Governor of Punjab Inaugurated AIU North Zone Vice Chancellors’ Meet 2025-26 at LPU

Jalandhar, December 10, 2025: Lovely Professional University (LPU) had the distinguished honour of welcoming the Governor of Punjab, Gulab Chand Kataria, who inaugurated the prestigious North Zone Vice Chancellors’ Meet 2025–26 of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). The two-day conference, themed “Integrating Traditional Wisdom in Curriculum and Research,” brought together over 100 Vice Chancellors and academic leaders from government, private, and autonomous institutions across the North India region including  Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, NCT of Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir.
In his inaugural address, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria commended the thoughtfully chosen theme. “India has been a global lighthouse of knowledge since ancient times, from the intricacies of Ayurveda to pioneering scientific thought. Our traditional wisdom is not a relic of the past but a living, breathing resource for solving modern challenges,” he stated. Emphasizing the foundational role of educators, he added, “Teachers are the pillars of society. There is not a single successful person who does not stand on the shoulders of a teacher. Education must shape character, instill values, and be inclusive so that no deserving student is left behind due to financial constraints.”
Speaking of LPU, the Hon’ble Governor remarked, “The phenomenal rise of LPU, from its inception in 2005 to its current position among global ranking charts, speaks volumes about its ethical leadership, visionary teaching, and commitment to excellence. There must be something this institution is doing right.”
Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Founder Chancellor of LPU, expressed deep honour in hosting the conclave. He stated, “The collective wisdom present here is monumental and will undoubtedly yield fruitful pathways for the future of Indian higher education. This meet accentuates our shared vision to create an education system that is globally competent yet uniquely Indian, drawing from our profound knowledge heritage to enlighten the youth.”
Prof. Vinay Kumar Pathak, President, AIU & Vice Chancellor, CSJM University, Kanpur, emphasized the need for technological self-reliance. “We must embrace techno-nationalism to strengthen India’s autonomy and global standing, evolving our mission from ‘Made in India’ to ‘Made by India’,”.
The programme featured an inaugural session, an interface with officers from apex bodies, an AIU business session, a valedictory session, and three core technical sessions. These discussions focused on curriculum integration, interdisciplinary research linking ancient wisdom with modern science, and the futuristic dimensions of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). The deliberations will culminate in a Commitment Statement for universities and the establishment of collaborative groups to drive technology-enabled capacity building.
The event was graced by several distinguished dignitaries, including Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, AIU, Col. Dr. Rashmi Mittal, Pro-Chancellor of LPU,  Prof. Dr. Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice Chancellor of LPU, and Dr. Loviraj Gupta, Pro Vice Chancellor of LPU, along with numerous Vice Chancellors, bureaucrats, faculty members, and student representatives.
The conference marks a significant move toward a transformative academic framework, one that seeks to bridge India’s rich knowledge heritage with future-ready education. The collaborative resolutions emerging from this meet are expected to guide universities in crafting curricula and research initiatives that are innovative, indigenous, and impactful.