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Bridging Academia and Employability A New Higher Education Paradigm from Punjab

S. Nirmal Singh Rayat

Education must go beyond imparting knowledge; it must foster dignity, self-assurance, and self-reliance. 

Lamrin Tech Skills University in Punjab has become a subtle yet powerful demonstration of higher education prioritising genuine capability over conventional degree programs. This transformation is driven by the vision of its Founder and Chancellor, Mr Nirmal Singh Rayat, who holds the simple conviction that universities should prepare students for life, not just for exams.

The name itself is significant. “Lamrin” is derived from the Buddhist term Lamrim, which means “stages of the path.” It implies a guided, step-by-step educational journey that builds not just skill, but also character and purpose. The university has consistently applied this philosophy.

Rather than separating education and employment, Lamrin Tech Skills University intentionally integrates them. Its programs in engineering, management, and tech-focused vocational fields are developed in close partnership with industry. Learning extends beyond lectures into labs, simulations, workshops, and real-world problem-solving, ensuring theory is validated by utility. This approach is not a compromise; it is an education that values time, effort, and relevance. Students learn concepts, apply them, and refine their understanding with support from both faculty and industry mentors. The university leadership calls this “learning with purpose,” where skill, mindset, and accountability are intertwined.

The campus draws a diverse student body from across India, including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and beyond. Many are first-generation learners, yet instead of being overwhelmed by a rigid system, they find a culture that encourages experimentation, inquiry, and growth. Young women enter tech roles previously unimagined in their families, while students from small towns build prototypes with pride, moving beyond rote memorisation. A common sentiment echoes: for the first time, their education feels tied to reality.

The leadership behind this model is decidedly practical. LTSU is not motivated by prestige alone, but by a central question: what kind of graduates does India truly need? The answer: individuals who think critically, communicate effectively, work ethically, master technology, and adapt to change. Achieving this requires more than infrastructure; it demands a culture that prizes discipline, curiosity, respect for labour, and the dignity of skill. In a society that often elevates theory over practice, Lamrin’s emphasis on hands-on capability is quietly revolutionary.

Industry and international partnerships reinforce this vision. These collaborations are functional, not merely ceremonial; they inform curriculum updates, bring professionals into classrooms, and align training with actual workforce needs. Students gain exposure to recognised standards and certifications, building confidence that their education will lead to opportunity.

A defining aspect of the Lamrin model is its deliberate pace. True to its name, education is treated as a path, not a race. Students progress through stages of understanding, practice, and reflection, supported by mentors and teachers who acknowledge that meaningful development takes time.

Also Read: From Scale to Credibility Building Trusted Education Ecosystems in the Middle East

Lamrin Tech Skills University’s story is still unfolding, and it acknowledges that no institution is perfect. Yet under the top leadership, its direction is clear: rather than emulating traditional elite universities, LTSU is building something more responsive, addressing the needs of contemporary India and the ambitions of young people who seek meaningful returns on their effort.

If the role of higher education is to open doors, not merely to embellish diplomas, then Lamrin Tech Skills University is steadily opening them, for one student after another. In doing so, it reaffirms that when learning is intentional, guided, and rooted in real-world application, it becomes precisely what “Lamrin” signifies: a purposeful path forward.

Views expressed by: S. Nirmal Singh Rayat, Chancellor, Lamrin Tech Skills University, Punjab

Jodhpur’s AI Pilot Transforms School Assessments, Evaluates 70,000 Students in Seconds

AI for assessment

In a significant step toward technology-led education reform, Jodhpur district in Rajasthan has launched an AI-driven assessment pilot that has evaluated over 70,000 students across more than 1,000 schools in just seconds, dramatically reducing the time taken for traditional grading processes.

The initiative covers students from Classes 6 to 9 and is being implemented under the second phase of the Competency-based Census Assessment and School Reporting Pilot Project. The AI system assessed answer sheets in five core subjects—English, Hindi, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science—across both Hindi and English medium schools.

According to officials, what earlier took weeks to complete has now been finished within three days. Teachers scan answer sheets using an AI-enabled application, which then grades responses and generates detailed report cards in seconds. The project is being seen as one of the first large-scale uses of AI in India to evaluate subjective answers, moving beyond multiple-choice assessments.

The system also creates analytical performance reports for students, teachers, principals, and schools. These reports identify learning gaps topic-wise and help teachers plan targeted remedial interventions. Officials say the AI-led process ensures faster, bias-free, and more standardised evaluations.

Also Read: Indian Institute of Technology Madras Launches Three AI Courses on SWAYAM Plus to Expand Digital Skilling

School-level dashboards compare institutional performance and provide parents with clearer insights into learning outcomes. The reports are expected to be formally shared during the first Parent-Teacher Meeting of the academic year.

Education administrators believe the pilot could become a model for wider adoption, demonstrating how AI can improve assessment quality, reduce teacher workload, and support data-driven learning outcomes in government schools.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras Launches Three AI Courses on SWAYAM Plus to Expand Digital Skilling

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Indian Institute of Technology Madras has introduced three new beginner-friendly Artificial Intelligence courses on the SWAYAM Plus platform as part of its “AI for All” initiative, aimed at making AI education more accessible to students, professionals, and non-technical learners.

The newly launched programmes include AI for Aspiring Engineers, AI for Administrators, and Prompt Engineering. These courses have been developed in partnership with IITM Pravartak and are designed for learners with no prior coding or AI experience.

AI for Aspiring Engineers focuses on foundational skills in Python, AI, and Machine Learning using real engineering datasets, helping students transition into technical education. AI for Administrators is tailored for management professionals seeking to use AI, machine learning, and generative AI in decision-making. The Prompt Engineering course introduces learners to effective interaction with AI systems for accurate and meaningful outputs.

Also Read: Nagaland University Launches New Four-Year Undergraduate Science Programmes at MDRC

According to IIT Madras, registrations for all three programmes are open until May 10, 2026, through the SWAYAM Plus portal. The AI for Aspiring Engineers course is priced at ₹500 plus GST, while the other two programmes are available at ₹100 plus GST each.

Officials said SWAYAM Plus has completed two years of operations and now hosts more than 500 online courses across sectors such as engineering, BFSI, Indian Knowledge Systems, and IT/ITeS, with over 5.5 lakh learners registered so far.

The launch reflects the growing demand for accessible AI education and industry-relevant digital skilling across India.

Nagaland University Launches New Four-Year Undergraduate Science Programmes at MDRC

Nagaland University

Nagaland University has launched new four-year undergraduate science programmes through its Multi-Disciplinary Research Centre (MDRC), marking a significant step toward expanding research-driven higher education opportunities in the state. The new courses are aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020 and are aimed at promoting multidisciplinary and flexible learning pathways.

The programmes will be offered at the university’s Lumami campus and include core disciplines such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Zoology, and Botany. Students will also have access to Ability Enhancement Courses and Value Added Courses to strengthen practical, interdisciplinary, and career-oriented learning.

According to the university, the new academic structure offers multiple exit options, allowing students to earn a certificate after one year, diploma after two years, degree after three years, and an honours or research degree after four years. This flexible framework is designed to support varied career and academic pathways.

Also Read: Dharmendra Pradhan Reviews NCERT Textbook Availability, Directs Timely Distribution Across States

Admissions for the 2026 academic session have opened, with applications being accepted until May 18. The university said the initiative aims to equip students with strong academic foundations, practical skills, and pathways to higher studies and employment.

The launch is expected to strengthen science education and research culture in Nagaland while creating more opportunities for students within the region. It also reflects a broader push among universities across India to modernise undergraduate education through multidisciplinary curricula and research integration.

Dharmendra Pradhan Reviews NCERT Textbook Availability, Directs Timely Distribution Across States

NCERT Textbook

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has reviewed the availability and timely distribution of NCERT textbooks, amid concerns over delays and shortages in several markets.

During the review meeting, the minister assessed the printing, supply, and distribution status of textbooks for the new academic session. He directed officials to ensure that students across the country receive books on time and that no disruption is caused to classroom learning due to supply constraints.

The meeting focused on strengthening coordination between NCERT, state governments, publishers, and distribution agencies to streamline textbook availability. Special emphasis was placed on ensuring access for students in rural and remote regions, where supply chain delays often have a greater impact.

The review comes at a time when demand for revised textbooks has increased due to curriculum changes and the start of the new academic year. The government is also encouraging the use of digital versions of NCERT books through official online platforms to support uninterrupted learning while physical supplies are being replenished.

Read More: Uttar Pradesh to Prioritise School Enrolment of Children from Underprivileged Communities

NCERT textbooks remain the primary learning resource for lakhs of students in CBSE-affiliated and many state-board schools. Ensuring timely delivery is considered critical for smooth academic progress, especially during the first months of the school session.

The move reflects the government’s broader focus on improving access to quality learning materials and strengthening education delivery systems nationwide.

Uttar Pradesh to Prioritise School Enrolment of Children from Underprivileged Communities

Uttar Pradesh government

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a special statewide enrolment drive aimed at bringing children from underprivileged communities into the mainstream education system. The campaign will begin from May 1 under the state’s School Chalo Abhiyan mission.

The initiative will focus on identifying and enrolling children living in labour settlements, brick kilns, and economically weaker communities who are currently out of school. Officials said the government has made it clear that no child should remain outside the formal education system.

Additional Chief Secretary for Basic and Secondary Education, Parth Sarathi Sen Sharma, has directed district magistrates to ensure enrolment of every child aged 6 to 14 years under all circumstances.

The campaign will also prioritise admission of children with disabilities, ensure 100% admission of eligible children selected under the Right to Education Act in allotted schools, and increase enrolment of girls in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya institutions.

Also Read: Karnataka Partners with Naukri.com to Offer 90-Day Free Hiring Support for New GCCs

To support implementation, officials have been instructed to conduct surveys in every village, ward, and settlement to identify dropouts and out-of-school children. The government also aims to ensure full transition rates from Class 5 to 6, Class 8 to 9, and Class 10 to 11 so students continue their education without interruption.

The move reflects Uttar Pradesh’s broader push to improve school participation, reduce dropouts, and strengthen inclusive access to education across rural and urban areas.

Design to Include: Understanding Design Thinking and Its Impact Towards Inclusive Learning Ecosystems

Dr Subhalaxmi Mohapatra

In today’s rapidly changing world, characterised by digitisation, complexity and information overload, design thinking has evolved as a powerful tool for human-centric design and innovation. It can help identify, empathise with, address complex problems and guide change across different facets of life. Since its inception, design thinking has emerged as a framework not only for creating effective or efficient outcomes but also for cognitive and effective outcomes. In this process, it is also recognised as an effective educational change-maker. Design thinking can emerge as a vehicle for developing an inclusive and equitable learning ecosystem and drive student-centric design to offer creative and collective collaborations with the objective of creating and delivering a big impact. By empathising with students and drawing on the philosophies and practices of design, the design thinking process can understand and articulate the problem clearly, ideate and co-create with learners to achieve maximum impact. 

The stages do not follow a linear process, but rather an iterative one, essential to promote inclusion and enable a learning ecosystem that supports diverse learners. Along with this, by integrating the universal design for learning framework into the educational system, learners can access, engage with and demonstrate learning through flexible, inclusive and evidence-based teaching strategies. Design thinking also emphasises the importance of co-creation, collaboration and reflection to identify and address social and environmental challenges. This approach can foster and promote a sense of community and belongingness among learners. Rather than adopting and accepting a fixed curriculum, the design thinking framework allows learners to explore their diverse needs and thereby design learning environments appropriate to them. 

Universal design learning aims to motivate learners to engage, create and sustain interest to continue and foster meaningful collaboration. This is often done by providing choices, integrating learning with the learner’s interests and promoting autonomy. The learning framework should also present information and materials in multiple formats (such as visual, audio, interactive and graphic materials) to ensure accessibility and readability for various learners. Designing learning through multiple levels of engagement could be applied through gamified learning, interactive discussion or real-world problem-solving. This can simplify complex concepts while providing scope to meet diverse cognitive needs. Additionally, the design thinking learning framework would allow learners to demonstrate and understand their learning outcomes in various forms, such as creative projects, digital media, oral presentations, etc. This provides the flexibility to showcase different learning styles and their individual strengths, while offering varied learning outcome content. This is aimed at enabling students to be strategic and resourceful in this process of learning. 

Also Read: Karnataka Partners with Naukri.com to Offer 90-Day Free Hiring Support for New GCCs

Thus, an inclusive design framework is not one-size-fits-all, but rather a dynamic and evolving framework that adapts to new insights, research and feedback from learners and educators. Such a framework can enable inclusive solutions in the classroom, curriculum and institutional practices that emphasise equitable and accessible education for learners from diverse backgrounds.

Views expressed by Dr Subhalaxmi Mohapatra, Associate Professor, Anant National University

Karnataka Partners with Naukri.com to Offer 90-Day Free Hiring Support for New GCCs

Government of Karnataka

The Government of Karnataka has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Naukri.com to provide newly established GCCs with complimentary hiring support for the first 90 days of operations.

The initiative, facilitated through the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), will offer eligible GCCs a customised starter package that includes employer branding support, assisted hiring services, and premium talent sourcing tools at no cost during their early setup phase.

The partnership aims to reduce time-to-hire and help multinational companies establish teams faster as they set up operations in the state. It also aligns with Karnataka’s GCC policy and the KATALYST platform, the state’s ease-of-doing-business initiative for capability centres.

Also Read: National Economic Forum and Cape Breton University Sign MoU to Boost India-Canada Academic Collaboration

Priyank Kharge said Karnataka’s leadership in the GCC sector is driven by its deep talent pool and strong innovation ecosystem. He added that the partnership with Naukri.com would enable faster and more efficient access to skilled professionals.

A key focus of the collaboration is to promote distributed growth beyond Bengaluru by supporting GCC expansion in cities such as Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Tumakuru, and Shivamogga.

The two-year agreement reflects Karnataka’s continued efforts to attract global investments while creating a wider technology talent network across the state.

National Economic Forum and Cape Breton University Sign MoU to Boost India-Canada Academic Collaboration

National Economic Forum

In a significant move to strengthen higher education ties between India and Canada, Cape Breton University (CBU) and the National Economic Forum (NEF) have signed a non-commercial Service and Cooperation Agreement focused on talent mobility, institutional partnerships, and knowledge exchange.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed during a high-level delegation visit to India by David C. Dingwall, President and Vice-Chancellor of CBU, and Jagdip Rana, Executive Director of NEF.

Under the agreement, NEF will serve as the official convening partner for CBU in India, facilitating structured engagements with stakeholders across central and state governments, as well as leading academic institutions. The collaboration is expected to support initiatives in student mobility, faculty exchange, institutional tie-ups, joint research, and broader knowledge partnerships.

The MoU also authorises NEF to lead stakeholder mapping, outreach facilitation, and engagement structuring for CBU’s India roadmap. This is aimed at enabling focused, protocol-aligned discussions and creating opportunities for roundtables, policy dialogues, and institutional interactions.

David C. Dingwall said India remains a priority geography for Cape Breton University due to the scale and evolving strengths of its higher education ecosystem. He noted that the partnership would help deepen institutional collaborations, expand student pathways, and strengthen research engagement aligned with shared global priorities.

Also Read: NCERT Makes Class 9 Textbooks Available Online Amid Market Shortage

Jagdip Rana said the initiative is focused on converting international academic intent into structured, high-impact collaborations for India. He added that the partnership would enable stronger talent mobility, deeper research engagement, and enhanced institutional capacity.

The agreement is expected to pave the way for a more future-ready India-Canada higher education corridor through long-term collaboration frameworks.

NCERT Makes Class 9 Textbooks Available Online Amid Market Shortage

NCERT

The NCERT has made Class 9 textbooks available online following shortages of printed copies in several markets, offering relief to students, parents, and schools at the start of the new academic session.

The move is aimed at ensuring uninterrupted access to learning material while supply constraints affecting physical textbook availability continue in many regions. Students can now download digital versions of the books through NCERT’s official platforms and other recognised education portals.

The shortage is linked to the rollout of revised Class 9 curriculum and updated textbooks aligned with recent education reforms, which reportedly impacted printing timelines and distribution schedules. Earlier reports had indicated delays in the availability of the new books for the 2026–27 academic year.

Also Read: Dharmendra Pradhan Launches ₹280 Crore Development Projects in Odisha’s Deogarh

By making the books accessible online, NCERT is seeking to minimise disruption for learners and teachers, particularly as schools begin classroom instruction and internal assessments. The digital access is also expected to support students in remote areas where physical supply chains may take longer to stabilise.

The initiative reflects the broader push toward blended learning and digital education resources in India’s school system. It also highlights the increasing role of e-content platforms in ensuring continuity during periods of logistical or supply-related challenges.

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