the Industry-Academia Gap
The fourth panel discussion on “Skill-Based Education: Job-Ready Skills to Bridge the Industry-Academia Gap” focused on aligning academic frameworks with evolving industry demands to enhance employability outcomes. The session was moderated by Brig. P C Vyas, Director of the Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, who steered insightful conversations around the integration of skill-based learning into mainstream education. The panel featured eminent leaders including Prof. Rajeev Shorey, Director of IIIT Surat, and Prof. (Dr.) Anil Kumar Chillimuntha, President and CEO of Metas Group of Institutions, who emphasized the importance of industry-aligned curricula and hands-on learning experiences. Further enriching the discussion, Ashish Chaturvedi, Vice President of Sabarmati University, Ahmedabad, Prof. (Dr.) S P Singh, Director General of Kaushalya – The Skill University, Ahmedabad, and Prof. (Dr.) Avani Umatt, Provost of TeamLease Skills University, Vadodara, shared valuable insights on bridging the gap between academia and industry through skill development, vocational training, and experiential learning models. The session underscored that fostering job-ready skills and strengthening industry partnerships are crucial steps toward building a future-ready workforce. Watch the session on ArdorComm TV.
Panel 5: Hybrid Classrooms & Virtual Learning: Blending Online and Offline Learning for Maximum Impact
The fifth panel discussion on “Hybrid Classrooms & Virtual Learning: Blending Online and Offline Learning for Maximum Impact” explored the evolving dynamics of blended education models and their role in enhancing learning outcomes. The session was moderated by Prof. H B Patel, Registrar (Offg.) & Director, UGC-MMTTC, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, who guided an engaging conversation on integrating technology with traditional classroom teaching. The panel featured distinguished speakers including Gopalbhai P Bhuva, Chairman & Founder of Asiatic Institute of Science & Technology, Gondal, and Vishal Tiwari, Vice President – Growth & Strategy at Narayana Business School, Ahmedabad, who shared insights on scaling hybrid learning models effectively. Further adding to the discussion, Dr. Pritesh Shukla, Registrar of TransStadia University, Ahmedabad, and Dr. Dhruv Brahmbhatt, Registrar of GLS University, Ahmedabad, highlighted the importance of flexibility, digital infrastructure, and student-centric approaches in delivering impactful hybrid education. The session emphasized that a well-balanced blend of online and offline learning is key to maximizing engagement, accessibility, and academic excellence in the modern education landscape. Watch the session on ArdorComm TV.
Rahul Sood
The industry speech on “Why Student Enrollment Doesn’t Need More Tools” was delivered by Rahul Sood, Associate Manager – Business Development at Meritto.
Avinash Sharma
The industry speech on “Smart Classrooms, Smarter Learning: How Samsung is Transforming Education with AI Powered Displays” was delivered by Avinash Sharma, BDM WEST at Samsung Electronics India Pvt Ltd.
Hasan Zahoor
The industry speech on “Redefining SMART Classrooms: A Pedagogy-First Approach” was delivered by Hasan Zahoor, Channel Manager – India at SMART Technologies.
Mustak Rogatya
The industry speech on “Adoption of AI & ICT in Education: Empowering Institutions for the Future” was delivered by Mustak Rogatya, Vice President at Mastersoft ERP.
Urvish Sheth
The industry speech on “School Management ERP Integrated with Mobile App” was delivered by Urvish Sheth, Manager at Microweb Solutions.
Kumar Chandan Anand, Founder and Group Editor of ArdorComm Media, delivered a heartfelt vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all participants for making the summit a meaningful and enriching experience. He highlighted the diverse representation across preschool, school, higher, and technical education, and appreciated the continued support from Gujarat. He also acknowledged the messages and wishes from key dignitaries of the Government of Gujarat, who couldn’t attend but extended their support. Watch this on ArdorComm TV.
The roundtable discussion on “From Smart Classrooms to Intelligent Campuses: Building Connected Learning Ecosystems for the Digital Age” brought together a diverse group of education leaders and practitioners to exchange ideas on transforming institutions into digitally connected learning environments. The session was moderated by Viral Shroff, Chief Manager at Samsung Electronics India Pvt Ltd, who facilitated an engaging and collaborative dialogue among participants. The discussion witnessed valuable contributions from esteemed speakers including Puneet Mishr, Principal – Kalorex Future School, Mundra; Fatima Dhafrani, CEO – Saffron English School, Mundra; Dr. Beena Prashant, Principal – IIRA International School, Vadodara; Bhavna Chavda, Principal – Uma Vidyalaya, Vadodara; and Dr. Harish Chander Khichi, Principal – PP Savani Chaitanya Vidya Sankul, Surat. Further enriching the session were insights from Binita Negi, Principal – Kalorex Future School, Bharuch; Er. Kulwant Marwal, Campus Director – Rungta Vidya Bhavan, Bharuch; Sapna Parneria, Principal – L. P. Savani Riverside School, Dabholi; Manjeet Singh Suhag, Principal – Sanskartirth Gyanpeeth School, Surat; and Seema Mishra, Principal – Kalorex Future School, Ghatlodia. The dialogue was further strengthened by the participation of Kapil Shah, Founder Director – Samarthya Academy, Ahmedabad; Dr. Tulika Saha, Vice Principal – Saurabh English School, Ahmedabad; Arti Mishra, Director Academic – Kalorex Group, Ahmedabad; Hiren Thakkar, Principal – Kalorex Future School, Ahmedabad; and Bhupender Mishra, Principal – L. P. Savani School, Surat. Adding to the comprehensive exchange of ideas were Kiri Laxminarayan Dalpatji, Principal – Smt. M. G. Patel Sainik School for Girls, Mehsana; Manisha Sukhla, Principal – Shree Talkchand Zabakba Prathmik Shala, Ahmedabad; Amar Jeet Soni, Director – EBC Group of Schools, Ahmedabad; Nijpriya Vikalp Panchal, Academic Director – Rising Kids Preschool, Ahmedabad; and Arun Sutaria, (Retd IAS), Director – Siddharth Public School, Himatnagar. The roundtable highlighted the importance of integrating smart technologies, data-driven decision-making, and collaborative learning frameworks to transition from traditional classrooms to intelligent, future-ready campuses. Watch the session on ArdorComm TV.
A major highlight of the event was the prestigious ArdorComm Education Leadership Awards 2026, which recognized and celebrated outstanding contributions across the education ecosystem. The awards spanned six key segments—Preschool Education, School Education, Higher Education, Skills & Training, EdTech Startups, and EdTech Corporate—honouring educators, institutions, and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional innovation, resilience, and commitment in transforming education amid rapidly evolving times. The ceremony served not only as a platform to acknowledge excellence but also as a source of inspiration for the wider education community to continuously raise benchmarks, embrace innovation, and drive meaningful impact in shaping the future of learning. Watch the ceremony on ArdorComm TV.