Higher education is being redefined by shifting expectations, technological disruption, and the urgent need for stronger institutional cultures. Academic institutions today face unprecedented expectations. They must produce employable graduates, generate impactful research, integrate artificial intelligence into pedagogy, and simultaneously nurture ethical and socially responsible citizens. This expanded mandate has placed faculty and academic leadership at the centre of transformation. However, traditional people practices in academia often focused narrowly on seniority, publication counts, or rigid appraisal systems are increasingly inadequate. At a time when higher education stands at the intersection of technological disruption, global competition, and societal transformation, the School of Leadership and Management aptly organized the 5th edition of the MR Roundtable, on the theme: Progressive people practices for excellence in academic institutions. The round table brought together distinguished policymakers, vice chancellors, academic leaders, and industry experts to reflect on the human dimension of institutional excellence.
The central premise was clear: the future of academia will not be shaped by infrastructure or technology alone, but by people: their motivation, leadership, evaluation systems, and institutional culture. This resonates in two of the core values of Manav Rachna Educational Institutions (MREI), viz, inclusivity and integrity. The theme of the roundtable was thoughtfully curated under guidance from Dr Prashant Bhalla, President, MREI. Collectively, MREI recognises that progressive people practices must move beyond compliance to enable creativity, accountability, and purpose-driven performance.
In the inaugural address at the roundtable, Rajeev Dubey, Honorary Director General, MRIIRS, (Former Member of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization, Geneva; Former Group President, Mahindra & Mahindra), emphasised the systemic nature of institutional performance. He remarked: “Institutional excellence is the outcome of alignment between purpose, systems, and people. The real question is: are we creating processes that engage people meaningfully and produce value for all stakeholders?” He highlighted that India stands at a critical juncture with immense demographic and intellectual potential, but institutions must strengthen execution capability, talent management, and cultural alignment to realise this promise.
The keynote address by Prof Prajapati Trivedi (Distinguished Professor, MDI Gurgaon and Former Secy. to the Govt. of India in the Cabinet Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office), offered a profound historical and systemic perspective on performance management in academia and public institutions. Drawing from his experience across government and academic leadership, he underscored the centrality of measurement and accountability, observing “What gets measured gets done. But performance depends not merely on people, but on systems. If expectations are unclear and accountability is diffused, institutional capacity suffers.” His reflections reinforced a critical sub-theme of the Roundtable: reforming faculty performance management to recognize quality, contribution, and impact rather than merely quantitative metrics.
One of the most anticipated sessions was the fireside chat featuring Prof M Jagadesh Kumar, Former Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in conversation with Narayanan Ramaswamy, Partner and National Leader, Education and Skill Development Practice, KPMG India. He addressed the profound implications of Artificial Intelligence for the academic profession. He articulated a powerful vision for the future of teaching: “Teachers must move from being providers of information to creators of learning ecosystems. Technology can automate routine tasks, but empathy, mentorship, and the ability to inspire cannot be replaced.” He emphasised that institutions must focus on competency-based education and holistic student development rather than remaining confined to degree-centric models. He also called for reforms to assessment systems to encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving.
Across panel discussions and breakout sessions, several interconnected sub-themes emerged during the roundtable. A recurring concern was faculty motivation and burnout. Participants highlighted the need to create environments where faculty feel valued, supported, and recognised. It was noted that invisible contributions such as mentoring, institutional development, and interdisciplinary collaboration often remain undervalued. Another important area of discussion was attracting and retaining world-class academic talent amid global competition and industry pull. Leaders emphasised the importance of fair evaluation systems, professional autonomy, and opportunities for growth. Vice Chancellor, MRIIRS, Prof (Dr) Sanjay Srivastava expressed alignment with these thoughts, mentioning best practices undertaken at MRIIRS.
The roundtable also explored the integration of artificial intelligence in academic work, interdisciplinary teaching, and strengthening industry–academia partnerships to enhance student employability, a terminal requirement from degree programs. The importance of industry collaboration was emphasized by Managing Director, MREI, Rajiv Kapoor, who has been instrumental in organising all editions of the roundtable.
From dialogue to institutional action
The discussions, enriched with inputs from more than thirty institutional leaders, culminated in a shared recognition that academic excellence is fundamentally a human endeavour. Systems, policies, and technologies serve as enablers, but it is the alignment of purpose, leadership, and people that ultimately determines institutional success. In his closing reflections, Dubey captured the essence of the deliberations: “The success of this roundtable will not be measured by today’s discussions alone, but by the questions it inspires and the actions it enables when participants return to their institutions.”
As the organiser, the School of Leadership and Management at Manav Rachna Educational Institutions, demonstrated its role in advancing thought leadership in higher education. Dean of the school, Dr Deepti Dabas shared the key takeaway about academics being a blend of virtues and competencies. Director of the School, Dr Arnab Chakraborty added that by creating a platform for meaningful dialogue among academic leaders and policymakers, the school has reinforced its role as a catalyst for institutional innovation and excellence.
The 5th MR Roundtable served as a timely reminder that the future of education depends on progressive people practices rooted in purpose, accountability, and human values. As institutions navigate the complexities of the AI-driven era, investing in people, their development, motivation, and leadership, will remain the most decisive factor in achieving sustainable academic excellence.
The conversations initiated at the roundtable have laid a strong foundation for continued reflection and reform, contributing to the evolution of India’s higher education ecosystem.
