Envisioning tomorrow’s university: MIT-WPU Goa and Indian Institute of Management Jammu unite for a transdisciplinary dialogue on the future of education

JAMMU: In a landmark collaboration, a one-day national visioning conference titled “Envisioning Tomorrow’s University: A Transdisciplinary Dialogue on the Future of Education” was organized by MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU), Goa, at the Dharma Classroom, Vedanta MDP Centre, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu. The conference brought together leading academicians, policymakers, and education experts from across the country to deliberate on the future of higher education in India through a transdisciplinary and collaborative lens.

Held at the IIM Jammu campus, the conference marked a strategic partnership between two forward-looking institutions committed to academic innovation, ethical leadership, and global engagement. MIT-WPU Goa, a UNESCO-chaired institution, led the initiative as part of its mission to advance transdisciplinary learning and peace-centric education. The conference aimed to deliver a Collective Declaration on the Future of Higher Education, launch the MIT-WPU National Academic Innovation Network Hub, and initiate collaborative research, policy briefs, and global partnerships.

The conference thematic tracks included Evolving Higher Education Ecosystems and Stakeholder Expectations; Transdisciplinary Curriculum Development and Pedagogy; Institutional Governance for Transdisciplinary Education; and Roadmap for a Global Indian University. 

The inaugural ceremony was graced by Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu; Prof. Anup Kale, Dean, School of Sustainability and Environmental Studies (SoSES), MIT-WPU, Pune; Prof. Prashant Malavadkar, Program Director, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MIT-WPU, Pune; Prof. Sanjeev Pathak, Chairperson, Executive Education and Consultancy, IIM Jammu; and Cmdr. Kesavan Baskkaran, CAO, IIM Jammu.

The conference aimed to deliver several tangible outcomes, including the creation of a Collective Declaration on the Future of Higher Education co-created by participants, the establishment of the MIT-WPU National Academic Innovation Network Hub, and the launch of collaborative initiatives, academic exchanges, and joint research proposals. It also focused on developing policy briefs and institutional roadmaps for curriculum reform, AI integration, sustainability, and global alignment, thereby strengthening academic ties between Indian and international universities.

Another key focus of the conference was strengthening institutional governance, quality assurance, and the collaborative ecosystem by reinventing governance structures to support academic freedom, diversity, and responsive leadership. Discussions centered on building quality cultures that foster transdisciplinary education, internationalization, and research co-creation. The conference also sought to advance India’s global academic footprint through innovation and partnerships by developing globally benchmarked models for assessment, student mobility, and academic collaboration, while enabling international internships, start-up incubation, and ethical engagement within the higher education ecosystem.

The inaugural ceremony commenced with the lighting of the lamp and the World Peace Prayer. Prof. Anup Kale, Associate Dean, Department of Environmental Studies, Prof. Vishwanath Karad; MIT-WPU, Pune,delivered the welcome address and provided an overview of the conference. In his remarks, he highlighted the evolving role of universities from economic and societal perspectives and shared insights into the journey of MIT-WPU under the leadership of Prof. Vishwanath Karad and Dr. Rahul.V Karad, Executive Vice President, MIT-WPU Pune. He mentioned that the university has grown to over 900 faculty members and 25,000 students and that a new campus is soon to be established in Goa. He invited participants to share their perspectives on how new-age universities can holistically integrate students, society, alumni, government, and industry.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, welcomed all delegates and invited them to explore IIM Jammu’s state-of-the-art campus and the Nalanda Library. He underscored the institute’s commitment to high-quality education, research, and societal development. He also shared key institutional initiatives, including the establishment of the Centre for Innovation and Transformation in Governance (CITaG) a think tank jointly developed by IIM Jammu, the Planning Development and Monitoring Department, Government of J&K, and NITI Aayog.

The Centre for Innovation and Transformation in Governance (CITaG) has been established by the Planning Development & Monitoring Department, Government of J&K, through the integration of the State Institute of Transformation (NITI Aayog, Government of India), PPP Cell (funded by the Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India), and Future Ready Governance (an initiative of the J&K Government). IIM Jammu serves as the Nodal Knowledge Partner as well as the Implementing Body to steer this initiative, ensuring evidence-based governance, innovation-led policy formulation, and capacity-building across the Union Territory of J & K. He further highlighted that all Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in J&K are routed through this Centre, reinforcing IIM Jammu’s pivotal role in supporting the region’s developmental and governance agenda.

Highlighting IIM Jammu’s contribution to governance and entrepreneurship, Prof. B.S. Sahay cited key initiatives such as YUVA, jointly developed by IIM Jammu and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. The project has been closely monitored by Shri Atal Dulloo, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, and approved by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha Ji. He emphasized that with three Institutes of National Importance, IIM, IIT, and AIIMS, now established in Jammu, the region is rapidly transforming into a vibrant hub of academic excellence and innovation. He further added that all educational institutions must work with a spirit of service to the nation and humanity, aligning with the vision of Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, who has often underscored “Seva Bhav” as the true foundation of nation-building.

Prof. Sanjeev Pathak, Chairperson, Executive Education and Consultancy (EE&C), IIM Jammu, provided an overview of IIM Jammu’s Executive Education and Consultancy initiatives, highlighting the institute’s efforts in fostering leadership development, industry collaboration, and capacity-building through its diverse range of executive programs.

The conference’s thematic tracks included Evolving Higher Education Ecosystems and Stakeholder Expectations; Transdisciplinary Curriculum Development and Pedagogy; Institutional Governance for Transdisciplinary Education; and Roadmap for a Global Indian University. 

Prof. Prashant Malavadkar, Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Prof. Vishwanath Karad’s MIT-WPU, Pune, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, and the IIM Jammu Administration and Executive Education and Consultancy team for their support and collaboration.

The conference culminated with the National Anthem and a group photo session, followed by a networking interaction over hi-tea. The event marked a significant step toward reimagining the higher education landscape through collective reflection, innovation, and collaboration.