Dr. Sunil Rai, President, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun, Shares Insights on Collaboration, Flexibility & Purpose at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun

Welcome to the event, Dr. Sunil Rai. What are your key takeaways from today’s Education Leadership Summit?

Firstly, I would like to congratulate you and your entire team for putting together this event with a very timely theme—expanding education, skills, and employability. The major takeaway for me is the need for total collaboration between governance, industry, and educators. Only then can we build strong bridges and capitalize on each other’s resources effectively.

In today’s era, sports seem to be vanishing from academic curricula. What’s your perspective on the role of sports in education?

Sports are a crucial component of character and personality building. At UPES, sports are not considered extracurricular—they are incurricular.
All students are required to follow a health routine, be it yoga, zumba, running, or trekking. Additionally, students must pick up a sport—field or individual.
If they perform well at the district level, they even receive CGPA credits up to point 1 to point 5 which is quite substantial. So yes, sports should be embedded in the curriculum, not sidelined.

The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) emphasizes flexibility and inclusivity. What initiatives has UPES taken to align with this vision?

We’ve implemented multiple NEP-aligned measures:

• Flexibility: Students can take up to 18 credits (6 exploratory courses) from any stream. For example, a law student can take a biotech course, or a biosciences student can explore design.

• Mobility: If a student realizes they’re in the wrong program (e.g., BTech X), they can switch as late as the end of the second year.

• Inclusivity: We ensure no student is denied education due to financial constraints. Financial support is arranged as needed.

ArdorComm Media is celebrating its 4th anniversary. Any message or wishes for the team?

Many congratulations on completing four impactful years. It doesn’t feel like just four years—you’ve already covered a remarkable distance. What stands out about ArdorComm is your sense of purpose. My advice is: don’t lose that. You’re not just another media company—you are making a difference. Stay true to your mission, and I wish you and your team continued success and impact.