ArdorComm Media News Network
April 15, 2026
On 10th April 2026, the vibrant city of Ahmedabad played host to one of the most impactful education gatherings of the year, the ArdorComm – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2026. Organized by ArdorComm Media Group, the summit brought together visionary leaders, policymakers, educators, EdTech innovators, and industry experts under one roof to reimagine the future of education and skilling in India.
With the compelling theme “Redefining Education and Skilling for a Viksit Gujarat, Viksit Bharat,” the event successfully fostered dialogue, collaboration, and actionable insights aimed at strengthening India’s education ecosystem.
Gujarat: A Thriving Hub of Education & Innovation
Gujarat continues to emerge as a powerhouse in education and skill development. Cities like Gandhinagar, Surat, and Vadodara have established themselves as premier academic destinations, offering world-class education across engineering, management, law, and design.
The summit highlighted how progressive policies such as National Education Policy 2020, Samagra Shiksha, and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana are reshaping the education landscape. Discussions also shed light on initiatives like SAKSHAM – KVK 2.0 and Mukhyamantri Bhumiheen Khetihar Vikas Yojana (MBKVY), which are bridging the gap between education and employability.
Support from Esteemed Government Leaders
The ArdorComm – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2026 received notable recognition from distinguished government leaders of Gujarat. A letter of appreciation and support was extended by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, acknowledging the summit’s efforts in fostering meaningful dialogue around the future of education and skilling in India.
Further strengthening this endorsement, Shri Trikambhai Chhanga, Hon’ble Minister for Higher & Technical Education, Government of Gujarat, also conveyed his appreciation for the initiative, highlighting its role in promoting innovation and collaboration within the education ecosystem.
In addition, Shri Harsh Sanghavi, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, extended his support through a letter of appreciation, recognizing the summit as a significant platform for knowledge exchange and progressive transformation in education and skilling.
This collective encouragement from state leadership underscores the importance of such initiatives in advancing the vision of a future-ready education system aligned with national development goals.
Industry Leaders and Keynote Speakers
The summit commenced with an insightful inaugural session on “Redefining Education and Skilling for a Viksit Gujarat, Viksit Bharat,” setting the tone for impactful discussions ahead. The session began with a warm welcome address by Kumar Chandan Anand, Founder, CEO & Group Editor of ArdorComm Media Group. The event was graced by the special guest Hiranmay Mahanta, CEO of i-Hub Gujarat, highlighting innovation and entrepreneurship in education. Adding further depth to the discussion, distinguished guest speakers including 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 perspectives on building future-ready institutions. The session successfully laid a strong foundation for the summit by bringing together policy, industry, and academic insights to drive the vision of a skilled and empowered India.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Industry Speeches
The industry speech on “Why Student Enrollment Doesn’t Need More Tools” was delivered by Rahul Sood, Associate Manager – Business Development at Meritto.
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.
The industry speech on “Redefining SMART Classrooms: A Pedagogy-First Approach” was delivered by Hasan Zahoor, Channel Manager – India at SMART Technologies.
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.
The industry speech on “School Management ERP Integrated with Mobile App” was delivered by Urvish Sheth, Manager at Microweb Solutions.
Roundtable Discussion
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.
Celebrating Excellence: ArdorComm Education Leadership Awards 2026
A major highlight of the event was the prestigious ArdorComm Education Leadership Awards 2026, recognizing outstanding contributions across the education ecosystem.
The awards celebrated excellence across six key segments:
- Preschool Education
- School Education
- Higher Education
- Skills & Training
- EdTech Startups
- EdTech Corporate
Educators, institutions, and organizations were honoured for their innovation, resilience, and commitment to transforming education during rapidly changing times.
The award ceremony not only acknowledged achievements but also inspired the community to strive for higher standards of excellence and impact.
Driving the Vision of a Viksit Bharat
The summit strongly aligned with the broader national vision of building a Viksit Bharat, a developed India driven by knowledge, skills, and innovation.
Deliberations throughout the event reinforced that collaboration between government, academia, and industry is key to achieving this vision. By integrating policy reforms with practical implementation and technological advancements, India can create an inclusive and future-ready education ecosystem.
Conclusion
The ArdorComm – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2026 successfully emerged as a dynamic platform where ideas transformed into meaningful conversations and potential collaborations, reinforcing its role in shaping the future of education. As the curtains closed on this remarkable gathering in Ahmedabad, the overarching message was clear—the future of education lies in adaptability, innovation, and collective action. With its continued commitment to empowering the education community, ArdorComm Media Group remains at the forefront of driving impactful dialogue and recognizing excellence across the sector. The Ahmedabad edition of #AELSA2026 has set a new benchmark, paving the way for future editions to further strengthen India’s journey toward becoming a global education leader. As the movement continues, stakeholders across the ecosystem are encouraged to be a part of this transformative journey, celebrating innovation, leadership, and excellence in education.
Event Website: https://ardorcomm-media.com/aelsa/
Event Glimpses: https://ardorcomm-media.com/aelsa/aelsagujarat-glimpses/