The two-day Roundtable Conference of Newly Appointed Vice-Chancellors, jointly organized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), concluded on 9th April 2025 with a resounding message of collaborative leadership and innovation for transforming higher education in India. Themed “Transforming Higher Education: Innovations, Collaborations and Strategies for a Future-Ready India”, the event brought together Vice-Chancellors from across the Nation for meaningful dialogue on the evolving challenges and opportunities in academia. Vice-Chancellors from over 20 prestigious institutions including Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Rabindranath Tagore University, Vivekanand Global University, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Krishna University, Desh Bhagat University, Maharaja Suhel Dev State University, Krantisurya Tantya Bhil University, ITM Skills University, Dr. C.V. Raman University, Chaitanya (Deemed to be University), Krishna University, Children's Research University, Indian Institute of Teacher Education (A State Govt. University), Birsa Munda Tribal University and Saurashtra University participated in the roundtable.

The event commenced with a warm welcome by Prof. (Dr.) Kalpesh H. Wandra, Pro Vice-Chancellor, RRU, who set the tone for the sessions by emphasizing the visionary role of Vice-Chancellors as changemakers. The inaugural address by Prof. (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel, Vice-Chancellor of RRU, underscored the importance of bold leadership, innovative thinking, and deep engagement with national priorities. Sharing a personal anecdote from his time at the United Nations Law Commission, Prof. Patel emphasized the need for Vice-Chancellors to shape their institutions through purpose-driven leadership and strategic alignment with national goals.

The keynote session was followed by a powerful address by Dr. (Mrs.) Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, AIU, who outlined the pivotal role AIU plays in empowering universities through policy advocacy, internationalization efforts, and support programs. She emphasized the need for holistic institutional development, touching on themes such as mental health, teacher training, and global academic partnerships.

A special highlight of the Roundtable was the impactful participation of Prof. Vinay Kumar Pathak, President, AIU and an acclaimed academic visionary. In his multiple interventions, Prof. Pathak passionately called for customized strategies in university governance, reminding Vice-Chancellors that “every solution lies within.” Drawing from his leadership experiences across eight universities, Prof. Pathak advocated a data-informed, stakeholder-driven approach to financial and strategic planning. His emphasis on the SAMARTH platform for digital governance and the faceless student support model were cited as breakthrough practices. “Leadership,” he said, “is about decisive action and long-term transformation.”

The day featured enriching technical sessions by renowned educationists. Prof. Rajan Welukar stressed the need for prioritizing student well-being and mental health, advocating for holistic and value-based education. Sessions also addressed university governance (Prof. Rajan Saxena, Former VC, SVKM's NMIMS), Quality Assurance (Dr. Sanjeet Singh, Pro-VC, Marwadi University), and integration of Indian Knowledge Systems (Prof. ADN Bajpai, VC, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Vishwavidyalaya (formerly Bilaspur Vishwavidyalaya)), blending tradition with modern curriculum frameworks.

Day 2 began with the felicitation of Prof. Piyush Kumar Sinha, Director, CRI Advisory & Research by Prof. (Dr.) Priyanka Sharma (Dean, EDLD, RRU), who in his session on innovation and entrepreneurship, urged academic leaders to embrace tailored incubation models and an entrepreneurial mindset. He introduced the KASH model—Knowledge, Attitude, Skill, Habit—for building a strong entrepreneurial culture in universities.

Shri Narottam Sahoo, Advisor at GUJCOST, delivered a compelling session on the role of AI and digital integration in academic excellence, citing global trends and India-specific strategies. He called for systemic investment in digital infrastructure, faculty training, and industry-academia collaboration.

The final session by Prof. (Dr.) Bimal Patel offered a powerful call to action, urging Vice-Chancellors to align university mandates with national priorities. Sharing RRU’s own transformation journey, he advocated for visionary, transparent, and agile institutional leadership. His mantra, “One Nation, One Mission,” captured the spirit of the event.

The event concluded with remarks from Dr. Amrendra Pani, Joint Director (Research), AIU, who thanked all speakers, delegates, and especially Prof. Patel and the RRU team for their gracious hosting. With over 15 Vice-Chancellors participating, the Roundtable successfully sowed the seeds of a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative future for Indian higher education.

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