Chandigarh University kicked off its fifth Global Education Summit this week, bringing together experts from around the world to talk about the future of higher education. The two-day event at the university’s Mohali campus in India drew academic leaders, policymakers, and thinkers from 60 universities across 35 countries. With a focus on AI, technology, and global partnerships, the summit aimed to help students and educators tackle big challenges like innovation and sustainability.
Spain’s Ambassador to India, Juan Antonio March Pujol, opened the discussions with an upbeat message. “AI isn’t a threat—it’s a chance to open new doors in careers and fields,” he told the crowd of students and leaders. He stressed the need to play to your strengths, spark innovation, and build solutions that help people everywhere. But he added a key point: true progress means pairing innovation with peace. “Young people should push for peace, not conflict,” Pujol said. He called on universities to nurture talent while championing global harmony. “We’re all unique masterpieces,” he noted, urging schools to prepare students for an era of smart tech and endless possibilities.
Deep Inder Singh Sandhu, the university’s senior managing director, shared how Chandigarh University builds real-world global ties. “We want our students and faculty to get a true international experience,” he explained. The school already partners with over 515 top universities in more than 100 countries for joint research, student exchanges, cultural programs, and industry links. This summit serves as a hub for these connections, including signing new agreements to boost higher education worldwide. Sandhu highlighted blending AI and tech responsibly, plus interdisciplinary work, to ready students for a fast-changing world.
Dr. Pontus Warnestal, deputy vice chancellor at Sweden’s Halmstad University and the guest of honor, dove into how outside forces like AI, fake news, funding woes, and public doubts are transforming universities. “It’s not just about teaching students to use AI,” he said. “We need to equip them to spot nonsense in a world full of it—to think critically and become smart citizens.” He pushed for more flexible, human-centered education that emphasizes real communication over rote automation.
A highlight was Chandigarh University signing five new Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) right on site. Partners included American University in Washington, D.C., Capilano University in Canada, Middlesex University in Mauritius, Sunway University in Malaysia, and Mariano Marcos State University in the Philippines. These deals, overseen by Sandhu, will spark joint research, faculty swaps, student programs, and cross-cultural learning to drive innovation and global knowledge sharing.
Sessions kept the energy high. One on “Enabling Students for Technology in Higher Education” covered building tech skills, critical thinking, and ethical AI use in classes. Another, “AI for Inclusiveness and Sustainability,” looked at how AI can make education fairer and greener, from better access to responsible development across borders.
Speakers like Dr. Chris Bottrill from Capilano University praised the gathering. “It’s amazing to see 35 countries unite here amid rising global tensions,” he said. “Places like this let us tackle AI and quantum tech head-on.” Prof. Nola Hewitt-Dundas from Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland added, “Tech changes are prepping students for jobs that don’t even exist yet—we must build skills for uncertainty and inequality.” She quoted Gandhi: “The future depends on what we do today,” emphasizing strong partnerships now.
From South Africa, Prof. Stephen Khehla Ndlovu of Vaal University of Technology wrapped up key themes. “Universities must empower societies, spark innovation, and build compassion,” he said. “We can’t do it alone—global ties across borders and fields are essential.”
The second day tackled adapting higher education to future shifts, like revamping teaching for empathy and using tech for secure, equitable progress. Talks focused on curriculum tweaks, research teams, and fighting misinformation.
Chandigarh University stands out as India’s youngest NAAC A+ graded school and a QS World University Rankings member. Approved by the UGC, it’s based in Punjab near Chandigarh and offers over 109 undergraduate and postgraduate programs in fields like engineering, management, pharmacy, law, and more. It even earned top honors for placements from WCRC.
For more details, check out www.cuchd.in.
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