Equip education to meet global challenges, says GNDU VC
Two-day international conference concludes
The two-day conference on "Transforming Learning Environment for Leadership Development: Pathways to Innovation and Sustainability" concluded at the Department of Education, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) on Saturday.
Delivering the inaugural address, Prof Karamjeet Singh, vice-chancellor, GNDU, stressed upon the need to transform educational ecosystems in line with the emerging global challenges.
Prof Amit Kauts from the Department of Education said that the conference was a platform for intellectual exchange, collaboration, dialogue and academic networking with encouragement for a new beginning.
The chief guest, Prof Pankaj Arora, Chairperson, NCTE, emphasised that teacher education must evolve with the changing educational landscape and should be built around the three pillars - innovation, inclusion and sustainability. Prof Arora insisted that innovation should not be limited to technology alone but should also be reflected in teaching methodologies and pedagogical approaches.
Prof KG Suresh, Director, India Habitat Centre, and former vice-chancellor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism & Communication, Bhopal, was the keynote speaker. In his address, he informed the audience about the general reforms being introduced in the education sector, but also highlighted that the real challenge lies in their effective implementation. Prof Suresh observed that it is imperative for teachers to remain connected with evolving communication platforms and digital technologies in order to understand the students and their learning environments better.
All the speakers referred to the vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047' and how India's progress towards becoming a developed nation will depend largely on strengthening its knowledge systems and learning environment.
Prof Mohammad Miyan, former vice-chancellor, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, highlighted the transformative role of teachers in shaping a progressive and value-based society. He emphasised that education is not merely the transmission of knowledge but the cultivation of character, critical thinking and creativity among learners. Stressing the importance of teacher-student relationships, he remarked that mutual respect and trust form the foundation of effective learning.
The plenary session featured national and international experts — Prof Karanam Pushpanadham (CASE, Baroda), Department of Educational Administration, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda; Dr Rebat Kumar Dhakal, Head, Department of Educational Leadership, School of Education, Kathmandu University, Nepal & UNESCO Co-Chair in Teacher Education, Nepal and Dr Prompilai Buasuwan, Associate Professor in Programme of Educational Administration, Kasetstart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
A major highlight was the round-table on "Leadership and Governance for Effective Implementation of Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhisthan Bill, 2025", where leading scholars and policymakers engaged in dynamic discussions. The keynote address was delivered by Prof Pankaj Arora, Chairperson, NCTE.
