Exposure visit to 18th FICCI Higher Education Summit 2023
29th - 30th November 2023
Institution's Innovation Council (IIC), Ministry of Education (MoE) Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurugram organized an exposure visit to “18th FICCI Higher Education Summit 2023” on 29th -30th November 2023. 2nd year students along with faculty member Prof. Vimmi Malhotra ( CSE) and Dr. BMK Prasad (Director, DCE) went for the visit.
The FICCI Higher Education Summit (HES) is a distinguished annual conference of significant importance in India's higher education landscape. For the past two decades, the FICCI Higher Education Summit has stood as the vanguard of contemporary deliberations surrounding the transformation and evolution of global higher education.
Day 1: Inaugural ceremony and Launch of FICCI edition with panel discussions.
Mr. Subhrakant Panda (President, FICCI) inaugurated the summit and welcomed delegates, government officials from different states along with Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar (Pro-Chancellor of Symbiosis International University), Mr. Ashutosh Gupta (Country Manager of LinkedIn, CEO of Niti Aayog). Shri B.V.R Subrahmanyam focuses on the future impacts of higher education with the release of the FICCI EY report with other guests. At last, the inaugural ceremony ended with a vote of thanks by Prof. Souvik Bhattacharyya, who discussed the scope of higher education with on-demand skills in today’s world.
Panel Discussion 1: the agenda is “Advancing the Global Agenda: Universities as Key Partners in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals”.
In the session discussion on the vital role of universities in driving positive change and progress towards SDGs on a global scale with panelists by Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M.D. Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dr Dev Swarup, Vice Chancellor, Baba Amte University, along with 3 more guests. They concluded, HEIs act as catalysts for transformation and play a pivotal role in addressing social, economic and environmental issues on a global scale and shaping a better future for all.
Panel Discussion 2: the agenda is “Nurturing Innovation and Entrepreneurship: HEIs Role in Driving Disruption and fostering creativity”
The session deliberately focused on HEIs students and their achievement via research and exploration. By encouraging disruptive thinking and providing practical tools, these institutions empower to transform imaginative concepts into impactful solutions and drive societal progress. The panel was led by Prof. Souvik Bhattacharyya.
Panel Discussion 3: the agenda is “Globalizing HE: A perspective from the Global South”
Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar provided unique insights into the process of internationalizing HE, particularly from the perspectives of the Global South and India. There was a discussion on critical aspects of effective industry-academia engagement by top higher educationist and industry leaders. The conversation delve into strategies for enhancing international engagement, exchange programs, research partnerships, and cultural interactions, thereby shaping a comprehensive vision for internationalization tailored to the unique needs of these regions.
DAY 2: B2B Meetings and panel discussion
Panel Discussion 4: the agenda is “Edtech Revolution in India: Driving Accessibility, Quality, and Affordability”
The EdTech revolution in India is reshaping the education landscape by revolutionising accessibility, enhancing quality, and increasing affordability. Mr. Hemant Sahal (Founder and CEO of Digii) discusses the role universities can play in preparing students for an AI world and the role data analytics and AI-powered tools play in personalizing learning experiences and addressing individual learning needs.
Panel Discussion 5: the agenda is “Cultivating Resilience: Pioneering Risk Management Strategies for Higher Education Institutions”
Mr. Sunder Natarajan, Governance Board Member discussed the ways by which universities can foster a culture of resilience among students, faculty, and staff. He also told, how institutions can equip their communities with the skills and mindset needed to adapt to unexpected disruptions and changes.
Panel Discussion 6: the agenda is “Empowering Excellence: The Role of Quality Assurance, Accreditation & Benchmarking in Higher Education”
Dr. Ashwin Fernandes (Regional Director) motivates participants to ensure Quality Assurance, Accreditation, and Benchmarking to ensure high academic standards, accountability, and continuous improvement. Quality assurance helps set rigorous standards, accreditation helps build trust and Benchmarking allows universities to measure performance and foster improvement.
Panel Discussion 7: the agenda is “Institutional Social Responsibility: Aligning Values with Actions”
The panel discussion seeks to unravel the multifaceted responsibilities of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that extend far beyond their traditional role in classrooms. Discussion is made on how HEIs are actively shaping an ideal society for future generations. Experts in the session asked the HEIs to go beyond academia, focusing on creating inclusive and diverse campus environments that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion among students, faculty, and staff.
Dr. Rajita Kulkarni, the President, concluded the session which engaged participant in environmental stewardship, exploring sustainable practices, eco-friendly curricula, and cutting-edge sustainability research.
Overall, the conference was very useful to faculty and students. Also, it motivated all to be exposed to global best practices and explore collaborations with domestic/foreign partners.