Focus on integrating emerging technologies into teaching, research and governance

The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) central zone Vice-Chancellors’ Meet 2025-26, the two-day summit on advancing technology-driven higher education, concluded at Osmania University on Friday.

The event, themed on “Creating AI – and Quantum-enabled higher educational institutions”, brought together the region’s foremost academic leaders to strategise on integrating emerging technologies into teaching, research and governance.

The closing ceremony on Friday featured a synopsis of the conference by OU VC Kumar Molugaram, who highlighted the agenda of technical sessions on AI infrastructure, quantum research preparedness and inter-institutional collaboration.

He lauded Osmania University’s role in steering such a transformative dialogue and reiterated the need for sustained cooperation among universities to address the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

One of the central themes throughout the summit was the balance between technological capability and ethical responsibility.

In the final technical deliberation, chaired by Director, International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad, Sandeep Shukla, distinguished contributors including retired bureaucrat Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi, who participated virtually, Vice Chancellor, JNTUH, T. Kishen Kumar Reddy, and Founder & Executive Chairman, Cyient, B.V.R. Mohan Reddy underscored that regulatory clarity and a ‘human-centric AI’ framework should underpin all institutional adoption of advanced technologies.

Secretary General of AIU Pankaj Mittal praised the flawless execution of the event and urged accelerated governance reforms to keep Indian institutions globally competitive.

Mr. Mohan Reddy described vice-chancellors as ‘catalysts of transformation’ and stressed the importance of interdisciplinary research.

Special Chief Secretary, Telangana government, Jayesh Ranjan called for a fundamental shift in student mindsets, from job-seekers to entrepreneurs aligned with societal needs.