REPORT

AIMA Vice Chancellors Conclave 2025: Top Academics and Policy Makers Converge in Bengaluru for 'Manthan' on Indian Knowledge Systems

All India Management Association (AIMA) Vice Chancellors Council hosted its annual Vice Chancellors Conclave on November 7–8, 2025, in Bengaluru. The national Conclave, supported by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and hosted by the ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education, Bengaluru, was a two-day Manthan—a churning of ideas centered on the theme: "Integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in Contemporary Higher Education."

The AIMA Vice Chancellors Conclave commenced on a truly historic day, November 7th, with a grand celebration marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram.

The Conclave's first day was initiated by singing our National Song, “Vande Mataram,” which was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterji on November 7th, 1875. The song first appeared in the literary journal Bangadarshan as part of his novel, Anandamath.

Invoking the Motherland as the embodiment of strength, prosperity, and divinity, the song gave poetic expression to India’s awakening spirit of unity and self-respect. It quickly became an enduring symbol of devotion to the nation, and even today, it continues to ignite the eternal flame of nationalism in the hearts of every Indian, serving as a powerful source of unity, patriotism, and renewed energy among the youth.

The Conclave served as a crucial platform for Vice Chancellors, academic administrators, policy makers, and industry leaders to formulate practical strategies for weaving traditional Indian knowledge and values into the modern curriculum, directly supporting the mandates of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The comprehensive two-day agenda featured high-powered sessions designed to move beyond theory and establish implementable models for IKS integration.

The Conclave began with the Inaugural Session, featuring welcome addresses delivered by Dr. Rohit Singh (Director, AIMA) and Prof. Dr. Muddu Vinay (Pro VC, ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education, Bengaluru). Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE, delivered the keynote address. The Guest of Honour was Prof. M. K. Sridhar, Padmashree Awardee, Member Board of Governors, Chanakya University, and President, CESS.

The Inaugural Session was also joined by AIMA VCC Co-Chairman, Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi (Vice Chancellor, IIFT, New Delhi), Dr. Koti Reddy T (Vice Chancellor, ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education), and Dr. Vinay Joshi (Dean Academics, Conclave Host Convenor, ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education, Bengaluru).

This was followed by the Inaugural Panel Discussion on "The Bharatiya Way: Relevance of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) for Today". Prof. M. K. Sridhar was the keynote speaker of the session and the panel included Prabhudev Aradhya S (Senior Chartered Accountant and Past President, Bangalore Management Association), Prof. P. Kanagasabapathi (Secretary & Distinguished Fellow, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation), Dr. Murlidhar Chandniwala (Distinguished Literary Figure and Vedic Literature Specialist), and Dr. Sanjay Padode (President, Vijaybhoomi University).

The Plenary Session discussed "IKS to Address Current & Emerging Challenges of India and the World", featuring Prof. N. Sivakumar (Professor & Dean, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning), Dr. G. P. Sudhakar (Honorary Professor, Centre for Educational & Social Studies), and Dr. R. Prasad (Senior Director and Professor, Academic Wing, ICFAI Group).

The next Plenary Session focused on "Technology as an Enabler for Preservation, Integration, and Facilitation of Indian Knowledge System", with speakers Dr. B. Anbuthambi (Head, Strategy & Partnerships, L&T EduTech) and Dr. Sai Rama Krishna Susarla (Executive Director, Siddhanta Knowledge Foundation).

The Plenary Session on "IKS to Meet the Goal of Internationalization at Home" featured Dr. B. Chandrasekar (Executive Director, EdCIL India Limited), Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi (Vice Chancellor, IIFT, New Delhi), and Dr. Kotti Reddy (Vice Chancellor, ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education).

The day concluded with a Plenary Session covering "Strategies for Integration and Way Forward", where the speakers were Dr. Gowrisha Joshi (Professor & Director, Centre for Educational and Social Studies), Dr. Nilanjan Chattopadhyay (Vice Chancellor, Jagran Lakecity University), and Pramodh B. N. (Co-founder, AcademiAI).

The second day commenced with a Plenary Session on "Create Employment Opportunities for Youth through Skill-Based IKS Programs". With Session Chair Dr. Bhimaraya Metri (Director, IIM Nagpur and Chairman, AIMA BOS), the session included presentations by Priya Mathilakath Pillai (Head, People Function, Titan Company Limited), Prabhudev Aradhya S, Sanath Kumar (Head Operations, River Rejuvenation Projects, The Art of Living), and Dr. S. Vijyalakshmi (Registrar, ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education, Hyderabad).

The final discussion, Plenary Session, focused on "Best Practices and Success Stories in IKS Integration", with insights shared by Dr. Vinayachandra Banavathy (Director, Centre for IKS, Chanakya University), Dr. Biplab Halder (Vice Chancellor, ICFAI University, Tripura), and Dr. Bhavani M. R. (Registrar & Professor, Management Sciences, Chanakya University).

The Conclave saw active participation from over 50 higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country. It served as a platform benefiting two sets of institutions — those new to initiating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) centers and those who have already established IKS centers within their institutions. AIMA’s initiative received huge appreciation for facilitating the integration of IKS in higher education.