Thapar Global Academic Leadership Summit 2026 Concludes

Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET), Patiala, concluded the Global Academic Leadership Summit 2026 after two days of discussions on AI, sustainability and higher education.

The summit, held on April 11 and 12, brought together academic leaders, policymakers, researchers and industry representatives to discuss the changing needs of universities and India’s higher education sector.

Thapar Global Academic Leadership Summit 2026: Key Highlights

The two-day summit was organised across JW Marriott, Chandigarh, and the TIET campus in Patiala. It was convened under the leadership of Thapar Education Trust and TIET.

The key details of the Global Academic Leadership Summit 2026 are given below:

The summit focused on how universities can respond to rapid technological and social changes. Discussions also covered India's long-term development goals and the role of higher education in nation building.

Global Academic Leadership Summit Brings Together Indian and International Universities

The Thapar Global Academic Leadership Summit 2026 brought together senior representatives from several leading Indian institutions.

Participants included faculty members and directors from IITs, NITs, IIM Ranchi, IIITs, MANIT Bhopal, IISc Bengaluru and Goa Institute of Management.

International academic participation came from institutions including:

• Trinity College Dublin
• University of Queensland
• Tel Aviv University
• Virginia Tech

Senior representatives from Google, Atos and American Express also participated, bringing industry perspectives to discussions on technology, skills and higher education.

AI and Digital Transformation in Higher Education

Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation were among the major discussion areas at the summit.

A flagship session examined how universities need to move beyond small-scale technology adoption and rethink their academic systems. Discussions focused on:

• Redesigning university curricula
• Integrating emerging technologies into education
• Developing future-ready learning ecosystems
• Preparing students for changing industry requirements
• Adapting academic institutions to the growth of AI

The discussions reflected the growing importance of AI in higher education and the need for universities to develop suitable academic and institutional frameworks.

Viksit Bharat @2047 and Role of Universities

Another major session focused on “Viksit Bharat @2047: Role of Universities in Nation Building.”

The session examined how higher education institutions can contribute to India's long-term development goals. Academic leadership, innovation, research and institutional responsibility were among the broader areas discussed.

TIET representatives also highlighted the institute's journey and its focus on resilience, relevance and social responsibility.

Research, Global Rankings and Sustainability Discussed

The second day of the summit shifted the focus towards research, global rankings, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and collaboration between academia, industry and society.

The key discussion areas included:

• Improving global research visibility of Indian institutions
• Strengthening research impact
• Understanding the role of global rankings
• Advancing Sustainable Development Goals
• Building stronger academia-industry partnerships
• Using collaboration to address global challenges

Industry leaders from Google, Atos and American Express also shared their perspectives during discussions on academia-industry-society collaboration.

Thapar Institute Global Academic Leadership Summit 2026 Concludes

The summit concluded with a valedictory session after two days of discussions involving academic and industry leaders.

Prof. Padmakumar Nair, Vice Chancellor of TIET, said the summit reflected the institute's commitment to meaningful dialogue on the future of higher education. He stressed the need for institutions to build inclusive, adaptive and globally relevant frameworks while contributing to national and global priorities.

Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) and Executive Committee of NAAC, also congratulated TIET and highlighted the importance of higher education in national capacity building.

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