HYDERABAD, AUGUST 29, 2025: Mr Jishnu Dev Varma, Governor of Telangana, on Friday urged higher education institutions to gear up to meet the emerging challenges in the education sector and prepare the younger generations to seize future opportunities.
He was inaugurating a day-long national conference on “India@2047: Role of Higher Education in Making India a Developed Nation”, organised by the Education Protection Society for India (EPSI) and hosted by MNR University.
“To achieve the dream of Viksit Bharat, higher education will undoubtedly play a central role. India already has one of the world’s largest higher education systems with more than 1,100 universities and nearly 35 million students. We should ensure quality, innovation, inclusivity, and global competitiveness,” the Governor said.
Highlighting the transformative vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, he stressed the need for multidisciplinary learning, research, innovation, skill development, digital education, and internationalisation of curricula. He also underlined five focus areas for universities: global competitiveness, skill development and employability, equity and inclusivity, research and innovation, and value-based education.
The Governor observed that Hyderabad set a “shining example” in leveraging education, technology, and innovation to emerge as a global hub of knowledge and growth.
MNR University Chancellor, Manthena Ravi Varma, in his welcome address, said that universities are the “hubs of nation building” and must integrate “the topics of tomorrow into the curriculum of today.” He said: “We must also focus on access and equity. Marginalised communities, and women must have equal opportunities,” he observed.
Chairman of Malla Reddy Vishwavidyapeeth, Ch. Malla Reddy observed that India can convert the world’s pressing challenges into advantages by focusing on youth, technology, and skills. “A complete overhaul of the education system and curricula is essential to tap international opportunities,” he said.
President of EPSI, Dr. M.R. Jayaram, noted that the Society has submitted a White Paper to the Government of India to help realise the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Delivering the keynote address at the introductory session earlier, Prof. V. Balakista Reddy, Chairman, Telangana State Council of Higher Education, emphasised that the coming two decades would be critical for India’s transformation. He urged academic leaders to understand the law, the Constitution, and WTO provisions to stay globally competitive. “Affordability, quality, and innovation should be the guiding principles for universities,” he added.
The conference featured two technical sessions – “Re-imagining Indian Higher Education for Global Competitiveness” and “Empowering Institutions for India@2047” – which evoked enthusiastic participation from Vice Chancellors, academic leaders, and policy experts.
Among those who also addressed the gathering were EPSI Alternative President Dr. H. Chaturvedi, Senior Vice President Dr. Vedprakash Mishra, Vice President Dr. Sekar Viswanathan, and Secretary General P.Palanivel.
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