Interviews

What is your experience of attending this forum, especially compared to metro-based events like Mumbai? Thank you so much. It was wonderful meeting so many educators from the state of Gujarat, and there was so much to learn. First of all, I would like to congratulate you for bringing these regional chapters. What happens here is that we come out of our own cocoon and get to know what is happening at the grassroots level. It is a wonderful initiative. There are a lot of differences, but more than differences, I think we need to find similarities. Wherever educators go, if they are visionary, they go for learning. What I learned today is that schools following the state curriculum here in Gujarat are doing phenomenal work. So it is not about the kind of gathering, it is all about learning and becoming a seeker. Whenever I come to your forum or any forum, I go as a seeker, and the more I become a seeker, the more enlightened I become. How do you see digital transformation linked with skilling in education? I love being digital. Let me tell you, I am the biggest promoter of AI because why not make AI your faithful servant rather than your authoritative master. The more we learn about AI as educators, the better we will be able to guide our students and parents. Technology is here to stay, and every 10 years something new comes, and we see it as a threat. But it is not a threat, it is an opportunity. Our children at the age of 9 and 10 are creating things. So why not be a part of this era, which gives you a lot of free time if you want, and use that time to mentor your children rather than just teaching them through chalk and talk. Be there for your students as a mentor, not just a traditional teacher. What are three simple parameters students can follow in their daily lives? Three easy ways—first is learn how to learn. If you learn that, life will become sorted. Second is always be ready to become a seeker. I always say let children ask questions. The art of questioning should be a subject in school, integrated with all subjects. Third is be happy with whatever is happening because the world has become a flat economy. Anything happening anywhere in the world reaches our classrooms. So stay happy, learn, and enjoy life. What are your key takeaways from today’s forum? I see that everybody is future-centric. Everyone wants to move towards Viksit Bharat. The most beautiful thing I saw today is that it is not just talk—everyone has opened their doors and said, “Come to our school, see what we are doing.” This is something phenomenal. Magic can be created when we open our doors. Your organization, through this summit, has created that platform. Even for me, it has opened doors to many schools that I would like to visit and collaborate with in the future. Keep doing this phenomenal work. It is beautiful, and magic can happen when we come together.  

What are the key digital education initiatives in your school, especially around the theme ‘Digital Learning for All’? So AI is the future, and AI is here to stay. The first thing that we need to do is to train educators. AI in education will not begin with algorithms. AI in education will begin with trained teachers. The first thing is to train teachers. So we did a training last year where we trained all our 500 teachers in AI education—how to use AI tools, how to make presentations, notes, worksheets, websites, apps. Every single teacher has been trained in AI education. Because today, a young child is talking in class about Gemini, and if a teacher does not know what Claude or Gemini is, there is a disconnect. The student will immediately say that my teacher does not know what is happening in the world. So teachers have to go hand in hand with the knowledge of the student. Second is that we have to teach students about AI, cyber security, and skills that will be needed in the future from a very early age. So we have introduced a program called Future Edge Program from grade one. They are taught digital wellness, cyber security, AI, robotics, coding from grade one itself. These are the ABCs of today’s world—A for AI, B for blockchain, and C for cyber security. Data is the new textbook, and we have to ensure how we prepare our students for the future. Is it too early to introduce digital learning and AI to young children? How do you balance it? At an early age, it is not about burdening the child. AI is everywhere. You go on Alexa, you use an iPhone, you say “Hey Siri”—it is AI. The child is already using it in some way or the other. So it is not about burdening, it is about guiding them in the right direction. If we do not catch them early and guide them on how to use these tools, it may become a disaster in the future. We cannot run away from AI. We have to accept it and ensure that we have checks and balances in place so that the child is in a safe environment. At the same time, AI in education does not begin with algorithms, it begins with empowered educators. Continuous training of teachers is mandatory, and then it can go to the students. What should parents consider while selecting a school for their child? Trust is a very important factor in education. The moment you want to put your child in a school, every school is doing wonderfully well. Everyone is trying their best. But the most important factor is trust—that this is the school where my child will become a good human being and will be given the tools to be ready for the future. Every 5–10 years, the world keeps changing. Around 65% of students entering grade one will work in jobs that do not exist today. So what is being taught today may become redundant, and what will be useful does not exist yet. So schools must focus on skills rather than just content. Today, content is accessible everywhere. Asking the right questions is more important—that is prompt engineering. Skills include digital skills, but also physical health, mental health, overall well-being, environmental stewardship. We must focus on what skills will be needed to solve future problems and on learning how to learn. You were not taught Gmail, Instagram, or Google in school, but you adapted. That is what we need to teach—how to keep adapting to new technologies. What are your key takeaways from today’s event? It was a great interaction, meeting new people. There were many school educators, representatives from government, and corporates. The overall focus is on making good human beings who are ready for the future. That is the one-line takeaway which I strongly believe in and which was a consensus among all the panelists. In today’s world, with increasing extremism, wars, and polarized thinking, we have to ensure that we are rooted in our values, in our Indian ethos, and become good human beings first. At the same time, we must be ready to face the future. That balance is very important.  

How has your journey been from a retired bureaucrat to an academician, and what have been your key learnings? School education has been close to my heart. I have been passionate about it. In my early life, in my childhood, I had to struggle a lot because I come from a village which is not close to a city. We used to walk 5 km a day carrying a school bag on our back, not complaining, having fun all the way, and being a part of nature. We all learn by our senses. We learn by observation, by listening, and by doing. Sometimes we also learn by listening to wise and learned people. Being part of government service, I had exposure to a variety of situations and experiences, and that has been useful when I thought of setting up a school. In our school, we believe in the motto “care and share.” We care for each other, and we share what we have. It is not only about sharing your lunch or dinner; it is about sharing your knowledge. Because life is too short, and if you leave this world without sharing, it all goes with you. How important is digital hygiene in today’s world, and what precautions should be taken? The digital world is everywhere, and we are more and more into it. It is created by human beings to help perform tasks easily and smoothly. But we do not want the digital world to take over everything because we are human beings, and the human touch in learning should never go away. That is what I believe. Technology can facilitate learning, but it cannot replace human interaction. Person-to-person experience, sharing, talking, and learning is the best form. Technology can only help; it cannot take over all functions. Human interaction is the best way to learn from each other. How do you bridge the digital gap between rural and urban students? The digital world is everywhere. Access to the internet is available widely now. It is not about going to a big place to learn; you can learn wherever you are. Our students are already learning these things at home. Technology is easily accessible. In fact, sometimes students are more knowledgeable than teachers. So it becomes a challenge for teachers to keep themselves updated. We must accept this fact. If teachers are not updating themselves, will they remain relevant? That is the question. What are your views on NEP 2020 and its implementation? Our Education Policy 2020 is a very good document. The challenge is implementation. It is beautifully created by wise people and should be followed in letter and spirit. But what we often miss is whether we are listening to our children. Education has been more teacher-centric rather than child-centric. Teachers sometimes feel they know everything, but that may not always be true. The best classrooms are interactive. When you listen to children, you realize you also need to learn more. What innovative practices have you implemented in your school? Our school focuses on activity-based learning and learning by doing. At the same time, we are experimenting with child-centric learning. One day in a week, we ask children what they want to learn and how they want to learn. We act as facilitators. My experience is that children are learning and enjoying it. It is worth trying this experiment. How do forums like this help society at large? Such forums are necessary because many times we live in our own isolated worlds. We do not sit together, share ideas, or exchange experiences. These forums bring people together to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices. Education is a vast field, and learning must always continue. If we stop learning, we start stagnating. So we must always remain open to learning. Any message for ArdorComm Media as it grows? Just keep it up and have more such sessions. We need more opportunities where people can come together with an open mind and share ideas, experiences, and best practices.  

Could you tell us more about Sardar Patel Education Trust and its institutions? Proud to tell you we have four autonomous colleges. One is B.N. Patel College of Allied Science, which is the first allied science autonomous college in all of India. We are implementing professional courses for several professionals coming out as physiotherapists, nursing professionals, optometrists, and allied science graduates. We run arts, commerce, schools, and everything. We create the dream of the kids with their dream for their future, to create the future of the young ones who will represent the future of India in this coming AI world, which will evolve with technology. One thing to say—we study the past to represent our future. From the past, we have to learn and adapt our future in such a way and implement it because our students will become the future of tomorrow. Could you elaborate more on your institution’s academic ecosystem and offerings? First of all, we are very much thankful to ArdorComm and the management for inviting us to this mega event. We are from the Sardar Patel Education Trust. We have institutes under the trust in Gujarat, and we have four autonomous colleges in the field of arts, commerce, and science. As far as Sardar Patel University is concerned, we have the largest number of institutes affiliated with it, and all are accredited with NAAC. We are providing various programs from UG to PhD, as well as programs in artificial intelligence and cyber security. What is your perspective on the evolving role of technology and global developments in education? Traditional mode of education is evolving. When ISRO is evolving, NASA wants to collaborate with ISRO. Day by day, ISRO is making steps to move forward towards space. The one who conquers space has conquered mankind. In the future, wars—whether technology, information, energy, or cyber—will be fought from space. Everything will be directed from space. People like Elon Musk have seen the future and are moving beyond where traditional thinking cannot reach. It is written in our ancient history that people with knowledge would travel far into space and were the leaders and creators of humankind. In such a competitive and evolving education landscape, what keeps you motivated? Education is worship, and worship is education. Education cannot be left behind; it always has to be forward integrated. It is the duty of the trust or management to ensure that the system is upgraded, just like technology is upgraded. We have to evolve with technology, and certain changes are very much necessary at the state-of-the-art level. Tutors who are developing students must also upgrade themselves and create space for new learning. The world is moving, time is endless, and we have to move forward with time. What are your key takeaways from today’s event? As we know the theme of today is Viksit Gujarat, Viksit Bharat, and we are in the era of artificial intelligence. We have many takeaways. We need to implement these technologies and strategies in our regular education system. Once again, thank you very much to ArdorComm and the management for inviting us.  

How has your experience been at today’s event, and what value does such a platform bring? Thank you so much. You invited us to this ArdorComm event, and it is a really wonderful platform for all school owners as well as university representatives. We came on a single platform that is purely for learning. At our school, we are running and managing operations, but here all school owners, directors, and principals are present. We get new ideas and learn from others on how to tackle present challenges. What are the key challenges when comparing schools in rural and urban areas? If you talk about schools in rural areas, students are very proactive, teachers are also proactive, and management is also proactive. But the main challenge is that the things we implement in Ahmedabad take around 2–3 years to reach nearby towns or surrounding areas. That is the gap. They have the infrastructure and even AI-enabled campuses, but implementation takes time. However, we ensure that across Gujarat—whether in Ahmedabad or Bharuch—we follow the same pedagogy. How do you decide on curriculum and academic patterns across different regions? It varies from area to area. Even within Ahmedabad, in the west region we follow a different set of books, and in the east region, a different set. Similarly, across Gujarat, for example in Nadiad, we first understand the local student needs and what parents expect. Based on that, we decide the curriculum and content to implement. How important are digital tools like ERP and LMS in schools today? ERP is a 10–15-year-old platform. It covers basic functions like fee generation, accounts, and attendance. But now the demand is for LMS systems. LMS focuses on what you actually deliver to students—how parents can track performance, how students can learn better using technology, and how teachers can interact directly with students. So LMS is essential for modern school campuses. Are such digital systems implemented in rural schools as well? Yes. Recently, we tied up with a Delhi-based company. We have implemented systems where every classroom has cameras, and AI generates reports on what the teacher is delivering. From these AI reports, teachers can understand their performance and improve their teaching methods. How do forums like this benefit the education community at large? These forums definitely help. As school owners, we are usually surrounded by a limited group of people. But here, people from across Gujarat—from different schools and universities—come together. We learn from each other about what they are implementing. Such events provide ideas, and it is great that you are organizing a platform where everyone can come together, learn, and share. What are your key takeaways from today’s event? I met many good people who are implementing strong learning platforms in their schools. We learned from them, and we also shared our ideas. It is a very good learning platform for all school owners.

We would like to understand a few key highlights about Coursera. Many people are aware of it, but for those who are not, how would you explain it? Well, I would first ask them, how are you not aware of it? But that’s on a lighter note. Broadly speaking, if we talk specifically about India, Coursera is one of the world’s largest online education platforms. India is our second-largest market, with close to 32 million learners, surpassing even Europe in terms of learner base. Picking up from our earlier offline conversation, Coursera’s core philosophy is that education should be accessible to everyone, everywhere. Through this platform, we are revolutionizing the way education is delivered in India and globally. Today, we are supporting governments in delivering last-mile connectivity in terms of education and skill-building. In India, we are not only focusing on learners but also on how technology is evolving. Coursera’s India Development Center is at the core of this transformation. We are building in India, for India, and for the world in terms of technology and innovation. What is the purpose of coming to this part of the country? How is it different from the mainland? As I mentioned earlier, India will truly be developed in every possible sense — what we call Viksit Bharat — only when we see a Viksit Northeast as well. For us, being here is about ensuring last-mile connectivity in the northeastern part of India. I am expecting to meet leaders from the government and the public university ecosystem here to understand how we can collaborate and bring Coursera to the citizens and students of the Northeast. How do you see the acceptance of courses taken by institutions or professionals? Is it more inclined toward new-age learning, or are traditional courses also in demand? If I speak specifically about campuses, what we have seen so far is that they are looking at both domain-based learning, which we are strong in, and emerging technology courses. Our edge lies in today’s emerging tech and future-oriented programs. We see both students and teachers taking courses in domain subjects as well as emerging technologies. When we see forums like this bringing together technology partners, startups, academicians, and government representatives, how does such a forum help the community at large? I think you have the whole ecosystem here — that’s how I would put it. You have policymakers who are responsible for influencing and creating policies. Then you have stakeholders from campuses who have been very vocal about what they expect from the government and corporates. When this entire ecosystem comes together in discussion forums and roundtables, they can reflect on different ideas. I personally picked up a few points from what the school education chairperson and others discussed earlier. There are key takeaways for me as well, and I am sure there are valuable takeaways for people from schools, colleges, and policy backgrounds. Such discussions help in exchanging ideas and shaping collaborative action. How does Coursera fit into this model? How do students generally enroll? The re-engagement level on our platform is quite high. Broadly, we operate in two models. One model is direct-to-consumer, where individuals visit the Coursera website, subscribe to courses, start learning, and move ahead in their careers based on their learning goals. The second model involves working closely with campuses, governments, and corporates. In this case, they identify specific skill sets they want to impart to employees, citizens, or students to enhance employability. For campuses, the focus is on strengthening curriculum and enhancing employability. For governments, it is about skilling citizens as well as students in colleges to make them future-ready. If we are looking to create a talent pool driven by AI and other emerging technologies, governments have already started focusing on this. I believe we are at the right place at the right time. A lot of innovation is happening, and we are witnessing significant changes across governments, corporates, and institutions. It was wonderful having you at today’s event. Any final thoughts? Thank you so much for having me here. I must also appreciate ArdorComm Media for organizing phenomenal events across India over the past few years. You bring together diverse groups of people in meaningful forums and help them ideate and exchange best practices. Whether it is through push or pull — I’ll leave that to you — but you are doing a phenomenal job. Congratulations once again.  

We would like to know more about your organisation — the various streams you offer, the student strength, and the USP of the university. Dayananda Sagar University is about 10 years old in Bengaluru, and it is one of the first AI-first universities in India. The objective of the university leadership is to introduce Artificial Intelligence right from academics to administration and in all activities concerning students and faculty. Given the large component of technology and healthcare courses in the university, a lot of interdisciplinary research and application of AI across these streams is currently underway. As we speak, the university team is working very hard to collaborate with NVIDIA and set up a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, perhaps the first of its kind in the country, at our main campus in Bengaluru. Dayananda Sagar University also has several other departments, such as the School of Law, the School of Computer Applications, the School of Health Sciences, and the College of Journalism and Mass Communication, which I head. We believe that along with technology and healthcare advancements, we also need good human beings. Arts and humanities are critical components of education. This is where interdisciplinary research and academic activities help. As the world moves closer towards Artificial Intelligence — almost like a race — at some point we must pause and ask: what is happening to real human qualities such as critical thinking and analysis? Arts and humanities will play a very important role here. A balanced academic approach is what strengthens a university like Dayananda Sagar University. With so many developments in new-age learning, where does teacher training stand? What developments are happening in that area? As a conscious policy at Dayananda Sagar University, we train teachers in an interdisciplinary manner. Teachers who teach technology or healthcare-related subjects must compulsorily include components from the humanities — whether it is soft skills, dealing with patients, interacting with students, managing clients, or working in management streams. They need knowledge of sociology, psychology, and human behaviour. Understanding how to approach human beings and how to pass on thoughts and training is crucial. On the other hand, teachers in humanities also need some technical training. Today, without technology, you cannot even run a classroom or upload notes. So we must strike a balance and bring both sides together midway. In journalism and mass communication, do students see it as a lucrative, polished, or materialistic sector, or are they entering it with a sense of service to society? How is today’s generation approaching it? That’s a very interesting question. I think students who choose media, mass communication, and journalism do so primarily because they are genuinely interested in it. However, what I find lacking is awareness at the school level. Not enough is done in the curriculum to inform students that there are excellent career opportunities in media, digital media, social media, advertising, and public relations. Mass communication is not just journalism; it includes all these allied fields. Students who are aware of these opportunities pursue it as a career option. More than service to society, I think many are excited by the idea of doing something different from their peers. Media and entertainment today are among the largest sectors globally in terms of turnover, and technology is transforming this space significantly, creating more opportunities. So awareness must be built at the school level to encourage more students to voluntarily take it up and excel. In forums like this, where corporates, government entities, and academicians come together, how do such platforms help the larger community? This is a fantastic forum because it brings together policymakers, faculty, university leadership, and administrators — at both school and higher education levels. Today, many of us are working in silos. We are not talking enough to each other or exchanging ideas. When we work in isolation, we tend to believe that our way is the best way. Only when we meet others — even competitors — do we learn from their best practices. A platform like this brings together people from diverse backgrounds and helps in the exchange of ideas and thoughts. I believe we need more such summits and conclaves. We are a four-year-old media startup, launched during the COVID era, working pan-India to create such forums. Any message or wishes for us? I think you are doing a fantastic job. Starting during the COVID era and operating without a physical office — with everyone working from their own spaces — is a great business model. It reflects passion and commitment towards the education sector. What stands out is the intent behind your events. These are not merely marketing events; they are platforms that bring thought leaders together to exchange ideas and best practices. That is phenomenal. Unfortunately, many events today are treated more as marketing exercises rather than platforms for idea exchange. In the West, events focus strongly on sharing best practices openly, and that is how countries progress. You are doing a phenomenal job. My best wishes to ArdorComm Media. I am very happy that Dayananda Sagar University is associated with ArdorComm. Last time we met in Bengaluru, we received the award for Best Media Institute. Going forward, we would be happy to continue as partners, depending on management decisions.

We would like to know more about your schools in terms of capacity, student strength, and the new initiatives under your leadership. At present, we are a group of two schools. One school, The Down Town School, was started in 2022 in Guwahati. The Down Town Gurukul, which is our first school, was started in 2019 in Moranhat in Upper Assam. The entire purpose of entering school education was to look into the learning needs of students so that they become future-ready when they move on to higher education. Along with academics, what role does skilling play, and where is digital education heading in your institution? I’m very happy to say that in both schools, from pre-primary up to the secondary level, we are totally digitalised in terms of the teaching-learning process. However, as we all know, too much screen time is not good and is currently becoming a public health concern. So, we also try to keep our learning organic through a lot of hands-on activities — in areas such as financial management, sustainability, and community management — through student-led conferences and projects in both our schools. What role does sports play in your institutions? Is participation based on student preference, or is it also compulsory? I am very happy to say that for The Down Town Group of Schools, sports is an integral part of our curriculum. We have fixed hours for activities such as swimming, taekwondo, basketball, and football. These are scheduled for all students. From Grade 3 onwards, students get the option to choose their preferred sport. In fact, next month, one of our students from The Down Town School will be part of the national roller skating team. That’s wonderful to know. How are extracurricular activities integrated into the institution? What we have tried to do is maintain a perfect balance between academics, sports, and extracurricular activities in the daily timetable. For example, if there are two hours of academics, it is followed by a sports class, then maybe a music class or club activities. Because of this balance, during holidays we often receive calls from parents saying that their children want to come to school because they would rather be at school than at home. We try to keep the learning experience exciting and not just emphasise academics alone. Are there any specific initiatives in teaching-learning processes and teacher training? Teacher training is an important part of our institutional culture. Every March and July, we conduct continuous upgradation programmes for our teachers. As we discussed in the panel about lifelong learning and digital learning, our teachers also take up many online courses as part of their appraisal process. They earn certifications for these courses, and this is a mandatory part of our system.  

We would like to understand more about the initiatives taken under your leadership at your institute, sir. I joined ICFAI University, Mizoram, on 1st August 2025. My background is from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi — Class of 1984. I spent more than 14 years in the corporate world, and overall about 25 years in Mumbai. My last assignment was as Vice President for a group of investment companies. Initially, I joined as a direct recruit officer with The New India Assurance Company back in 1990. So my approach is not purely as an academician or educationist. I use more of a corporate model — results first, need-based planning. One of the first things I did was start the PhD programme. There are many faculty members working as Assistant Professors in Mizoram and Manipur who, despite working in colleges and universities, do not have a PhD. So this initiative was propelled by that need. The response has been good. For the first batch, we made the written examination and interview very tough. After filtering, seven candidates were selected. They have completed their coursework and have been certified. For the second batch, we received 62 applications, mostly from Mizoram and Manipur. Thankfully, we are covering two states. You will also be surprised to know that, unlike many other private universities, we have 30 foreign students this year. That number is likely to increase to 60+, as we have strong connections with Myanmar, particularly the Chinland region. Our philosophy is simple — if we touch lives, let us touch them meaningfully. We strive to be very strong on the curriculum side. Anyone who enrols with us, we aim for them to pass with distinction — 80% plus — and at least a first division of 75% plus. At the same time, we are equally strong in co-curricular activities. Mizoram has a very strong cultural background, especially in music. Our students participate in pop and music contests. In fact, some celebrities are products of our university, and two of our newly registered PhD scholars are celebrities in their own right. We also celebrate real achievers in society. For example, on 11th February, we are celebrating a lady who was imprisoned in Tezpur Jail from 1975 to 1981 during the Mizo National Front movement. She later married a returnee from the Mizo National Army. Cultural identity is a strong component of our institution. Recently, we have also started focusing on sports. We participated in the Association of Indian Universities tournament, where 41 teams competed. It was a knockout tournament, and we reached the fourth round in our very first attempt. Next year, we aim to go further. We are also planning to create a fund to support talented students in sports who are financially weak, giving them space to grow and excel. Another major reform I am planning is to change the placement model. There are over 10,000 Mizos working abroad. With their support, our placements will increasingly be international. For example, 22 young Mizos are currently serving in the British Army, and 24 footballers are playing in separate football leagues abroad. So the myth that Mizos are not keen to go outside is incorrect. Currently, six of our students from Hospitality and Tourism are interning at JW Marriott Goa. After their internships, we will encourage international placements — better money and greater exposure. I believe this is a very interesting model, and in a few years, many institutions may start copying it. In forums like this, where academicians, government representatives, EdTech corporates, and startups are present, how do such platforms help the larger community? I think this is a very good initiative and can be expanded. India has North, South, East, and West — you can rotate such forums regionally, like a football tournament or a zonal competition. We often talk about academia and corporate collaboration, but there is a third segment — the government. They must also be brought in meaningfully. You have started engaging bureaucrats, which is a good move. They have connections and influence — that should be tapped strategically. Another important point is that you have involved Vice Chancellors. If more VCs participate collectively, they can take decisions on the spot. Corporate representation will always be there. Strategically, I think this is a very strong move. ArdorComm Media has just completed its fourth year of existence. Any message or good wishes you would like to share? I believe that with more discipline and a more strategic approach, much more can be achieved. Rather than depending only on the government, you can also tap into corporates and the financial sector, especially through well-laid-out CSR processes. You have different segments — schools up to Class 10, colleges, and universities. Working across these three layers or degrees of operation can create a strong ecosystem. I believe you have already started that journey. Continue with discipline and strategic clarity, and you will grow further.  

We have a very senior academician and a defence personnel, Major General B. D. Wadhwa, AVSM, Pro-Chancellor (Emeritus), IILM University, Greater Noida. We welcome you to today’s event. Thank you so much. I’m happy to be here for two reasons. Firstly, because I have served here for long, long years, so I was looking forward to coming here. Secondly, from the academic point of view, Assam means a lot to us. And of course, your platforms have always been a source of learning. That’s why I thought I must attend this platform. A person of your stature — from defence to academia — what was the thought process behind this transition, and how has the journey been so far? You see, I was always bent more towards academics. I left home at the age of 15 years and 10 months when I had just passed Class 11. After four years of training, somehow I did well. Thanks to the Government of India and the people of India — I’ll put it that way — I did my B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, my M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, another M.Tech in Instrumentation Technology, and my Master’s in Management. I was also a faculty member for a good 11 years while serving in the Army. Therefore, I always wanted to come into the academic sector. If you ask me what the difference is — well, there is a lot of difference. The way we teach and the way we impart knowledge to our students differs. Outside, at least in the private sector of higher education in India, there is, in my thinking, some laxity. In my university, therefore, I have tried to remove that laxity. Everybody is talking about digitalisation and skilling. What initiatives is your institute taking under your leadership? That is moving towards Artificial Intelligence. You spoke about robotics. The days have come when, in my College of Engineering, we have removed the traditional streams of Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Automobile Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. There are hardly any students in those streams. If you have 1,000 admissions, out of those, 920 want to go into Computer Science alone. So that is the thought process in the environment, and we are tuning ourselves and changing ourselves by inducting more and more technology into our curriculum. Now, you asked me about skilling. Today, there is no other way. The way the Indian corporate sector has changed — until you are perfect in your soft skills, your hard skills, and your personality is above standard and above average — you are nowhere. Gone are those days when a CGPA of 9 or 90% marks could help you get a job. No. I may have 70%, but if my personality is better than yours, I could get a job and even a higher salary than you. I have seen these changes over the last 20 years. Accordingly, we have brought in a lot of training infrastructure focused on skills and personality building for our students. That is important. How is the participation in terms of admissions happening, sir? Is it from Central India, South India, or the Northeast? As far as Greater Noida is concerned, there are about six universities and around two dozen standalone institutions. Nobody comes from New Delhi to Greater Noida. Nobody comes from Mumbai, the South, or Ahmedabad. Why would they come to Greater Noida? So where are the crowds coming from? There are about 60,000 students in Greater Noida. The bulk — 90% to 95% — come from West Bengal, distant places of Uttar Pradesh, distant places of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Assam. I have tried to go beyond Odisha and Assam. The efforts I have put in have brought some results, but we are still lacking a little. It will take time to bring about that kind of awakening — more so among the parents and faculty. The Northeast is going to take time to come up to the level of the corporate sector that we have elsewhere. So these are the places that are feeding students to Greater Noida. In forums like the ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit and Awards, where we see academicians, corporate leaders, and government representation — how does this help the larger community? It is very important for corporate people to tell the students and academicians what exactly they are looking for. This hasn’t yet been fully brought out. I’m sure in the subsequent panels it will be. It is equally important for academicians to understand what corporates are looking for, go back, and train their students accordingly. Like I said, those days of relying only on high percentages are over. What are your takeaways from today’s event since morning? So far, a lot has come out. I’m glad many people spoke to me during the tea break. They spoke to the other panellists and to you as well. I’m happy that some awakening has already begun. Now, they have to carry this awakening and the lessons from here back to their tribes, villages, and locations. Only then will there be real benefit from such hard work and from the kind of dedicated platforms you are providing.