The QS India Summit 2023 was organized in Goa on the theme: India’s Global Vision: Building Universities for a Knowledge Economy from 19th to 21st Feb 2023. The event in Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort, Cavelossim Beach, South Goa, brought together over 300 university Presidents and University leadership to discuss and explore ways to enhance the country’s position as a global knowledge hub. The 2023 edition of the Summit was a G20 sub-event organized under the patronage of India’s Ministry of Education. The host of this year’s summit was the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and the co-host was UPES University, Dehradun. The other event partners were NIMS University, Rajasthan, Management & Science University, Ajman University, Shiksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Symbiosis University, James Cook University, World Education Services, etc. Dr. Vinith Kumar Nair, Associate Director, Amrita Center for Accreditations, Rankings, and Eminence represented Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham at the Summit.

The summit focused on building solid universities to drive India’s innovation, research, and economic growth. This gathering of key stakeholders in India provided a platform for attendees to exchange ideas, share best practices, and identify new opportunities for strategic collaboration. Dr. Subhas Sarkar, Honourable Minister of State for Education, the government of India delivered the Ministerial Keynote Address, and the guest of honour was the Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture of India, Smt Meenakshi Lekhi and Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Honourable Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs at the Government of India.

Day 1 started with QS Behind the Scenes Masterclass and QS workshop in which Ben Sowter, Senior Vice President, QS Quacquarelli Symonds, Jacques de Champchesnel, Head of Consulting, QS Quacquarelli Symonds, Kesh Patel, Senior Consultant, QS Quacquarelli Symonds, Dr. Shubhra Dutta, Customer Consultant, South Asia, Research Solution Sales, Elsevier participated. The sessions focused on better understanding India’s global higher education sector positioning. Taking deep diving into data highlighted some of the challenges Indian institutions face.

There was another panel discussion on Achieving India’s Global Vision: Overcoming Institutional Challenges in which Henna Mansuri, Institutional Support Specialist at QS Quacquarelli Symonds, Girish Gopalakrishnan, Head of Products at QS Quacquarelli Symonds, Mr. Vineet Thakur, Institutional Support Specialist at QS Quacquarelli Symonds, and Mr. Kuldeep Reddy, Senior Operations Manager at QS Quacquarelli Symonds participated. Post lunch, a panel discussion was scheduled on Learning Through The Life Course: Exploring Future Possibilities for Universities. The University of Auckland organized the panel discussion. Prof Marek Tesar, Associate Dean International, Head of School Learning, Development and Professional Practice Faculty of Education and Social Work, at the University of Auckland, Prof Mark Barrow, Dean, Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland and Prof Susan Kemp, Professor – Counselling, Human Services, and Social Work at the University of Auckland participated in the discussion. This interactive workshop explored why learning through the life course is so essential. It also featured successful examples of how digital technologies and life-long learning opportunities can offer new and productive initiatives for Universities in post-pandemic times.

Two very interesting summit exclusive workshops were conducted on the 1st day as part of the event. The first one was on Learning through the life course: Exploring Future Possibilities for Universities” organized by: the University of Auckland, and the Facilitator was Prof Marek Tesar, Associate Dean International, Head of School Learning, Development, and Professional Practice, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Prof Mark Barrow, Dean, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland, New Zealand, and Prof Susan Kemp, Professor of Counselling, Human Services, and Social Work, University of Auckland, New Zealand, were the other members of the panel.

“Developing Sustainable Cities,” a panel discussion organized by: the University of Canterbury, was the other highlight post lunch. The Facilitator was Brett Berquist, Assistant Vice-Chancellor of Engagement, University of Canterbury, New Zealand. The other panel members were Prof Ian Wright, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and Lynn McClelland, Assistant Chief Executive Christchurch City Council New Zealand.

Day 2 started with an Inaugural Panel – Research Excellence Amid a Changing Landscape supported by the University of Auckland. Prof Dawn Freshwater, Vice Chancellor, University of Auckland, New Zealand, moderated the session. Prof Ling San, Acting President, Deputy President & Provost, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, Dr. VidyaYeravdekar, Chair, Higher Education, Committee, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Pro-Chancellor, Symbiosis International University, Dr. S Sundar Manoharan, Director General, Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), and Prof Rajesh Sundaresan, Dean of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), was part of the panel.

The panel discussion was followed by a Fireside Chat on India as a G20 host and its implication on higher education. The session was moderated by Ambassador Mohan Kumar, Director – Jindal Global Centre for G20 Studies, O P Jindal Global, University. He conversed with Ambassador Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, Joint Secretary (G20), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Mr. Nagaraj shared updates on global progress towards SDG4, Education.

Immediately after the Fireside Chat, Prof Sitharam T G, Chairman, All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), gave a keynote speech on the Transformation of Technical Education in India in the Era of Disruptive Innovation. Prof. Sitharam spoke at length on the critical changes to higher education in India after the Education Policy 2020. The second keynote speech of the day was given by Lord Karan Bilimoria, Lord in the House of Lords, Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. He spoke on the untapped potential of UK-India Higher Education relations and pointed out that Indian students already make up the biggest number of international students in the UK. We must encourage more British students to take up opportunities in India.

Throughout the day, there were other panel discussions on Unlocking the Potential of Global Partnerships, Sustainable Futures, Path toward Women Empowerment, and Nurturing Industry-University Collaboration.

Day 3 started with Fireside Chat on Gen Z envisioning the future of India’s Knowledge Economy, followed by panel discussions on various contemporary themes, i.e., Digital Connection and Transformation, The Future of Higher Education in building a resilient India and Brand & Reputation: Building a World-Class Institution. Panelists who participated in the deliberations included Prof Suhas Joshi, Director, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore, Stephen D Mull, Vice Provost for Global Affairs, University of Virginia, United States of America, Prof Sasmita Samanta, Vice Chancellor, KIIT University,Prof Rajita Kulkarni, President, Sri Sri University, Prof Neela Nataraj, Dean (Faculty Affairs), IIT Bombay, Prof Stephen Flint, Associate Vice-President International, University of Manchester, United Kingdom, Dr Ananya Mukherjee, Vice-Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University, Lt. Gen (Dr) MD Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Prof Mark E Smith, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Southampton, United Kingdom, Esther Benjamin, CEO, World Education Services, USA, Prof Dan Parsons, Pro Vice Chancellor Research & Innovation, Loughborough University, UK, Prof Ian Wright, Deputy Vice Chancellor – Research, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, Prof Sebastiá n Royo, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Clark University, USA, Dr Rupa Vasudevan, Chancellor & Founder, BEST Innovation University, Ben Sowter, Senior Vice President, QS Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd, UK, Prof K K Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, Dr Madhu Chitkara, Pro Chancellor, Chitkara University, Prof Amit Banerjee, Pro Chancellor, Siksha O Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University, Dr Swati Karad-Chate, Trustee & Secretary General, MAEER’s MIT Group of Institutions, Prof Dawn Freshwater, Vice Chancellor, University of Auckland, New Zealand, Prof Ling San, Acting President, Deputy President & Provost, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, Prof AR Harish, Dean Research & Development, IIT Kanpur, Dr Maggie Leggett, Director of External Relations, Queen Mary University of London, UK, Prof Dr Sangeeta Shah Bharadwaj, Acting Director, MDI Gurgaon, Prof C Muthamizhchelvan, Vice Chancellor, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Prof Seung Han Park, Senior Vice President for Research Affairs, Yonsei University, South Korea, Dr Sasipraba T, Vice Chancellor, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Prof Gavin Brown, Vice Chancellor for Education, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, Levent Yarar, Sr. Director Strategic Partnerships, Wharton Interactive – The University of Pennsylvania, USA, Sunil PP, Head for Education, Amazon Web Services (AWS), India, Prof Ali Khatibi, Senior VP for Post Graduate, Business & Social Science, Management and Science University (MSU), Malaysia, Prof Bhushan Patwardhan, Chairperson, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, Chair, Higher Education Committee, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Pro-Chancellor, Symbiosis International University, Prof C Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, O P Jindal Global University (Institute of Eminence), Prof Cillian Ryan, Pro Vice Chancellor, Nottingham Trent University, UK, Dr Karim Seghir, Chancellor, Ajman University, United Arab Emirates, Dr. Monica Kennedy, Minister, Counsellor Commercial, South Asia, Australian Trade & Investment Commission, India, Prof Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIM Kozhikode and Dr Matthew O’Meagher, Principal Advisor, International Reputation, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

The three-day summit ended with a valedictory address by Dr. Pramod P Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, who spoke on the vision to position India as an Asian education hub.