Overview
On July 1, 2026, Chandigarh University in Punjab launched the second edition of its CU Scholars Summit 2026. The summit was inaugurated by Lt General (Retd) Raj Shukla, Member of the Union Public Service Commission, who served as the Chief Guest. The Guest of Honour roster included Prof. Luke Dickens and Prof. Jürg Bähler from University College London, Prof. Santosh Kumar from RMIT University, Joyce Rodriguez of Airbus Group India, actress Apoorva Arora, Vice‑Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Raviraja N Seetharam, Pro‑VC Dr. Satbir Singh Sehgal, and Advisor Prof. (Dr.) RS Bawa.
Attendance and Participants
Approximately 3,600 students who topped the Chandigarh University Common Entrance Test 2026 (CUCET 2026) were felicitated. These students were selected from all Indian states and union territories and represented a wide range of academic streams.
Keynote and Themes
In his keynote titled "Human and AI: Learning, Thinking and Leading in a Changing World," Lt General Shukla emphasized that AI will create new strategic divisions in society, reshape national security, and become a foundational technology driving a "Samriddh Viksit Bharat." He warned that non‑engagement with AI is no longer an option. The summit underscored AI’s strategic relevance for future job roles, though specific global AI spending figures ($3 trillion in AI salaries and $9 trillion contribution to the global economy) were omitted as they are not India‑specific.
Welcome Address
Prof. (Dr.) RS Bawa highlighted the university’s achievements across academics, research, patents, sports, and cultural activities, stressing its technology‑driven, innovation‑focused, and student‑centric ethos.
Dignitaries and Speakers
The event featured a diverse set of speakers and dignitaries, including:
- Dr. Kamaljeet Singh, Director General, Semiconductor Laboratory, Mohali
- Lt General Shamsher Singh Virk, General Officer Commanding, Chetak Corps (X Corps)
- Prof. (Dr.) Naveen Sirohi, Director, Forum of Indian Regulators (FOIR) Centre & Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Corporate Affairs
- Prof. Sulaiman Wadi Harun, University Malaya, Malaysia
- Ajay Kumar Singh, Business Leader, Tata Consultancy Services
- Dr. Anurag Singh, Dean, NIT Delhi
- Prof. Saiful Amri Mazlan, Universiti Teknologi, Malaysia
- Prof. Vijayan P Munusamy, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- Aniruddha, India Lead, Global CoE‑Talent Acquisition, Bunge India Pvt Ltd
- Balwinder Singh, Principal, C‑DAC
- Prof. Christa Grobler, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
- Prof. Shepherd Dhliwayo, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
- Dr. Ian John Dixon, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- Swapnil Sharad Mhaske, City CEO, Blink Commerce Pvt Ltd
- Prof. Magdalena Matusiak Frącczak, University of Lodz, Poland
Campus Tour
A guided exploration of Chandigarh University’s expansive campus allowed participants to view cutting‑edge laboratories, world‑class facilities, and dynamic learning spaces.
About Chandigarh University
Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+‑graded and QS World‑ranked autonomous institution approved by the UGC. It is the youngest private university in Punjab and the only one in the state to receive an A+ grade from NAAC. The university offers more than 109 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes spanning engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and other disciplines. It has been recognized as The University with Best Placements by the World Career Review Council (WCRC).
Excluded Content
Global AI economic figures—specifically the $3 trillion paid to AI professionals worldwide and the $9 trillion AI contribution to the global economy—were excluded from this summary because they are not specific to India.