The Digii100 Summit 2024, powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and supported by the Education Promotion Society for India, Asian Institute of Design, Kalvium, and Spread Design and Innovation Pvt. Ltd., brought together 250+ visionary leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to reimagine the future of higher education institutions (HEIs) in India.
From insightful panel discussions and masterclasses to roundtables with industry stalwarts, the summit explored strategies for building resilient, student-first institutions, leveraging cutting-edge technologies, and fostering collaboration between policy and innovation. Let’s delve deeper into the highlights of this remarkable event.
Here’s a glimpse of Digii100 Summit 2024:
Inaugural Ceremony: A Vision for the Future
The Digii100 Summit began with an inspirational Inaugural Ceremony graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Shr. Robin Hibu, and Prof. Vinay Kumar Pathak, whose visionary insights set the tone for the event. A landmark moment during the ceremony was the launch of the KPMG Student Experience Framework, an innovative model designed to revolutionize student engagement and institutional outcomes.
Panel Discussions: A Roadmap to Digital Transformation
1. Becoming Student-First Is No Longer Optional
The first-panel discussion of the Digii100 Summit underscored the urgency of prioritizing student-centric approaches in educational institutions. Distinguished speakers such as Narayanan Ramaswamy, Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Shankar Vanavarayar, Pravesh Dudani, Maheshwer Peri, and Ajit Chauhan shared actionable strategies to create a student-first ecosystem.
The panel emphasized that today’s learners expect personalized learning experiences, robust support systems, and seamless digital platforms that address their academic and personal needs. By making students the focal point of institutional strategies, HEIs can enhance both engagement and outcomes.
2. Taking the Digital Leap: Can Policy Match Innovation?
This session explored the interplay between policy and innovation, posing critical questions about the ability of regulatory frameworks to keep pace with technological advancements. Visionaries like Shr. Kunwar Shekhar Vijendra, Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, Bharat Lal Meena, Prof. (Dr.) Sandeep Sancheti, Prof. Nitesh Bansal, and Madhur Singhal discussed how progressive policies can empower institutions to embrace emerging technologies while addressing challenges like infrastructure gaps and digital divides.
3. Recipe for Building Digital Institutions
Bringing together thought leaders like Amitabh Jhingan, Dr. Parag Diwan, Rajiv Tandon, and Senthil Kumar, this session highlighted the critical ingredients for building digital-first institutions. Discussions revolved around implementing robust digital ecosystems, fostering innovation, and ensuring scalability while maintaining the human touch in education.
4. Futurescaping the Learning Environment in the AI Era
The AI revolution is reshaping the way we teach and learn. Visionaries like Dr. Rām Sharma, Dr. Aman Mittal, Priestly Shan Boaz, Meeta Sengupta, Dr. Manish Kothari, and Rajesh Kumar explored how artificial intelligence can enable personalized learning, streamline administrative processes, and bridge learning gaps.
The session painted a vivid picture of the future of education, where AI augments human potential and creates adaptive, data-driven learning environments.
5. Barriers to Breakthrough: Why the Digital Revolution Stalls in Education
This panel discussion tackled the pressing challenges hindering digital transformation in education. From infrastructure limitations to resistance to change, the esteemed panellists – Naveen Goyal, Dr. Aman Mittal, Farhaad Yenepoya, Dr. Prabhu Aggarwal, and Sakshi Agrawal Bansal, delved into solutions to overcome these barriers and ensure equitable access to digital resources for all learners.
6. Path Forward for Digital Excellence
The Digii100 Summit concluded its panel discussions with a forward-looking session on achieving digital excellence. Visionary leaders like Dr. Harivansh Chaturvedi, Dr. Sekar Viswanathan, S. Malarvizhi, Manoshi Roychowdhury, and Dr. Ch. Preeti Reddy shared their strategies for fostering innovation, embracing emerging technologies, and creating sustainable digital ecosystems for education.
Roundtables: Fostering Collaborative Problem-Solving
1. Standardize to Digitize: The Untapped Power of SOPs (Facilitated by 1Lattice)
The session highlighted the importance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as the foundation for successful digital transformation. Participants discussed how consistent processes can lead to better implementation of technology solutions and ensure scalability across institutions.
2. Science Behind Great Student Experience (Facilitated by KPMG)
This discussion centered on creating a holistic student experience, and addressing academic, emotional, and technological needs. Leaders shared how institutions can utilize data-driven insights to design better student journeys, from admissions to graduation.
3. Breaking the Change Management Barrier (Facilitated by Praxis Global Alliance)
Resistance to change is one of the biggest hurdles in implementing digital transformation. This roundtable provided strategies for overcoming such resistance by fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability within institutions.
4. CIOs Roundtable: Championing Digital Transformation
This exclusive session brought together Chief Information Officers (CIOs) from leading higher education institutions to discuss strategies for accelerating digital transformation. With a focus on collaboration and innovation, the roundtable emphasized the CIO’s pivotal role in steering institutions toward digital success.
Masterclasses: A Deep Dive into Innovation
1. Addressing the Elephant in the Room: AI for Impact (Facilitated by AWS)
This masterclass focused on the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to revolutionize education. With use cases ranging from personalized learning experiences to predictive analytics for student success, participants learned how AI can empower institutions to drive efficiency and effectiveness. The session was chaired by Sachin Punyani, Deep Tech Leader at AWS India & South Asia, addressing the ethical considerations and challenges of implementing AI in education, ensuring that technology remains a tool to enhance, not replace human interaction.
2. Beyond Costs: Unlocking ROI (Facilitated by Paradigm Consultants)
In an era where digital transformation often involves significant investment, this masterclass addressed the critical need to measure Return on Investment (ROI) for education technology initiatives. The session was chaired by Dr. Parag Diwan, Chairman of Paradigm Consultants & Resource Management and Jyothi Kasinath, Sr. Vice President – Operations & Partnerships at Digii. The leaders were introduced to frameworks for calculating tangible and intangible benefits, such as improved operational efficiency, enhanced student satisfaction, and long-term cost savings.
3. Immersive Futures: Shaping Education and Industry Synergy with Gaming, AR, VR, and New Media (Facilitated by Asian Institute of Design)
This futuristic session showcased how immersive technologies like Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and advanced gaming platforms are reshaping both education and industry. Chaired by Mayank Grover, Founder of Outscal and Dr. Manika Walia, Head of the School of Design & Creative Arts at Vedatya, the session explored how such tools could create engaging, interactive learning environments, making education more experiential.
Keynote Address: How 6G Will Change the World
One of the most anticipated sessions of the Digii100 Summit, the keynote address on 6G technology was delivered by Ponni Krishnamoorthy, Director, Telco Cloud and 4G/5G Telecom Test Networks at the Bangalore 6G Research Center, Nokia. The session offered a glimpse into the future of connectivity and its potential to revolutionize education, communication, and collaboration. The address left attendees inspired to embrace the possibilities of next-generation technologies.
Valedictory Session
The summit culminated with a prestigious Valedictory Session that truly embodied the spirit of collaboration and innovation. We are proud to have launched a joint knowledge book, showcasing inspiring digital transformation success stories and exemplary approaches to adopting technology in higher education. This book, created in partnership with AWS and other supporting organizations, is a testament to the collective effort and commitment of educators and institutions striving to unlock the full potential of digital excellence.
We were deeply honoured by the esteemed presence of Shr. Arjun Vajpai ji and Shr. Mukesh Kumar Gupta ji, whose insights and contributions added immense value to the event and left a lasting impact on all participants.
Digii100 Summit 2024: A Path Forward
From groundbreaking discussions on AI, policy innovation, and digital transformation to actionable strategies for creating student-first ecosystems, the Digii100 Summit 2024 has paved the way for higher education institutions to embrace a digitally empowered future. It highlighted the importance of fostering agility, resilience, and inclusivity in education, ensuring every learner has access to opportunities that technology can unlock.
As we reflect on the powerful insights and collaborative spirit of Digii100 Summit 2024, we look forward to seeing these ideas come to life, driving a new era of excellence in Indian higher education.
We are excited to witness how these transformative ideas will evolve and lead us into the next chapter of educational excellence!
