2025 Higher and Tertiary Education Day Celebrations

By Hema Chakraborty

On the 15th of April, 2025, the Confederation of Indian Universities, in collaboration with GPF India, organised an elaborate celebration of Higher and Tertiary Education Day, 2025. The event was graced by dignitaries, academicians, expert researchers and activists alike. The day began with the auspicious ceremony of lighting the ceremonial lamp and was followed by the release of some very pertinent publications.

The initial presidential remarks were provided by the President, Confederation of Indian Universities (CIU), Dr. Priyaranjan Trivedi, which were both intellectually valuable and enlightening. This was followed by a theme presentation by a global citizen, Dr. Gregory Berglund, CEO, The Planet Earth (France/India). Post this, an engaging address by Dr. Markandey Rai, Chairman, GPF India, President, Indo-Pacific Peace Forum, and Chancellor, Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Sciences University, Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, motivated and inspired the audience. He spoke about the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, how educators must be the navigators of this technology for students, and how AI as a creative tool must be skill-based and inclusive. Next in line was an address by Dr. Shyam Narayan Pandey, Chancellor, International University, Dimapur, Nagaland.

This significant event in the area of education was graced by many Vice-Chancellors and Chancellors from across the country who were awarded for their excellence and invaluable contributions. The ones present included Professor Sanjay Srivastava, Vice-Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Professor Dibakar Chandra Deka, Vice-Chancellor, Mizoram University, Dr. Ganga Prasad Prasain, Vice-Chancellor, Tripura University, Professor Saket Kushwaha, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ladakh, Professor (Dr.)Tankeshwar Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Haryana, and Dr. AKS Nandram, Chancellor, European Open University, Belgium.

The highlight of this event was an effective and impactful presentation of the 22nd CIU Foundation Lecture on “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Learning in Higher and Tertiary Education,” by Professor T.G. Sitharam, Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi. The presentation included an understanding of the AI revolution in the sphere of education, the need for the integration of AI in higher and tertiary education, the role of AI in teaching, learning and assessment, how curriculum and skill development can be transformed, and ethical considerations with AI, among many other crucial aspects of AI in educational institutions and curriculum.

Other eminent personalities that attended this event included H.E. Mr. Ganbold Dambajav, Ambassador of Mongolia, H.E. Professor Amil Sooklal, High Commissioner of South Africa, and Dr. Rekha Udit, Chairperson, Women International Network. To provide this event with a concrete and actionable outcome, the 2025 CIU Declaration on AI-based Training and Research was presented to the audience with consequential steps to make the integration of AI in education smooth, efficient, and ethical and inclusive. The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Ms. Neelam Joshi and Dr. Avinash Chiranjeev.