###Udaipur to Host West Zone Vice Chancellors’ Meet

Udaipur, March 16. A two-day West Zone Vice Chancellors’ Conference will be held in Udaipur to deliberate on strengthening India’s higher education system through indigenous thinking, economic nationalism, and technological self-reliance. The conference, jointly organized by Rajasthan Vidyapeeth and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), will take place at the Agriculture College Auditorium under the theme “Atmanirbhar Bharat through Swadeshi, Economic Patriotism and Technological Nationalism.”

Vice Chancellor Prof. Shiv Singh Sarangdevot informed that the conference will be inaugurated on March 17 at 10:30 AM by Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde. Among the distinguished guests attending the inaugural session will be Prof. Manju Bagmar, Minister of State for Public Works and Women & Child Development; Prof. Gaurav Vallabh, Financial Advisor to the Prime Minister; Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General of AIU; and Bhanwar Lal Gurjar, Chancellor. The presidential address will be delivered by Prof. Vinay Kumar Pathak, President of AIU and Vice Chancellor of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur.

The conference will feature in-depth discussions on indigenous innovation in higher education, economic self-reliance, development of technological capabilities, and the role of universities in nation-building. Delegates arriving from across the country will be welcomed with traditional Rajasthani hospitality.

Assembly Speaker to Attend Valedictory Session

AIU Secretary General Dr. Pankaj Mittal stated that the valedictory session will be held on March 18 at 1:00 PM, with Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Prof. Vasudev Devnani as the chief guest. Special guests will include Dr. Anul Kothari, National Secretary of Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, New Delhi, and Rajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Established in 1925, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) is one of the country’s leading higher education organizations, playing a crucial role in policy development, research, sports, and cultural initiatives while strengthening coordination between universities and the government. Currently, nearly 1,150 universities from India and abroad are affiliated with AIU.

Special Lectures in AIU Centenary Year

Prof. Vinay Kumar Pathak noted that special lectures will also be organized to mark the centenary year of AIU. Prof. Bhagwati Prakash Sharma, former Vice Chancellor of Gautam Buddha University, will speak on Indian Education and Nation Building, while Dr. Atul Kothari, National Secretary of Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, will deliver a lecture on Swadeshi Education Philosophy.

Participation from Across the Western Zone

Organizing Secretary Prof. Yuvraj Singh Rathore said that the conference, being hosted by Rajasthan Vidyapeeth for the first time, will see participation from over 150 Vice Chancellors offline and more than 160 participants online from states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Telangana. Preparations are in their final stages, and delegates have already begun arriving in Udaipur.

Dialogue Between Industry and Universities

On the first day, a special interaction session will be held between EdTech companies and universities, focusing on digital education, online learning platforms, and emerging technologies. AIU member universities will also present their best academic and research practices. The day will conclude with a cultural program and dinner.

Special Session on Economic Patriotism

On March 18, a technical session on “Economic Patriotism and Swadeshi Economic Transformation” will be conducted under the chairmanship of Prof. Alpana Kateja, Vice Chancellor of the University of Rajasthan. Speakers will include Prof. S.P. Singh, Vice Chancellor of Kaushalya – The Skill University, Ahmedabad; Prof. Neelam Mishra, Vice Chancellor of Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth, Karad (Maharashtra); and Prof. G.R. Sesha, Vice Chancellor of GSFC University, Vadodara.

The session will deliberate on economic nationalism, promotion of indigenous industries, and the vital role universities can play in shaping a self-reliant India.