Overview
The 6th edition of the Global Education Summit (GES) was hosted by Chandigarh University from October 5 to 9, 2026, a five‑day event that convened more than 90 renowned academic leaders representing 69 leading global universities across 30 nations. The summit was organized under the theme “Collaborations in AI‑based Research and Innovations for Creating a Sustainable Global Village.”
Key Participants and Guests
The inaugural ceremony featured Sena Latif, Ambassador of Romania to India, as Chief Guest, and Alba Smeriglio, Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom in India, as a distinguished guest. Prof. (Dr.) Matilde María Olarte Martínez, Vice‑Chancellor for Culture, Heritage, Sustainability at the University of Salamanca, Spain, served as Guest of Honour. Additional guests of honour included ambassadors from Nicaragua, Bolivia, Jamaica, Guyana, Timor‑Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, and Chile. University officials such as Pro‑Chancellor Damandeep Kaur Sandhu and Advisor to the Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) R.S. Bawa also attended.
Delegations and Academic Interactions
An 11‑member delegation from Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), USA, comprising 11 students and two faculty members, visited Chandigarh University on October 6‑7 to engage in academic exchanges. The summit’s programme featured panel discussions, research meetings, institutional interactions, online sessions with international speakers, and cultural immersion activities.
Focus Areas of Deliberations
Four thematic areas guided the academic discourse:
1. Ethical use of AI for building a sustainable society;
2. Restructuring higher education to produce socially sensitive professional leaders;
3. Healthy practices in deploying AI‑oriented technologies to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
4. Development of AI‑based pedagogies for a more equitable and inclusive education model.
Institutional Highlights and Strategic Positioning
Chandigarh University emphasized its role as an academic bridge between the developing and developed worlds, citing over 540 international academic collaborations with top global universities and institutions in more than 100 countries across six continents, making it the first Indian university to achieve this scale of international engagement. The university’s strategy aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP‑2020), emphasizing internationalisation and foreign collaborations. Chandigarh University holds a NAAC A+ grade, is QS World‑ranked, and offers 109 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and other fields.
Statements on AI and Global Collaboration
Speakers highlighted AI’s potential to transform research, education, climate analysis, water and energy management, agriculture, and healthcare, stressing the need for responsible, inclusive, and ethically guided AI development. The summit underscored the importance of joint research, technology transfer, and academic mobility to address global challenges and to ensure equitable access to AI tools and infrastructure, particularly for the Global South.
Conclusion
The Global Education Summit positioned Chandigarh University as a central hub for international academic collaboration, AI‑focused research, and alignment with India’s broader educational reforms, while showcasing extensive diplomatic participation and a robust agenda aimed at fostering sustainable, inclusive, and ethically grounded advancements in higher education.