Goa, October 22, 2026: The future of a university is shaped not only by the education it delivers today, but by the legacy it builds for generations to come. Against this backdrop, the ETEducation Chancellors’ Conclave 2026 commenced today at Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort, bringing together prominent university chancellors, founders, policymakers and industry leaders from across India to deliberate on the leadership choices, institutional ambitions and transformative shifts shaping the future of higher education. Dr Pramod Sawant, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, is scheduled to deliver the Chief Guest Address later today.Positioned as India’s first-ever and largest gathering dedicated to university chancellors, founders and higher education leaders, the three-day conclave will bring together prominent voices from academia, government and industry to deliberate on the leadership choices, institutional ambitions and transformative shifts shaping the future of higher education.
Anchored in the theme “Leadership to Legacy: Redefining the Future of Higher Education”, the opening day features high-level conversations on institutional leadership, policy and innovation, artificial intelligence and India’s global education ambitions. Discussions will also examine how universities can build enduring institutions that remain relevant across generations, alongside expert perspectives on education technology, digital assessment, future-ready curricula and evolving career pathways.
Leadership to legacy: Shaping universities for an AI-first world
The inaugural session, “Leadership to Legacy: Shaping the Future of Higher Education in an AI-First World”, set out to address the central question guiding the conclave: how can university leaders build institutions that remain relevant, resilient and influential across generations while preserving their founding purpose and identity?
The Opening session featured keynote addresses by Dr H Purushotham, Secretary, Department of Science, Technology & Innovation, Government of Andhra Pradesh; Dr Chenraj Roychand, Chancellor, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) and Founder and Chairman, JAIN Group; Navisha Prabhakar, Regional Head Education-South & West, Google Cloud; and Rohit Kumar, Co-Founder & President, India Campus Business, MSM Unify.
The session underscored the growing importance of leadership that looks beyond immediate institutional priorities towards long-term relevance, adaptability and impact. As technology reshapes education, universities face the dual responsibility of embracing new possibilities while retaining the academic values and institutional character that define them.
The university at a turning point: Policy, innovation and AI
The Centre Stage Discussion, “The University at a Turning Point: India’s Next Leap in Policy, Innovation & AI”, will bring together Dr Bhadra Reddy, Chairman, Malla Reddy Vishwavidyapeeth; Vinita Rohera, Vice President & Managing Trustee, Gandhinagar University; Vikram Shah, Chief Business Officer, Meritto; and Rohit Kumar, Co-Founder & President, India Campus Business, MSM Unify. The conversation will be moderated by Devina Lason, Editor – Video Initiatives & Senior Anchor, The Economic Times Business Verticals.
The discussion will examine the forces reshaping higher education and the strategic decisions institutions must make as policy priorities, technological innovation and changing learner expectations converge. It will highlight the need to look beyond technology adoption alone and consider how institutions can translate innovation into meaningful educational outcomes.
A series of expert talks will complement these discussions, covering student and university experiences, emerging display technologies, digital assessment, institutional impact, AI-driven curriculum transformation and future careers in healthcare. Contributions from Salesforce, LG Electronics, Excelsoft Technologies, D Y Patil Agriculture & Technical University, Bonton, Simandhar Education and Virohan will bring practical industry perspectives to the conclave’s broader focus on preparing institutions and learners for a rapidly evolving education landscape.
India@2047: Can India become the world’s education capital?
One of the key conversations of the opening day will be the Mega Panel, “India@2047: What Must Happen for India to Become the World’s Education Capital?”
The panel will bring together Amit Banerjee, Chancellor, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) University; Prof Mukti Kanta Mishra, Founding President, Centurion University; DP Nagaraj, Pro Chancellor, RV University; Dr Shasi Anand Sridharan, Vice President, Kalasalingam University; Prof Madhulika Kaushik, Pro Chancellor, Usha Martin University; Prof (Dr) Vandana Arora Sethi, CEO, Lloyd Group of Institutions; Dr N Nagamani Nagaraja, Chief of Strategy and System, National Education Foundation; Uttam Pai Umesh, Vice President – Founder’s Office, Miles Education; and Vikas Mathur, Vice President – Cloud & AI Competency Development, Trainocate India. Devina Lason will moderate the discussion.
The conversation will centre on what India must do to strengthen its position in the global education landscape by 2047. Key areas of focus will include building globally competitive universities, advancing policy reforms, attracting international students and talent, and positioning India as a leading exporter of knowledge and talent.
The discussion will bring the focus back to a defining ambition for Indian higher education: moving beyond scale to build institutions with global standing, strong academic foundations and the capacity to shape the future of learning and research.
From founder to steward: Building institutions that outlast their leaders
The day’s core leadership discussions will also feature the Trilogue Chat, “From Founder to Steward: Leadership Lessons in Building Institutions that Outlast You.”
The conversation will feature Dr P Rajeshwar Reddy, Chairman, Anurag University; Pradeep Kumar Gupta, Founder & Chairman, Sharda Group of Institutions and Chancellor, Sharda University; Dr Subba Rao Pavuluri, Chancellor, Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research; and Hemant Sahal, Founder & CEO, Digii. Sheeba Chauhan, Assistant Manager – Content & Community, The Economic Times Business Verticals, will moderate the session.
Moving beyond the idea of leadership as individual achievement, the discussion will explore how institutions can transition from founder-led models to enduring organisations supported by leadership pipelines, succession planning and a strong institutional culture. The conversation will reinforce a central premise of the conclave: a lasting legacy is measured not only by an institution’s growth or reputation, but also by its ability to sustain its purpose and progress across generations.
Goa adds a distinctive cultural dimension
The opening day will also bring a celebratory dimension to the conclave. Following Dr Pramod Sawant’s scheduled Chief Guest Address, the evening will feature “An Evening of Goan Grandeur”, a cultural performance by the Department of Arts & Culture, Government of Goa.
The day will conclude with a gala dinner under the Goan sky, offering delegates an opportunity to continue conversations in a more informal setting while experiencing the region’s cultural warmth and hospitality.
Looking ahead: Two days of leadership, ideas and institution building
The conversations will continue on October 23 with sessions on the next generation of high-impact universities, AI-led institutional transformation, India’s higher education priorities towards 2047, internationalisation, university growth and sustainability, and founder succession.
A key highlight will be a fireside chat with Dr Kiran Bedi, India’s first woman IPS officer and former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, who will share perspectives on resilience, overcoming challenges and building a legacy.
The conclave will conclude on October 24 with a focus on outcomes, farewell networking and departures.
By bringing together leaders from across academia, government and industry, the ETEducation Chancellors’ Conclave 2026 seeks to create space for candid dialogue on the decisions that will shape the next chapter of Indian higher education. Its opening day whas placed one question at the heart of the conversation: how can today’s institutional leadership create a legacy that continues to matter tomorrow?
