India's Varsities Must Leapfrog to Innovation-Driven Ecosystems, Says VIT Vice-President

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India's top universities must adopt a radical shift in their approach to education, focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship rather than traditional degree programs. This was emphasized by Dr Sekar Viswanathan, vice-president of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), at the HT Future Ed Conclave 2025 in New Delhi. Viswanathan cited global institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford, and Tokyo as examples of universities where innovation is deeply ingrained in the education system. He noted that these universities have successfully embedded entrepreneurship into their core curriculum, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings. The defining feature of these institutions, Viswanathan said, is 'co-creation' – not just signing memoranda of understanding (MoUs) – but actively collaborating with industry partners to drive research and innovation. He highlighted MIT's structured technology transfer systems and partnerships with companies like IBM, Boeing, Google, and Shell, which have led to the creation of successful startups. Viswanathan also pointed to Stanford's role in launching influential technology companies like Google, HP, Cisco, and Yahoo, asking whether Indian universities can replicate this success. He emphasized the importance of innovation being 'horizontal' across campuses, rewarding commercialization, and interdisciplinary research, as well as strengthening technology transfer offices and aligning research with national missions and global goals. Viswanathan praised the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for signaling a shift towards early and continuous skilling, as well as reinforcing the idea of multidisciplinary learning and innovation-led education. He urged Indian universities to focus on producing job creators, not just job seekers, and serve as anchors for regional and national development. By emulating global best practices and fostering innovation ecosystems, Indian universities can stay competitive in the global higher education landscape. As Viswanathan noted, 'We need to do the same thing in India,' and create institutions that are centers of research, entrepreneurship, and policy influence, supported by deep industry connections and a focus on solving societal problems.