Kolkata, 23 September 2026: Building inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) literacy through stronger collaboration between industry and academia is the need of the hour, said Mr Pradip Agarwal, CEO, Heritage Institute of Technology, at the second edition of the Educators Conclave, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Kolkata.
Referring to the growing influence of AI on society, Mr Agarwal emphasised the importance of promoting its responsible and ethical use. He said that in today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, teachers need to move beyond their traditional role as transmitters of knowledge and increasingly become facilitators who guide, engage and empower students in learning about AI.
Speaking about the legendary artist Pablo Picasso, Mr Madan Mohanka, Chairman, Tega Industries Ltd, recalled the enduring belief that “every child is an artist.” He highlighted how the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 seeks to nurture students’ critical thinking, curiosity and imagination while encouraging a more creative approach to education.
Prof. (Dr.) Samit Ray, Co-Chairman, CII Eastern Region Education & Skill Development Subcommittee and Founder & Chancellor, Adamas University, spoke about the broader purpose of education and the evolving relationship between knowledge, learning and educators in a rapidly changing world.
Ms Natasha Agarwal, Group Director, OmDayal Group, stressed the need to create a “human-first classroom”, where AI serves as an enabling tool rather than becoming the central focus. She emphasised the importance of developing independent human judgement and character among students, saying that educational institutions should embrace AI thoughtfully and responsibly.
The conclave also featured a masterclass by Mr Nikhil Saraf, Founder & CEO, Freadom Edu, who discussed how the rapid evolution of AI is reshaping teaching, learning and institutional management. He highlighted the need for educators to develop practical confidence and informed AI skills to effectively navigate the changing educational environment.
The conclave witnessed participation from more than 200 industry stakeholders and education professionals, bringing together key voices from academia and industry to deliberate on the future of education and the responsible adoption of AI.
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(Left to Right): Prof (Dr) Samit Ray Co Chairman, CII ER Education & Skill Development Subcommittee and Founder & Chancellor, Adamas University ; Mr Madan Mohanka Chairman Tega Industries Ltd ; Mr Simarpreet Singh Chairman, CII ER Education & Skill Development Subcommittee and Director, JIS Group ; Mr Pradip Agarwal CEO Heritage Institute of Technology; Mr Subhankar Chakraborty, Deputy Director, CII
