Madhu Chitkara
Pro Chancellor, Chitkara University, Punjab

An alumna of Delhi and Punjab universities and a former maths teacher, Madhu Chitkara is Pro Chancellor, Chitkara University, Punjab and Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh. Currently, these two private universities ranked #1 in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, have 22,000 students mentored by 1,500 well-qualified faculty.

Institutional roadmap to 2047. We aspire to become a global centre of excellence in education, research, and innovation by equipping our students with future-ready skills in AI, ecology sustainability, and health sciences; making entrepreneurship and start-up culture an integral part of campus life; establishing state-of-the-art research facilities aligned with industry needs; and strengthening our international collaborations to serve society, especially underprivileged communities in rural India.

Progress assessment. We are proud of how far we have come, but the journey has just begun. Right now we have over 200 collaborations with companies, thousands of successful alumni, globally ranked programmes, and a thriving campus start-up ecosystem which has incubated 190 start-up companies. However, there is always room for improvement. Our satisfaction comes from knowing that we are moving in the right direction with strong values, clear purpose, and continuous innovation.

Curriculum modernisation. We are very aware that our curriculums must be contemporary and future-focused. Therefore, with industry partners we have co-created new-age study programmes in AI, data science, design thinking, digital business, fintech, and sustainability. We follow an outcomes-based education model with hands-on projects, live case studies, industry internships, and real-time challenges. Moreover, life skills education — communication, ethics, collaboration, and adaptability — is integrated into the curricula and entrepreneurship and innovation are part of every study program.

Bridging academia-industry gap. Our relationship with Indian industry is perhaps our greatest strength. We have built strong connections with blue-chip companies in diverse sectors including IT, consulting, knowledge management, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and hospitality. These companies are actively involved with our curriculum design and student internships. This deep relationship is testified by our excellent placement record. We host arguably India’s premier incubation centres in which start-ups benefit from mentorship of over 70 experienced industry veterans. 

Strengthening R&D and innovation ecosystems. In Chitkara universities, we accord highest priority to R&D and innovation. In the Chitkara University Research and Innovation Network, we have established dedicated technology, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and healthcare research centres, and our faculty has registered over 4,000 patents. A good example of our commitment to R&D is exemplified by a project to reduce the pollution fallout of annual stubble burning by Punjab farmers. I am pleased to inform you that our researchers have developed sustainable technologies to convert agricultural stubble into marketable products which will significantly reduce environmental pollution in Delhi and Punjab. Research conducted in Chitkara universities is not merely academic, it directly benefits society.

Prescription for India achieving $30 trillion GDP by 2047. This requires investment in our high-potential human resource to develop innovation capabilities and new ideas. Therefore, education must become future-ready, focused on developing students’ digital skills, critical thinking, and entrepreneurship. Second, we need strong industry-academia partnerships to develop a highly skilled workforce. Third, robust support for start-ups and MSMEs through funding, mentorship and digital resources. Fourth, substantial investment in research and clean technologies is necessary, with universities playing a pivotal role. Finally, we need inclusive development that reaches urban and rural areas, men and women, youth and the elderly. At Chitkara University, we are attempting to shape students into nation-builders.

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