University leaders from 26 education institutes and industry experts discuss collaboration, curriculum changes and a new academic framework on AI and the Future of Higher Education
Bhubaneswar: Birla Global University, in collaboration with Microsoft Research India, brought together academic leaders from across Odisha for a Leadership Conclave on “Transformation of Higher Education in the Age of AI.” The conclave was attended by representatives from 26 universities and colleges. The objective of the conclave was to discuss how Artificial Intelligence is changing students’ ways of learning and teaching methodologies.
Some of the topics discussed during the conclave included the gaps found in early education and how Artificial Intelligence is changing our perception of knowledge delivery. The conclave also highlighted why AI in education must address fairness and responsibility, cross-disciplinary thinking, and collaborative learning.
One of the biggest takeaways from the talks was the concept of the Odisha University Compact. The compact is a collaborative model that enables different universities to work together in a collaborative manner without losing their independence. Through the compact, different universities can share resources, have a faculty exchange program, and form different groups to enhance the scope of interdisciplinary learning. It also enables students to take different courses from other partner universities, thus providing a flexible higher education structure.
The concept of the Odisha University Compact aligns perfectly with the Ekalavya Model, which integrates Artificial Intelligence with different innovative teaching mechanisms such as project-based learning and portfolio-based learning. The model also enables the recognition of micro-learning victories by providing students the opportunity to earn credits through different small learning modules and academic tasks. These different initiatives work towards the modernization of conventional education by providing collaborative learning, skill-based education, and academic development in the AI age.
The conclave featured influential personalities from the fields of research, academia, and industry. Dr. Manohar Swaminathan, Senior Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research India, conducted technical workshops on the Pluriversity Compact and introduced the audience to advanced Agentic AI technologies and how they might impact curricula and adaptive learning environments. Deewakar Gupta from KPMG India addressed the audience on the regulatory environment for AI in the education and employment sectors. Academic leaders in attendance included Prof. Rangin P. Tripathy, Registrar at National Law University Odisha, Prof. Sridevi Guda, Pro-Vice Chancellor at Centurion University of Technology and Management, and Dr. Sanjay Kuanar, Dean, School of Computer Science & Engineering, BGU.
Industry leaders such as Puspak Patro, CEO of Dynamicweb (Singapore), and Dr. Saiprasanna Behera of CRO Pharma Trendz also shared their views on the evolution of skill sets required in the industry, highlighting the importance of strong collaboration between industry and academia.
Another notable highlight of the day was the award ceremony of the “Agents for Academia” Hackathon, where students proposed innovative applications of Artificial Intelligence in the overall education ecosystem.
The conclave concluded with the formation of a collaborative group that will work towards bringing much-needed changes in the education system. The initiative aims to integrate Artificial Intelligence into academic practices and assist Birla Global University in developing a research-driven education system that is both competitive and future-ready.
