2025 was a transformative year for higher education, as institutions faced mounting pressures from technology, global competitiveness, curriculum relevance, and the evolving expectations of students and employers. Throughout the year, ETEducation brought you deep, exclusive interviews with thought leaders, institutional heads, and policymakers who offered insights into how universities are adapting, innovating, and redefining their role in society.
Here’s a comprehensive look back at the most meaningful conversations:
Video interviews: Leaders on change, innovation & institutional strategy
Video interviews that brought nuanced perspectives on agility, collaboration, global vision, and future readiness in higher education:
Prof Rangan Banerjee — Building agile, innovative & global institutions
Professor Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, talks about the role of agility, AI integration, and collaborative research in redefining excellence and future-focused institutional strategy.
Watch the full video: ETEducation.com
Director, IIM Ahmedabad — Navigating change in management education
In this candid conversation, the Director of IIM Ahmedabad reflects on how Indian business education must respond to disruption, global expectations, and leadership development.
Watch the full video: ETEducation.com
Chairman, Karnataka Skill Development Authority — Skills for a new age
This interview explores how skilling, employability, and system-level cooperation are reshaping education policy and practice—bridging industry needs with learner readiness.Watch the full video: ETEducation.com
Prof Ghassan Aouad — Internationalisation & global academic perspectives
Prof Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University, discusses how global engagement, transnational collaboration and academic mobility are evolving beyond student exchange.
Watch the full video: ETEducation.com
India’s tech future decoded — IIT Kanpur & BITS Pilani
A deep dive into how India’s premier technical institutions are preparing learners and research ecosystems for emerging technology leadership and global competitiveness.
Watch the full video: ETEducation.com
Prof Himanshu Rai, Director, IIM Indore — Growth with Values
At EDNXT Lucknow 2025, Prof Rai speaks about leadership, institutional growth, and the role of values in shaping future-ready business schools. The conversation emphasises purpose-driven education in a rapidly changing world.Watch the full interview: ETEducation.com
Matt Ayoub — Governance & Global School Education Perspectives
The Chair of the Board of Trustees at the American Community School, Abu Dhabi, discusses governance, international schooling models, and how global best practices in K–12 education can inform broader education systems.
Watch the full interview: ETEducation.com
Prof P J Narayanan, Director, IIIT Hyderabad — Technology, AI & Institutional Leadership
A deep dive into AI, computer science education, and the responsibilities of technology-led institutions in shaping ethical, future-ready talent. Prof Narayanan also reflects on research priorities and academic leadership in the AI era.
Watch the full interview: ETEducation.com
Aditya Paul Berlia — Reimagining the Modern University
The Pro-Chancellor of Apeejay Stya University discusses interdisciplinary learning, innovation-driven curricula, and how private universities are redefining academic models to meet evolving learner expectations.
Watch the full interview: ETEducation.com
Director, IIT Patna — Building Regional Excellence with Global Ambition
This conversation highlights how emerging IITs are strengthening research capacity, fostering innovation, and contributing to regional development while building global academic credibility.
Watch the full interview: ETEducation.com
What these conversations reveal
These interviews tell a compelling story of higher education in 2025:
- AI is a catalyst, not a threat—forcing institutions to rethink pedagogy, assessment, and the purpose of learning itself.
- Business and management education are navigating rapid change to remain relevant in global and entrepreneurial contexts.
- Innovation ecosystems and research intensity are becoming core institutional priorities, especially in technology-led disciplines.
- Leadership agility, global engagement, and skills ecosystem alignment are central to institutional sustainability.
Closing thoughts
As 2025 recedes into history, these conversations stand as a collective benchmark for where higher education has been compelled to evolve, and where it must go next. From classroom design to global partnerships, from curriculum reinvention to institutional strategy, the future of learning is less about preserving the past and more about inventing what comes next.
Explore the full interviews and videos to experience these insights firsthand!
