- Inaugural Session
- Panel 1
- Panel 2
- Panel 3
- Panel 4
- Panel 5
- Industry Speech – IBM
- Industry Speech – TruScholar
- Industry Speech – Teachmint
- Industry Speech – Meritto
- Industry Speech – SAP India
- Industry Speech – Siddhanta Knowledge Foundation
- Roundtable
- Valedictory Session
- Award & Felicitation Ceremony
- Thank You
- Glimpses
Inaugural Session: Empowering Uttarakhand in the Digital Era – Expanding Boundaries of Education, Skill and Employability
The summit commenced with an impactful Inaugural Session that set the tone for the day, themed around empowering Uttarakhand through digital transformation in education, skill development, and employability. In his welcome address, Kumar Chandan Anand, Founder, CEO & Group Editor of ArdorComm Media Group, emphasized the importance of building a future-ready education ecosystem rooted in collaboration and innovation. The Guest of Honour, C. Ravi Shankar, IAS, Secretary – Skill Development & Employment Department, Government of Uttarakhand, underscored the state’s commitment to fostering digital literacy and vocational growth across all districts. The session featured compelling addresses by Dr. Sunil Rai, President, UPES, Dehradun, and Gagan Agrawal, Head – Academic Partnerships (North & Central India), IBM Career Education, who shared insights on creating digitally empowered academic environments and aligning education with industry needs. Together, the speakers highlighted how policy, partnerships, and purposeful innovation can drive inclusive growth and make Uttarakhand a model for education-led digital progress. Watch the session at ArdorComm TV.
Panel 1: Decoding NEP 2020 – Driving India's Education towards Inclusive, Equitable, and Holistic Approach
The first panel of the summit focused on the transformative vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, highlighting its potential to reshape India’s education system into a more inclusive, equitable, and holistic model. The discussion explored NEP’s emphasis on foundational learning, multilingual education, early childhood care, vocational training, and digital integration. The session was moderated by Prof. Manoj Kumar Panda, Director, Women Institute of Technology, Dehradun, and featured a distinguished panel comprising Dr. Prahlad Singh, Director, Shivalik College of Engineering, Dehradun; Prof. (Dr.) V. K. Banga, Director, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Engineering and Technology, Pauri Garhwal; Kritika Mansingh, Headmistress, The TonsBridge School, Dehradun; Dr. Nidhi Nijhawan, Founder – Director, Offspring International School, Delhi; and Lalit Rautela, Managing Director, Pioneers Academy Jaspur, Kashipur. Each speaker brought valuable perspectives from their respective institutions, sharing practical insights on NEP implementation, the shift to competency-based learning, and the integration of local context with global standards. The session underscored the urgency of systemic reform, teacher training, and collaborative efforts in achieving NEP’s inclusive and learner-centric goals. Watch the session at ArdorComm TV.
Panel 2: Collaboration, Creativity & Compassion – Redefining Learning in the Era of Disruption
The second panel delved into how education must adapt to the dynamic challenges of the modern world by embracing collaboration, creativity, and compassion as core pedagogical values. With Dr. Dillip Kumar Panda, Headmaster, SelaQui International School, Dehradun, moderating the session, the discussion featured notable speakers including Arvind Mahajan, Chairman & MD, Spring Dales English School, Kathua; Raman Koushal, Headmaster, Tula’s International School, Dehradun; Cdr Monika Pande, Principal, Doon Global School, Dehradun; Anurag Singh, Director, Samar Study Group of Schools, Kashipur; and Rekha Negi, Director & Owner, Lakshya Public School, Dehradun. Together, they reflected on how educators can redefine classrooms to promote emotional well-being, creativity-driven learning, and inclusive collaboration. The panel underscored the need for holistic education models that not only prepare students for future careers but also nurture resilient, empathetic, and socially responsible individuals. Watch the session at ArdorComm TV.
Panel 3: Smart Skills, Smarter Workforce – Educating for an AI-Powered & Tech-Driven World
The third panel brought to the forefront the critical need to align education with the evolving demands of an AI-driven and tech-intensive global economy. Moderated by Arti Dwivedi, Account Manager – North, Education & Government, Adobe, the session featured influential academic leaders including Dr. Sunil Rai, President, UPES, Dehradun; Dr. D. B. Singh, Vice Chancellor, Haridwar University, Roorkee; Prof. (Dr.) Himanshu Aeran, Vice Chancellor, Ras Bihari Bose Subharti University, Dehradun; Prof. (Dr.) Shankar Ramamoorthy, Vice Chancellor, Jigyasa University, Dehradun; and Prof. Rajesh Bahuguna, Pro Vice Chancellor, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun. The panelists emphasized the urgency of integrating digital literacy, data-driven thinking, and human-centric skills such as creativity and collaboration into mainstream education. The discussion also explored innovative curriculum models, experiential learning strategies, and the importance of strong academia-industry linkages to ensure that learners are not only employable but empowered to lead in a rapidly transforming digital economy. Watch the session at ArdorComm TV.
Panel 4: Lifelong Learning in the Digital Era – Building a Continuous Upskilling Culture
The fourth panel addressed the pressing need for cultivating a lifelong learning mindset in a rapidly evolving digital world. Moderated by Siddhartth Singh, Director, Meritto, the session brought together academic thought leaders including Prof. (Dr.) Satyendra Mittal, Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Patanjali, Haridwar; Prof. (Dr.) P.S. Rana, Pro Vice Chancellor, Bhagwant Global University Kotdwar, Pauri Garhwal; Prof. (Dr.) Bhagwan Nautiyal, Vice Chancellor, Smt. Manjira Devi University, Uttarkashi; Prof. Dr. Bodhisatva Acharya, Registrar, Maharaja Agrasen Himalayan Garhwal University, Pauri Garhwal; and Dr. Manmohan Gupta, Dean – Academics, Subharti University. The discussion focused on how educational institutions and industries can collaborate to make upskilling accessible, continuous, and personalized. The panel emphasized the integration of digital tools, soft skills, and industry-relevant knowledge into flexible learning ecosystems, encouraging individuals to remain adaptive, innovative, and future-ready throughout their careers. Watch the session at ArdorComm TV.
Panel 5: Empowering Future Talent – Skills, Tech & Workforce Readiness in a Digital Age
The fifth panel focused on preparing future talent with the essential skills and technological know-how required to thrive in an increasingly digital workforce. Moderated by Prof. (Dr.) Manish Shrivastav, Director, Quantum School of Business, Roorkee, the session featured distinguished speakers including Prof. (Dr.) J. Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Sardar Bhagwan Singh University, Dehradun; Bhupinder Singh Arora, Co-Founder & CEO, BFIT Group of Institutions & Guru Nanak College, Dehradun; Dr. Krishna Prakash Sharma, Vice President, B.S. Negi Mahila Pravidhik Prashikshan Sansthan, Dehradun; and Prof. (Dr.) Yograj Singh, Director, Shriram Institute of Management & Technology, Kashipur. The discussion emphasized the integration of technical skills like coding, data analytics, and AI literacy alongside critical soft skills such as communication and adaptability. The panel also highlighted innovative education models, robust industry partnerships, and supportive policy frameworks that ensure learners transition smoothly from education to employment, equipped to drive innovation and growth in the digital economy. Watch the session at ArdorComm TV.
Gagan Agrawal
The Industry Speech titled “Changing Higher Education Landscape in India with AI and Quantum” was delivered by Gagan Agrawal, Head - Academic Partnerships (North & Central India), IBM Career Education, who shared valuable insights on how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing are transforming higher education in India.
Naim Shekh
The Industry Speech, titled “From Credentials to Careers, Powered by Blockchain & AI,” was delivered by Naim Shekh, Business Head at TruScholar, who discussed how blockchain and artificial intelligence are revolutionizing the way educational credentials are verified and connected to career opportunities.
Vivek Mishra
The Industry Speech, titled “Teachmint Overview,” was presented by Vivek Mishra, Director - Business & Partnerships at Teachmint, who provided an insightful overview of Teachmint’s innovative solutions aimed at transforming digital education and empowering educators and learners.
Ayush Kumar Saxena
The Industry Speech, titled “Making of the Digital Backbone of the Education Industry,” was presented by Ayush Kumar Saxena, Senior Manager at Meritto, who explored the development of robust digital infrastructure and platforms that are driving efficiency and innovation across the education sector.
Phillip Samuel Babu.S
The Industry Speech, titled “Digital Transformation in Higher Education,” was delivered by Phillip Samuel Babu.S, Head of Higher Education Skilling, India & Subcontinent at SAP India, who highlighted the critical role of digital technologies in revolutionizing higher education and skill development across the region.
Shri Nitin Bhatia
The Industry Speech, titled “Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS),” was delivered by Shri Nitin Bhatia, Executive Vice President of Siddhanta Knowledge Foundation, who shared valuable perspectives on integrating India’s rich traditional knowledge systems into modern education frameworks.
RoundTable Discussion: The Role of AI and Emerging Tech in Enhancing Learning Outcomes
The RoundTable Discussion on “The Role of AI and Emerging Tech in Enhancing Learning Outcomes” featured a keynote by Raminder Juneja, TGT Social Science, Children’s Academy, and was moderated by Kapil Jaitley, Chief Manager B2B Sales Delhi NCR and Uttarakhand, Samsung. The panel included distinguished educators and leaders: Prakrati Dewan Rathod (Owner & Director, Banjarawala Dehra Public Inter College, Dehradun), Dr. Samarjit Singh (Managing Director, Saigrace Academy International, Dehradun), Sunita Rawat (Principal & Owner, Anunaad Public School Chandpur, Dehradun), Dr. Arun Pratap Singh Rathod (Owner & Director, Dehra Global School, Dehradun), Dr. Dillip Kumar Panda (Headmaster, SelaQui International School, Dehradun), Ankit Agarwal (Chairman, Doon Global School, Dehradun), Dr. Shuchita Gupta (Principal, The Indian Public School, Rajawalla), Dr. Amit Sehgal (Headmaster, Saigrace Academy International, Dehradun), Navneet Bijalwan (Owner, Veer Arjun Scholars’ Academy, Dehradun), Raman Koushal (Headmaster, Tula’s International School, Dehradun), Mansi Mamgain (Vice-Principal, Doon World School, Dehradun), Jashandeep Singh (Director, Times World School, Dehradun), N.K. Bhatt (Chairman, Defence Public School, Dehradun), Pratibha Saran (Owner, Happy Home Montessori School, Rishikesh), Dr. Tanuja Pokhariyal (Principal, Doon International Public School, Rishikesh), Monika Arora (Principal, Doon Cambridge School, Dehradun), Roopa Gosain (Principal, The TonsBridge School, Dehradun), Soneyaa Kumar (Principal, Delhi Public School, Vikasnagar, Dehradun), Deepak Saraswat (Principal, GRD World School, Dehradun), Ritwik Vijay (Director, ITITI-Doon Sanskriti School, Dehradun), Rajeev Singhal (Director, The Doon Yudhishtera Public School, Dehradun), Commander Monika Pande (Principal, Doon Global School, Dehradun), Ajay Kumar Dogra (Director & Founder, Doon Public Academy, Dehradun), Anurag Singh (Director, Samar Study Group of Schools, Kashipur), Sukhvinder Singh (Founder & Chairman, Ek Onkar Global Academy, Kashipur), and Shahbaaz Khan (Vice President, River Valley Global School, Dehradun). The engaging discussion explored practical applications of AI in personalizing learning, enhancing teaching effectiveness, and fostering student engagement in the evolving educational landscape. Watch the session at ArdorComm TV.
Valedictory Session
The Valedictory Session of the summit was a momentous and inspiring conclusion to the event, highlighted by a heartfelt Felicitation and Award Ceremony that recognized and celebrated outstanding contributions in the field of education. The session was honoured by the presence of Dr. Anand Bhardwaj, Joint Director (Legal) – Secondary Education and Director – Sanskrit Education, Government of Uttarakhand, who joined as the Special Guest. During the ceremony, educators and institutions were acknowledged for their exceptional dedication, innovation, and impact in advancing education. Their remarkable achievements were applauded, underscoring the summit’s commitment to fostering excellence and leadership in the educational landscape. Watch the valedictory session at ArdorComm TV.
The award ceremony honored visionary leaders who have set new benchmarks for excellence, transforming the educational landscape and positively impacting countless students and institutions nationwide. By acknowledging these trailblazers, the ArdorComm Education Leadership Awards 2025 underscored the importance of continuous innovation and dedication to shaping a future-ready education system. This inspiring moment served to motivate all attendees, emphasizing the vital role of leadership in empowering students and preparing them for success in the rapidly evolving workforce of the 21st century. Watch the session at ArdorComm TV.
Award & Felicitation Ceremony
The ArdorComm Education Leadership Awards 2025 were a highlight of the summit, celebrating exceptional contributions to the future of education. The awards recognized individuals and institutions across K-12 education, higher education, and EdTech sectors, who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, and commitment to advancing educational practices. Recipients were chosen for their efforts in promoting digital learning, integrating emerging technologies, fostering industry partnerships, and championing inclusive and accessible education models.
The award ceremony honored visionary leaders who have set new benchmarks for excellence, transforming the educational landscape and positively impacting countless students and institutions nationwide. By acknowledging these trailblazers, the ArdorComm Education Leadership Awards 2025 underscored the importance of continuous innovation and dedication to shaping a future-ready education system. This inspiring moment served to motivate all attendees, emphasizing the vital role of leadership in empowering students and preparing them for success in the rapidly evolving workforce of the 21st century. Watch the session at ArdorComm TV.