Category education

Kolkata,  Mar 5: A sense of pride, achievement and new beginnings marked the 11th Graduation Congregational Ceremony of J.D. Birla Institute  Kolkata, held on 14 February 2026 at the Vidya Mandir Auditorium. The ceremony celebrated the academic accomplishments of the Bachelors’ and Masters’ graduates of the 2024–2025 session. University dignitaries, members of the Vidya Mandir Society, faculty, parents and students were present at the occasion.

 The ceremony was presided over by Prof. Amitava Datta, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University and the Guest of Honour was the distinguished author, Dr. Kunal Basu. Their presence added dignity and gravitas to the solemn academic event. The event was also graced by Major General V. N. Chaturvedi, Secretary General of the Vidya Mandir Society, whose esteemed presence further elevated the significance of the ceremony.

The programme commenced with the ceremonial procession, followed by the traditional lighting of the lamp and Saraswati Vandana. In his welcome address, the Director of J.D. Birla Institute, Dr. Saugata Banerjee observed that students are stepping into an increasingly dynamic and rapidly evolving technology-driven world and emphasised that while a degree signifies academic success, long-term fulfilment depends on a commitment to continuous learning and adherence to values such as integrity, empathy and professionalism.

Highlighting the Institute’s ongoing transformation, the Director spoke about JDBI’s evolution into a career-focused institution. He noted strengthened global engagement through collaborations, including an MoU with the Institute of Management Accountants, USA, and a newly signed MoU with Brunel University of London. Initiatives such as AI-enabled placement preparation tools and renewed alumni engagement further reflected the Institute’s emphasis on career readiness.

Addressing the gathering thereafter, Prof. Amitava Datta, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University, congratulated the graduates and described the day as a celebration of perseverance and achievement. He urged students to take pride in being affiliated with a nationally and globally recognised university and reminded them that in today’s AI-driven world, lifelong learning and adaptability are essential for sustained success.

The ceremony also featured a thought-provoking address by Dr. Kunal Basu, who urged graduates to cultivate the habit of reading beyond their academic curriculum. Citing research and global surveys, he highlighted how reading enhances mental fitness, sharpens awareness and fosters deeper understanding. Emphasising enjoyment, learning and transformation as its core purposes, he reminded students that reading remains a powerful tool for lifelong growth.

The Officiating Principal, Dr. Tapobrata Ray, also addressed the gathering, after which the gold medallists were announced in recognition of exceptional academic performance. Degrees were then conferred upon students from disciplines including Management, Commerce, Fashion & Textiles, Food & Nutrition, Interior Designing, and Applied Psychology & Behavioural Sciences.

The ceremony concluded with the National Anthem, bringing to a close a memorable academic milestone. As graduates stepped forward into the next phase of their lives, the event reaffirmed J.D. Birla Institute’s commitment to academic excellence, professional preparedness and value-based education.

Noida: Institute of Management Studies (IMS) Noida, Sector-62, organized a vibrant celebration of Flower Holi on its campus. During the cultural festivity, students celebrated Holi in a traditional manner with flowers, accompanied by folk dances and folk music. The event reflected the colorful and diverse spirit of Indian culture.

President Mr. Rajeev Kumar Gupta extended his warm wishes to faculty members and students for a happy and prosperous life. He stated that Holi is a festival of joy, enthusiasm, and positive energy. It also offers an opportunity to understand and imbibe the selfless love of Lord Krishna and Radha. He emphasized that it is the collective responsibility of the institution to prioritize character building among students and actively contribute to nation-building by instilling strong values and ethics.

Vice President Mr. Chirag Gupta conveyed his heartfelt greetings on the occasion and remarked that Holi symbolizes love, harmony, and social unity. Celebrating Holi with flowers not only preserves cultural heritage but also reflects responsibility toward nature and environmental consciousness.

Cultural Club Head Ms. Meetu Chaudhary informed that the program began with colorful cultural performances in which students presented mesmerizing dance and music performances on traditional Holi songs. The highlights included depictions of Sangla Ki Holi, Haryana Ki Holi, and Barsana Ki Holi, along with group dances, traditional Holi songs, Sufi singing, solo musical performances, poetry recitation, and folk music. The presentation of Barsana Ki Holi beautifully portrayed the divine love of Radha and Krishna and the traditions of Braj. 

Manipal, Feb 28: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, will organise the National Science Day Celebrations 2026 on Saturday, February 28, at the Dr TMA Pai Auditorium, 3^rd Floor, KMC, Manipal. The chief guest for the programme will be

Dr Hoysall N. Chanakya, Chief Research Scientist (Retd.), Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. A distinguished scientist and thought leader in sustainable technologies, Dr Chanakya has over four decades of research experience and has guided more than 10 doctoral scholars and over 20 postgraduate research students, and has led over 50 research, development, and consultancy projects. Since 1978, his work has focused on decentralised bioenergy technologies, including biogas plants and related systems, energy integration into rural livelihoods, water and wastewater purification, and the restoration of water bodies. The event will be presided over by Dr H S Ballal, Pro Chancellor, MAHE, whose leadership has been instrumental in strengthening MAHE’s academic and research ecosystem. 

The celebrations will be graced by senior MAHE leadership, including Dr Narayana Sabhahit, Pro Vice Chancellor – Technology and Science, MAHE, Dr P. Giridhar Kini, Registrar, MAHE, and Dr Anil K. Bhat, Dean, Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal. 

National Science Day is observed across India to commemorate Sir C. V. Raman’s discovery of the Raman Effect. MAHE encourages young minds to adopt a scientific approach to life and society. 

Chandigarh, Feb 28: The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is strengthening India’s higher education and skilling ecosystem through the expansion of its flagship Centre for Future Skills (CFS) initiative — a campus-based, technology-integrated model designed to embed advanced technical training, global certifications, and hands-on project learning directly into mainstream degree programmes. Conceived as a long-term national intervention, the initiative aims to impact one million students over the next decade by aligning academic pathways with globally benchmarked industry standards and emerging technology demands.

The Centre for Future Skills model has already been operationalised across multiple institutions nationwide, with training activities actively underway at each location. The initiative has begun creating tangible impact by equipping students with industry-aligned competencies embedded within their academic journey.

Speaking on the initiative, Shri Arunkumar Pillai, CEO, NSDC, said, “The Centre for Future Skills marks a structural shift in how India prepares its youth for the future economy. It is already demonstrating impact at scale with its 12 operational institutions and over 43,000 trained candidates. Over the next three years, we aim to add 22 more centres nationwide. With the integration of global certifications and hands-on learning within degrees, we are ensuring graduates enter the workforce industry-ready and globally benchmarked.”

The inauguration of a new Centre at the Federal Institute of Science and Technology (FISAT), Kochi, marks another step in this national rollout, reinforcing the broader vision of institutional transformation.

The Centre for Future Skills operates as an on-campus hub that integrates academic credit pathways, industry-recognised certifications, expert mentorship, and state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure. Students earn two to three academic credits per semester alongside globally recognised certifications without extending the duration of their degree, enabling a dual outcome — a university qualification coupled with validated employability credentials. The model ensures that structured skill pathways are woven into the academic journey itself.

Through partnerships with leading global technology companies, CFS provides access to over 200 certification programmes across high-growth domains. These certifications are delivered at significantly subsidised costs compared to prevailing market rates, expanding access to world-class, industry-relevant technical education. Students who successfully complete assessments receive globally recognised credentials that enhance mobility across both domestic and international job markets.

A defining feature of the CFS framework is its structured, multi-semester skill pathways that progressively build technical competence aligned with industry demand. For example, under the Software Engineering track, learners advance from programming foundations to full-stack development, cloud deployment, and software engineering practices. By graduation, students may earn four to six global certifications while building strong project portfolios and gaining hands-on experience in cloud, DevOps, and application development environments. Importantly, pathways are structured for both technical and non-technical learners, enabling interdisciplinary participation in emerging technology areas.

The infrastructure-led approach under CFS further reinforces its impact. NSDC establishes advanced hardware and software laboratories within partner institutions. Each certification course runs for 45 to 50 hours per semester and is delivered in physical mode through lab sessions, projects, and rigorous assessments, ensuring quality and practical immersion. At FISAT, the Centre is projected to enrol approximately 3,500 students per semester, or 7,000 students annually, reflecting the scalable and large-scale nature of the initiative.

At a systemic level, the Centre for Future Skills introduces what NSDC describes as a “Global Certification Stack,” effectively internationalising Indian talent. By embedding globally benchmarked certifications within degrees, the initiative enhances signalling power in the labour market, reduces industry training burdens through validated skill credentials, and strengthens India’s positioning within global talent supply chains. The degree, under this model, evolves from being a knowledge credential to becoming a productivity indicator aligned with future industry needs.

As India accelerates its transition towards a knowledge and innovation-led economy, the expansion of the Centre for Future Skills signals a decisive move to embed employability, technology readiness, and global competitiveness within the country’s higher education architecture.

Mumbai Feb 28:  Target Learning Ventures Pvt. Ltd., a leading educational resource provider and trusted publishing house, recently honoured two esteemed educators with the Shikshak Ratna Award from Maharashtra – Ms. Archana Kapse, from Veershaiva Upper Primary School Shantinagar, Nagpur and Dr. Ravi Prakash Singh, from R P Singh tutorials, Vile Parle. 

Ms. Archana Kapse was honoured by Target Learning Ventures for receiving Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule State Teachers Recognition Award. Her recognition highlights her efforts in encouraging students to participate in scholarships and inter-school competitions, as well as her contributions to publishing a book on phonics.

On the other hand, Dr. Ravi Prakash Singh of R P Singh Tutorials, Vile Parle, was felicitated with the Shikshak Ratna Award by Target Learning Ventures Pvt. Ltd. for receiving the Rashtriya Gaurav Puraskar in Rajasthan. This award recognizes his exceptional dedication and impactful contributions to both society and the field of education.

Dilip Gangaramani, Founder Director & CEO of Target Learning Ventures Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are delighted to honor these esteemed educators with the Shikshak Ratna award for their exceptional contribution to education. Our goal is to empower educators who inspire children to think critically and embrace learning in fresh, exciting ways. Ms. Kapse and Mr. Singh truly embody this vision, and we are proud to support their outstanding efforts.”

A landmark initiative under the Telangana State Private Universities Act aimed at training 30,000+ professionals and serving over 15 lakh individuals in the next decade.

Delhi, Feb 27: In a landmark step toward strengthening India’s rehabilitation and inclusive healthcare infrastructure, St. Mary’s Rehabilitation University (SMRU) has been formally established in Hyderabad under the Telangana State Private Universities Act. Envisioned as India’s first fully integrated Rehabilitation University, SMRU is designed to bridge critical gaps in rehabilitation education, clinical services, research, and workforce development.

At a time when India faces an acute shortage of trained professionals in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, rehabilitation psychology, special education, and allied disciplines, SMRU introduces a unified institutional model that combines academic excellence with clinical depth. The university’s foundation aligns with the constitutional mandate of inclusive growth and the objectives of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD Act).

Responding to India’s Growing Rehabilitation Needs

India legally recognizes 21 disabilities, and the demand for rehabilitation services continues to rise due to neurodevelopmental conditions, mental health disorders, rare diseases, age-related impairments, and trauma recovery. Despite this, rehabilitation services across the country remain fragmented, with limited interdisciplinary coordination and uneven geographic access.

SMRU has been conceptualized as a structural and systemic response to this national capacity gap. Rather than operating as a standalone academic institution, the university integrates classroom instruction, hands-on clinical immersion, rural outreach, assistive technology innovation, and human resource development into a cohesive ecosystem.

By aligning with Section 47 of the RPWD Act—which mandates the promotion of disability studies and workforce development—SMRU positions itself as a long-term capacity-building mission rather than merely a degree-granting institution.

A Fully Integrated Clinical and Academic Ecosystem

SMRU distinguishes itself through built-in clinical infrastructure that ensures real-time learning and interdisciplinary exposure. The ecosystem includes:

* A 100-bedded Medical Rehabilitation Hospital
* A 50-bedded Psychiatric Rehabilitation Facility
* A dedicated Special Education School
* Advanced laboratories and simulation-based training environments

Students begin clinical immersion early in their academic journey, fostering collaboration across therapy, psychology, nursing, public health, biomedical sciences, and education.

The purpose-built campus in Hyderabad offers a serene yet technologically advanced academic setting, supporting research, innovation, and patient-centered care.

Academic Architecture Built for the Future

The university’s academic framework spans multiple specialized schools, including:

* School of Rehabilitation Sciences
* School of Prosthetics, Orthotics & Assistive Technologies
* School of Psychology & Clinical Sciences
* School of Special Education
* School of Nursing & Public Health
* School of Rehabilitation Nutrition
* School of Engineering & Biomedical Innovation

SMRU integrates cutting-edge technologies such as AI-enabled diagnostic tools, robotics-assisted rehabilitation, assistive device design, and health informatics systems into its curriculum. This interdisciplinary architecture elevates rehabilitation from a supplementary healthcare service to a strategic pillar within India’s allied health ecosystem.

Projected Impact: Workforce, Access, and Innovation

Over the next decade, SMRU aims to:

* Train more than 30,000 rehabilitation professionals
* Provide clinical and outreach services to 12–15 lakh individuals
* Conduct over 150 rural rehabilitation camps
* Establish district-level outreach units across Telangana
* Drive research output, patents, and assistive technology innovations

The economic contribution of the rehabilitation workforce developed through SMRU is projected to exceed ₹1,000 crore annually, reinforcing both social and economic value creation.

Strengthening Telangana’s Leadership in Inclusive Development

Telangana has consistently positioned itself at the forefront of healthcare and institutional innovation. With SMRU, the state further strengthens its leadership in mental health services, inclusive education, assistive technology, and community-based rehabilitation.

By integrating healthcare delivery, education, and technological advancement within a single university system, SMRU positions Hyderabad as an emerging national hub for rehabilitation sciences and inclusive healthcare innovation.

Redefining Rehabilitation in India

Rehabilitation today is central to restoring functional independence, enabling participation in society, and advancing inclusive development. It is no longer peripheral to healthcare policy—it is foundational to it.

St. Mary’s Rehabilitation University introduces a new institutional model in Indian higher education—one designed to transform rehabilitation from fragmented services into a comprehensive, integrated national capacity system.

India’s education ecosystem is at an inflection point. With rising enrolments, tighter regulations, and growing expectations around learning outcomes, education financing is evolving beyond traditional lending. By 2026, three clear trends are set to define how capital flows into the sector, particularly for affordable private schools and education entrepreneurs.

1. Rise of Purpose-Driven Education Finance

Education financing is increasingly being shaped by social impact objectives alongside financial returns. Lenders and investors are focusing on institutions that serve low-income and emerging middle-class communities, where access to quality education remains uneven. This shift has led to the growth of specialised education-focused NBFCs that understand school-level challenges such as cash-flow seasonality, infrastructure gaps, and regulatory compliance. Players like Varthana have emerged in this space by offering customised financing solutions for affordable private schools, aligning capital deployment with measurable education outcomes rather than asset-heavy collateral models.

2. Data-Led Credit Assessment and Digital Lending

By 2026, data-driven underwriting is expected to become mainstream in education finance. Traditional balance-sheet-based assessments are being supplemented with alternative data, student enrolment trends, fee collection patterns, geographic demand, and school performance indicators. Digital platforms are enabling faster loan disbursements and ongoing monitoring, reducing turnaround times for schools that often operate with limited buffers. This approach not only lowers risk for lenders but also expands formal credit access for first-generation school founders.

3. Financing Linked to Quality and Compliance Upgrades

Regulatory norms around infrastructure, teacher qualifications, and safety standards are tightening across states. Financing is therefore shifting towards supporting compliance-led upgrades, classroom expansion, digital learning tools, sanitation, and energy-efficient infrastructure. Lenders are increasingly structuring loans that enable schools to meet these requirements while continuing operations uninterrupted, recognising that compliance is now directly linked to long-term viability.

Together, these trends signal a more mature, impact-aligned education financing ecosystem, one that prioritises sustainability, access, and learning outcomes alongside growth.

New Delhi, Feb 26: Get Set Learn, an Arvind Mafatlal Group company focused on future-skills education, today announced a strategic collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Arduino, provider of a leading open-source electronics platform, to strengthen AI, electronics, and emerging technology education for K–12 learners in India.

As artificial intelligence rapidly evolves beyond the cloud and into real-world physical systems, powering robotics, automation, sensing, and intelligent decision-making, equipping students with the ability to build and apply these technologies has become essential for future workforce readiness and national competitiveness. Through this collaboration, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Arduino, and Get Set Learn will bring Physical AI learning and future-ready curriculum into India’s K–12 education ecosystem.

The collaboration aims to make advanced technology more accessible, practical, and buildable in real classrooms. By combining Arduino’s open, developer-trusted hardware and toolchains with Qualcomm Technologies’ energy-efficient on-device and edge AI capabilities, students will gain hands-on experience in designing and building intelligent physical systems that can operate reliably, even in low-connectivity and resource-constrained environments common across India.

Under the collaboration, Get Set Learn, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Arduino intend to:

• Design and deploy classroom-ready learning pathways that integrate electronics, coding, robotics and artificial intelligence to measurable outcomes from grades K 12.
• On-device, edge AI experiences where learners design, deploy, and iterate physical systems locally, minimizing cloud dependence while improving responsiveness, privacy, and cost efficiency.
• Support the transformation of ATL and STEAM labs into structured, certification-led learning spaces aligned with future skills and life skills development
• Implementation at scale through Get Set Learn’s national school partnerships and content ecosystem, ensuring consistent, classroom level level impact across public and private education systems.

Built for India, Aligned to Global Standards

The initiative embraces open, widely adopted global standards and toolchains so schools can invest with confidence. By focusing on physical computing with on-device AI, programs remain resilient to connectivity variability, reduce recurring costs, and teach the architectural fundamentals engineers use to ship real products- sensing, actuation, control loops, and local inference.

From First Principles to Real-World Impact

Students progress from fundamentals to deployable systems: reading sensors, controlling actuators, implementing feedback and safety, and integrating perception tasks like vision and audio. The result is a portfolio of practical builds and certifications that map to higher education and entry-level industry pathways, building confidence and capability early.

As the implementation partner, Get Set Learn will lead on-ground implementation through its content ecosystem and school partnerships, ensuring that global technology platforms are translated into consistent, classroom-level impact. The initiative aligns with national priorities around digital literacy, innovation and workforce readiness, and reflects Get Set Learn’s focus on delivering future skills at scale.

Savi Soin, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. Senior Vice President & President, Qualcomm India, commented

“India’s AI future will be built on locally deployed, energy-efficient physical intelligence, and that essential journey must begin in our classrooms today. Through our partnership with Get Set Learn, we are placing edge AI directly into students’ hands through accessible, standards-aligned platforms, thereby empowering the next generation of builders to tackle real-world challenges right where the data and people are.”

“For India, the question is no longer whether we will participate in the AI era, but whether we will shape it with depth, capability, and responsibility,”

Priyavrata Mafatlal, Vice-Chairman, Arvind Mafatlal Group and Founder of Get Set Learn.

“The partnership creates a practical platform that complements classroom learning by giving students exposure to future skills through building real systems and engaging with real-world problems. If we want a resilient innovation economy, we must start by building confidence and competence in classrooms- early, locally, and at scale.”

“Get Set Learn’s mission is to ensure that future skills are not limited to a few classrooms, but reach learners across geographies and school systems,” said Ameet Zaverii, CEO & Co-founder, Get Set Learn. “By working with Qualcomm Technologies and Arduino, we are bringing together global technology leadership and hands-on learning to create structured, scalable education models that are ready for real classrooms.”

“Arduino has always stood for accessible innovation,” said Fabio Violante, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. Vice President & General Manager, Arduino, “Together with Qualcomm Technologies and Get Set Learn, we’re scaling Physical AI education so every learner can build, test, and deploy intelligent systems, from first prototypes in school to real solutions in their communities.”

Further details on implementation and scale will be shared at the February 2026 AI Summit, marking the next phase of the collaboration to strengthen AI and future-skills education in India

New Delhi, Feb 26: Seth M.R. Jaipuria Group outlined its position on the future of AI in education at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, held in New Delhi, addressing its approach to integrating AI tools within structured academic systems.

The panel discussion, titled “Leveraging AI in Education: Human Capital, Inclusion, and Trust in the AI Era,” was held in New Delhi and moderated by Dr. Subhajyoti Ray, Director, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida. The session brought together academic leaders and industry representatives to examine how AI is reshaping expectations from students, faculty, and institutions.

The discussion began with an analysis of how AI is changing what is expected of both students and teachers. Panellists discussed the need to differentiate between technical capabilities and human accountability. During the session, Mr. Shreevats Jaipuria, Vice Chairman, Seth M.R. Jaipuria Group, spoke about the importance of building education systems that are AI-native without losing their human core. He said, “While artificial intelligence has expanded access to information and analysis, responsibility for decisions with long-term consequences continues to rest with people.” According to him, institutions must design learning environments where students work with AI regularly from early age as it’s the need, while also developing judgment and accountability on the sidelines.

Expanding on this, Mr. Jaipuria noted that across the Group’s education institutions, tools such as Script/OneCV for résumé optimisation, rehearse for interview simulations, Showrunner for project management, and the AI Space for real-world practice are being integrated into everyday learning. He added that teaching, mentoring, interaction, and reflection through human engagement should be given equal importance.

The discussions concluded with a structured analysis of how schools and higher education institutions are adapting curricula, assessment methods, and skill-development frameworks to align with AI-enabled workplaces.

By:- Prabhat Kumar, Chairman (IRS), Pan IIT Alumni India

Pan IIT welcomes the Knight Frank – Deloitte report identifying India as the world’s most strategic higher education growth market, driven by its 155 million-strong youth cohort. To harness this potential, we advocate for a dual strategy: vertical expansion through world-class research and specialisation, and horizontal expansion via accessible education hubs across India. These hubs will integrate academia, industry, and innovation, positioning India as a leader in the Global South for educational collaboration and opportunity.

Enabled by 100% automatic-route FDI and supportive budget provisions for research and skill development, we urge the adoption of further streamlined policies to attract private and foreign university investment. Our focus must be on scaling technical and vocational education while deeply integrating Indian Knowledge Systems. Pan IIT is committed to partnering with all stakeholders to transform India into a global knowledge exporter and destination.