Amrita University’s Dr Bhavani Rao R joined leading voices to rethink the role and direction of knowledge, research and innovation in today’s rapidly shifting landscape. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) held its 20th Higher Education Summit October 6-7, 2025 in New Delhi, themed “Higher Education in a Transforming World: Bridging Borders, Building Futures”.
Within this vibrant platform, Dr Rao—Amrita’s UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and Dean of the School of Social and Behavioural Sciences—spoke at the panel session titled “The Role of Higher Education in Promoting Sustainability”.
She emphasized compassion-driven education, guided by Amma as Chancellor, whose goals inspire students to earn a living with skill, cultivate mental and emotional maturity, honour their debts to family and nature, practice gratitude, and awaken awareness of their interconnectedness with the universe.
Dr Rao shared how Amrita’s programs give students the experience of living in rural communities—staying alongside residents, diagnosing challenges, and co-creating technology interventions through hands-on engagement.
Through these immersive learning practices, students witness the realities of life in impoverished villages in tandem with how rural cultures have preserved India’s ancient traditions. This cultivates compassion, responsibility, and meaningful innovation in their academic pursuits.
Dr Rao also highlighted how Amrita’s education system fosters a thirst for learning, even in this age of AI, encouraging students to pursue knowledge with curiosity, purpose, and compassion.
In an era where higher education is being called upon to lead in climate, equity, and social innovation, Dr. Rao’s presence at the summit highlighted a vital insight: universities must not only train professionals—but also nurture hearts, minds, and communities.
