Goa: Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing how universities teach, assess and prepare students for employment, making it essential for institutions to redesign their academic models rather than simply introduce new technologies, education leaders said at the ETEducation Chancellors’ Conclave 2026.
Speaking during the Trilogue Chat, “Building the AI-Led University of the Future,” moderated by Devina Lason, Editor – Video Initiatives & Senior Anchor, The Economic Times Business Verticals, the panel examined how universities can balance technological adoption with critical thinking, creativity and human mentorship.
The discussion featured Pradeep Kumar Gupta, Founder & Chairman, Sharda Group of Institutions and Chancellor, Sharda University; Arpit Agrawal, Vice Chairman, JECRC University; Dr Dinesh Singh, Chancellor, K R Mangalam University; and Ramya Srinivasan, Regional Director of Customer Success, Coursera + Udemy.
Assessment reform and faculty reskilling take centre stage
Pradeep Kumar Gupta emphasised that AI adoption must encourage independent thinking rather than make students dependent on technology-generated answers.
He shared that Sharda University has introduced compulsory AI learning across disciplines, including medical sciences and humanities. The institution is also experimenting with reverse learning approaches where students use AI to explore questions but must independently defend and validate their conclusions.
Gupta argued that universities must design assessments that test creativity, reasoning and judgment instead of rewarding the reproduction of easily accessible information.
Arpit Agrawal cautioned that modern infrastructure should not be confused with modern education. He called for fundamental changes in teaching methodologies and assessment frameworks to develop problem-solving and critical-thinking capabilities.
He also highlighted the importance of faculty reskilling, noting that experienced educators need institutional support to adapt to rapidly evolving technologies.
Agrawal said JECRC University has announced an AI centre to help faculty members across disciplines, including humanities, law, management and design, integrate AI into teaching and assessment practices.
AI must transform learning without replacing human mentorship
Dr Dinesh Singh argued that universities must move beyond treating AI as an advanced search tool and begin using it to fundamentally reimagine learning.
Citing an AI-enabled school model in the United States, he highlighted how personalised technology-supported instruction, mentorship, collaborative projects and experiential learning could reshape conventional classroom structures.
He stressed that teachers must increasingly become mentors who guide students towards independent inquiry, practical experimentation and collaborative problem-solving.
Singh also warned that India risks becoming dependent on technologies developed elsewhere unless its institutions develop deeper AI capabilities and encourage original innovation.
Ramya Srinivasan proposed a structured approach to institutional AI adoption, encouraging universities to identify where technology should be excluded, used to augment existing processes, embedded into operations or deployed to fundamentally redesign academic functions.
She emphasised that AI integration must preserve teacher autonomy and student agency while improving productivity across teaching, research and administration.
Rather than pursuing technology adoption for its own sake, Srinivasan advocated building learning environments where human intelligence and artificial intelligence complement each other.
Human-centred education remains essential
Despite differing approaches to implementation, panelists agreed that technology alone cannot define the future of higher education.
Gupta stressed that students must continue applying their own judgment and defending their academic conclusions independently. Agrawal highlighted the importance of personal mentorship, particularly in helping young learners navigate individual challenges and setbacks.
Singh advocated hands-on learning and peer collaboration, while Srinivasan emphasised developing combined human and technological capabilities.
The central takeaway was that the AI-led university of the future will not be defined by how extensively it deploys technology, but by how effectively it uses AI to strengthen learning, preserve human judgment and prepare students for a changing world of work.
