Higher Education Must Remain a Great Equaliser: Dr. H. Chaturvedi Calls for Urgent AI-Era Reforms
TEN NEWS NETWORK
Greater Noida (September 6, 2026): Higher education must continue to serve as a powerful instrument of social and economic mobility, while India urgently reforms its academic system to meet the demands of the AI-driven future, said Dr. H. Chaturvedi, Pro-Chancellor, IILM University, Greater Noida, at the Bharat Shiksha Expo Initiative – Senior Educationists’ Round-Table.
Held on the occasion of Teachers’ Day 2026 and organised by India Expo Mart & Centre in association with TEN NEWS NETWORK, the round-table focused on “Teachers as Catalysts for a Developed India” and brought together senior educationists and institutional leaders to discuss education, research, faculty development and technology.
Higher Education Must Remain Accessible and Equitable
Dr. Chaturvedi said higher education has historically enabled students from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds to secure better employment and improve their families’ economic position.
“Higher education has been a great instrument of equality in our society.”
However, he cautioned that malpractice, examination paper leaks and unequal access to opportunities could undermine education’s role as a social equaliser. He questioned whether opportunities created by higher education are increasingly being captured by the rich and powerful at the expense of poorer students and called for stronger systems to protect merit and ensure equitable access.
Teachers Need Support Beyond the Classroom
Dr. Chaturvedi said teachers must play a wider role in reaching students from tribal, economically weaker and socially disadvantaged communities, invoking Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s belief in education as an instrument of social transformation. At the same time, he stressed that teachers need institutional and policy support.
“We become very emotional on September 5 because it is Teachers’ Day. But what about the other 364 days?”
He questioned the practice of assigning teachers prolonged non-teaching government duties, including census-related work and other campaigns, and suggested creating dedicated cadres for such assignments so teachers can remain focused on education.
Public and Private Institutions Must Work Together
Calling for an end to the divide between public and private higher education institutions, Dr. Chaturvedi advocated structured public-private collaboration.
“There should be fruitful and harmonious cooperation between private and public institutions.”
He proposed a formal mentorship framework under which leading institutions such as IITs, IIMs, central universities and high-performing private universities could mentor weaker colleges and universities. Citing the possibility of IIT Kanpur supporting engineering colleges in surrounding regions, he argued that the government should fund and incentivise strong institutions to provide sustained academic mentoring, capacity building and research support.
‘Mass Production of PhDs Will Not Help India’
Dr. Chaturvedi called for urgent reforms in doctoral education, warning against compromising research quality and academic integrity for the sake of increasing PhD numbers. Mass production of PhDs will not help India. He stressed the need for stronger doctoral programmes, original research and rigorous academic standards, alongside continuous faculty development to keep educators updated with technological, geopolitical and economic changes.
AI Training for Teachers Cannot Wait
Artificial intelligence, he said, is emerging as a major force that could reshape higher education within the next few years. He questioned whether Indian universities are doing enough to train faculty members to effectively use AI in teaching and learning.
“AI is a major game-changer in higher education.”
Dr. Chaturvedi called for large-scale faculty training in AI and other digital technologies, stressing that educators must continuously update their skills. He also warned that advances in machine intelligence could challenge conventional notions of human intelligence, making institutional preparedness essential.
Outdated Courses Need to Be Replaced
Dr. Chaturvedi called for restructuring programmes that have become academically or economically unsustainable, particularly courses with very small student numbers or curricula that have remained unchanged for decades. While private universities have generally been faster in introducing emerging programmes, he said many affiliated colleges and state public universities continue to offer courses that do not reflect changing employment requirements.
“If something has become outdated, you have to let it go.”
He advocated new and industry-relevant programmes in Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, quantum computing, sustainability and other emerging technologies.
Education Reforms Critical to Viksit Bharat
Dr. Chaturvedi said many of the reforms he highlighted are already reflected in the National Education Policy (NEP), but effective implementation remains the key challenge. He emphasised that India’s ambition to become a developed nation will require quality institutions, rigorous research, empowered teachers, continuous faculty training and stronger integration of technology.
The Round-Table was attended by senior educationists and institutional leaders, including Dr. K. Mallikharjuna Babu, Galgotias University; Prof. Sibaram Khara, Sharda University; Brig. Dr. Rakesh Gupta, GIMS, Greater Noida; Kanchan Kumari, Delhi World Public School, Knowledge Park; Dr. R. S. Rai, Bennett University; Dr. Pankaj Gupta, O.P. Jindal Global University, Hisar; and Dr. Abhilasha Gautam, Army Institute of Education,Prof. Vivek Kumar, Amity University, Noida ; Gajanan Mali, Founder Ten News Network among others.
The discussions reinforced the central message of the Bharat Shiksha Initiative: India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047 will depend on strengthening educational quality, research and innovation, empowering teachers and ensuring that AI and technology-driven transformation reaches institutions and students across the country.
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