GOA: India’s ambition to become a developed nation by 2047 will depend on making quality education accessible to rural and marginalised communities while strengthening research, innovation and employability, said Shri Subhash Phal Dessai, Minister for Social Welfare, Drinking Water, Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and River Navigation, Government of Goa.
Delivering the Guest of Honour Address at the ETEducation Chancellors’ Conclave 2026, Phal Dessai emphasised that universities must look beyond infrastructure development and academic qualifications to become active contributors to national development.
He highlighted India’s young population as a major opportunity, warning that its demographic advantage could become a challenge if students are not equipped with relevant education, skills and employment opportunities.
Education must reach the last student
Phal Dessai stressed that the National Education Policy 2020‘s emphasis on accessibility, affordability, equity and multidisciplinary learning must translate into meaningful opportunities for underserved communities.
He urged universities to extend their reach through satellite centres, community colleges and digital learning platforms offering education in regional languages.
Highlighting Goa’s efforts to improve educational access, he referred to smart classroom initiatives in government schools and the importance of bringing modern learning resources to remote communities.
Drawing on his experience as a first-generation learner from a rural background, he emphasised that institutions must identify and nurture talent beyond urban centres.
He also called for stronger inclusion of disadvantaged communities and women in higher education, linking equitable access to India’s target of achieving a 50% gross enrolment ratio by 2035.
Research must solve real-world problems
Phal Dessai argued that universities must move from producing degree holders to developing innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators.He urged institutions to focus research on practical challenges involving water, waste management, agriculture, healthcare and tribal welfare.
According to him, academic research should increasingly translate into products, technologies and solutions that directly benefit communities.
He also stressed the importance of combining emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence with India’s traditional knowledge systems, enabling students to develop modern capabilities while remaining connected to their cultural and intellectual heritage.
Skill development and industry partnerships are essential
Highlighting employability as a critical priority, Phal Dessai called for academic curricula to be aligned with growth sectors such as tourism, logistics, green energy and information technology.
He emphasised that students, particularly those from tribal and rural communities, should graduate with practical skills and recognised certifications alongside their degrees.
The minister also invited AI and technology companies to explore establishing operations in Goa, noting the need to create more opportunities for local graduates seeking quality employment.
He maintained that stronger collaboration between universities, government and industry could help connect education with economic development.
Phal Dessai concluded by urging chancellors and institutional leaders to measure their success through the lives they transform and the societal problems their universities solve.
The true legacy of educational leadership, he emphasised, will be reflected in whether institutions can bring opportunity to the most underserved students and translate knowledge into meaningful contributions to India’s development by 2047.
