Chandigarh University, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Private Universities (CIPU), hosted the third edition of the Bharat Higher Education Summit 2026. The event brought together over 200 vice chancellors, policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, diplomats, and international education experts from India and abroad. The summit focused on the transformative role of universities in India's journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047, known as Viksit Bharat 2047.
Key Discussions and Themes
The two-day summit featured high-level discussions on the future of universities, internationalization of higher education, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, research and innovation, industry-academia collaboration, employability, entrepreneurship, sustainability, global partnerships, and the implementation of transformative educational reforms.
Distinguished Guests
Former Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur attended as the Chief Guest. Bhaskar Chatterjee, former Secretary of the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, was the guest of honour. Other eminent personalities included Dr. Rahul V Karad, Founder and Chief Patron of CIPU; Prof. (Dr.) VN Rajasekharan Pillai, former Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC); Deepinder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director of Chandigarh University; R Karthik, Director General of CIPU; and Prof. (Dr.) Raviraja Seetharam, Vice Chancellor of Chandigarh University.
Anurag Thakur's Address
MP Anurag Thakur congratulated Chandigarh University for securing the 526th global rank in the QS World University Rankings 2027. He noted that before 2015, only 11 Indian universities were among the top global rankings, but now 54 Indian universities are in the top 1000, including 12 IITs. He emphasized that every sector in India is recalibrating to meet national needs. Thakur stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 is a concrete, time-bound national mission, with education at its core.
Thakur urged universities to integrate Indian knowledge systems such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Sanskrit, and classical mathematics with cutting-edge fields like AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology. He said students should be fluent in both ancient wisdom and artificial intelligence, restoring India's position as Vishwa Guru. He stressed the need for investment in research, innovation, incubators, and startups to produce industry-ready youth.
Thakur added that since 2014, India's higher education landscape has shifted from quantity to quality, from access without accountability to institutions with innovation. He said universities like Chandigarh University will determine whether India becomes a Vishwa Guru by the centenary of independence.
Other Speakers
Rahul V Karad, Chief Patron of CIPU, said that building a developed India by 2047 requires a transformational approach to higher education. Universities must evolve into hubs of innovation, entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary learning, and societal impact. The Bharat Higher Education Summit provides a platform for academic leaders and policymakers to exchange ideas and forge partnerships.
Prof. (Dr.) Raviraja Seetharam, Vice Chancellor of Chandigarh University, stated that universities today have a responsibility beyond imparting knowledge. They must emerge as catalysts of innovation, entrepreneurship, research excellence, and societal transformation. He said Chandigarh University is committed to fostering a globally connected, industry-aligned, and future-ready academic ecosystem.
Panel Discussions and MoU
Panel discussions were held on themes such as 'From Knowledge to National Wealth: Universities as Drivers of Innovation, Start-ups and Industrial Competitiveness,' 'Building Human Capital for Viksit Bharat 2047 - Transforming Universities for Skills, Employability and Future Work,' and 'What Industry Expects from Universities in Viksit Bharat 2047.'
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between CIPU and the International Automobile Centre of Excellence (iACE), Gujarat, to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and foster skill development, innovation, and industry-aligned learning.
Introduction of The Bharat Collective
The summit also introduced 'The Bharat Collective,' envisioned as a national league of leading private universities. This initiative aims to foster greater collaboration among institutions, encourage knowledge sharing, and create a unified platform to address emerging opportunities and challenges in higher education. Education leaders described it as a significant step toward strengthening institutional partnerships and accelerating universities' collective contribution to national development. Discussions also focused on preparing a future-ready workforce aligned with Industry 4.0 and emerging technologies.
About Chandigarh University
Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. It is an autonomous educational institution approved by UGC, located near Chandigarh in Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to receive an A+ Grade from NAAC. CU offers over 109 undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as the University with Best Placements by WCRC.
Website: https://www.cuchd.in/
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