Overview

Chandigarh University, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Private Universities (CIPU), hosted the 3rd Bharat Higher Education Summit 2026 on June 18, 2026 in Chandigarh. The two‑day event brought together more than 200 Vice Chancellors, policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, diplomats and international education experts to discuss the transformative role of universities in India’s journey toward a developed nation by 2047.

Key Participants

  • Chief Guest: Former Union Minister and MP Anurag Thakur presided over the summit.
  • Guest of Honour: Bhaskar Chatterjee, former Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
  • Other Dignitaries: Dr Rahul V Karad (Founder & Chief Patron, CIPU), Prof (Dr.) VN Rajasekharan Pillai (Former Chairman, UGC), Deepinder Singh Sandhu (Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University), R Karthik (Director General, CIPU) and Prof (Dr.) Raviraja Seetharam (Vice Chancellor, Chandigarh University).

Highlights and Statements

  • MP Anurag Thakur congratulated Chandigarh University on securing the 526th global rank in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and emphasized that universities must integrate Indian knowledge systems such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Sanskrit and classical mathematics with cutting‑edge technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotechnology.
  • Thakur highlighted the national mission of “Viksit Bharat 2047,” stating that higher education stands at the centre of this mission and urging heavy investment in research, innovation, incubators and startups to produce industry‑ready youth.
  • Rahul V Karad underscored the need for a transformational approach to higher education, positioning universities as hubs of innovation, entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary learning.
  • Vice Chancellor Prof (Dr.) Raviraja Seetharam reiterated the responsibility of universities to act as catalysts for innovation, research excellence and societal transformation, aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Panel Discussions

Three thematic panels were conducted:

1. From Knowledge to National Wealth: Universities as drivers of innovation, start‑ups and industrial competitiveness.

2. Building Human Capital for Viksit Bharat 2047: Transforming universities for skills, employability and future work.

3. What Industry Expects from Universities in Viksit Bharat 2047.

Agreements and Initiatives

  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between CIPU and the International Automobile Centre of Excellence (iACE), Gujarat, to strengthen industry‑academia collaboration, foster skill development, innovation and industry‑aligned learning opportunities in the automotive sector.
  • The summit introduced “The Bharat Collective,” envisioned as a national league of leading private universities to promote greater collaboration, knowledge sharing and a unified platform for addressing emerging opportunities and challenges in higher education.

About Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+‑graded, autonomous institution approved by the UGC and located near Chandigarh, Punjab. It offers more than 109 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce and other fields. The university has been recognised as “The University with Best Placements” by the World Career Review Council (WCRC).

Significance

The summit positioned private universities as pivotal engines of innovation and economic growth, aligning higher‑education reforms with the broader national objective of achieving a developed India by 2047.