SVKM’s NMIMS Mukesh Patel Technology Park, Shirpur, successfully organized the EDULEADER’S SYMPOSIUM 2026 on January 10, 2026, bringing together educational leaders from CBSE, State Board junior colleges, diploma institutions, and higher education across North Maharashtra. The symposium served as a dynamic platform for dialogue on educational leadership, innovation, and the integration of artificial intelligence in contemporary education. The primary objective of EDULEADER’S SYMPOSIUM 2026 was to create a collaborative platform for educational leaders to deliberate on emerging challenges and opportunities in the education sector. The program aimed to strengthen leadership capacities, promote innovation-driven pedagogy, and align institutional practices with NEP 2020. It also sought to enhance awareness about the ethical and effective use of artificial intelligence in schools and diploma education. Another key objective was to encourage academic collaborations, resource sharing, and MoUs between institutions. The symposium further aimed at showcasing NMIMS Shirpur as a hub of academic excellence and future-ready education.
The symposium was inaugurated in the august presence of Hon’ble Shri Bhupeshbhai Patel, Joint President and Trustee, SVKM, Mrs. Rita Patel, In-Charge, NMIMS Shirpur Campus, and Dr. Hari Vasudevan, Principal, D. J. Sanghvi College of Engineering, Mumbai. The inaugural session was led by Dr. Sunita Patil, Campus Director, NMIMS Shirpur, who delivered the welcome address and emphasized the importance of adaptive leadership and collaborative academic ecosystems in the rapidly evolving educational landscape. The Guest of Honour, Dr. Sanjay Toshniwal, Executive Council Member, Pharmacy Council of India, highlighted emerging leadership responsibilities and technology-driven reforms in education. The Chief Guest, Dr. Vinod Mohitkar, Director of Technical Education, Government of Maharashtra, elaborated on policy perspectives, institutional governance, and the role of visionary leadership in shaping future-ready institutions. The event was meticulously planned and guided by Dr. Venkatadri Mariboyna, Associate Dean, MPSTME, and Dr. Shyam Pancholi, Associate Dean, SPTM, Shirpur, with coordination by Dr. Sugam Shivhare and Dr. Ranajit Shinde.
A key highlight of the symposium was the technical session on “Usage of AI Tools for Schools and Diploma Education” delivered by Dr. Praveen Loharkar, who provided practical insights into AI-enabled teaching, personalized learning, assessment support, and ethical considerations. The session received enthusiastic participation from educators and administrators.
The afternoon session featured an institutional exposure visit showcasing NMIMS Shirpur’s advanced laboratories, learning spaces, and student-centric infrastructure, followed by an engaging panel discussion.
The panel discussion emerged as one of the most engaging segments of EDULEADER’S SYMPOSIUM 2026, fostering meaningful dialogue on academic excellence, leadership, and student well-being. The panel comprised Dr. Pancholi S. S., Dr. Venkatadri Mariboyna, Dr. Digvijay Singh Chaudhary, Director, Sobus Ventures, and Ms. Kiran Kalyani, Counsellor, NMIMS Shirpur. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Nitin Choubey and Dr. Giridharilal Gupta, and anchored by Dr. Abhijeet Dawle and Dr. Priti Sangave.
Dr. Pancholi S. S., Dr. Venkatadri Mariboyna, Dr. Digvijay Singh Chaudhary, and Ms. Kiran Kalyani, who shared insights from diverse academic and professional perspectives. Discussions emphasized innovative pedagogy, research culture, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The panellists highlighted future career pathways for students, focusing on emerging domains such as AI, data science, robotics, sustainable technologies, and entrepreneurship. Special emphasis was laid on counselling, wellness initiatives, and holistic student development. The session also discussed skill development programs, summer schools, and hands-on learning opportunities for school and diploma students. NEP-aligned teaching-learning reforms and the importance of communication, critical thinking, and aptitude development were highlighted. The discussion encouraged institutions to initiate formal collaborations and MoUs with NMIMS Shirpur. Active audience interaction made the session highly participative and impactful, reinforcing the symposium’s objective of collaborative academic growth.
The symposium concluded with a comprehensive summary by Dr. Sugam Shivhare and a vote of thanks by Dr. Abhijit Dawle, followed by the National Anthem. EDULEADER’S SYMPOSIUM 2026 reaffirmed NMIMS Shirpur’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and collaborative leadership in education.
We thank the Outreach Manager, Mr. Amit Modak, for proposing the concept of this program, and also express our gratitude for the leadership of Marketing Director, Mr. Burzeen Bathena.
This program was successfully conducted under the guidance of SVKM’s President and NMIMS Chancellor, Honourable Shri Amarishbhai Patel, SVKM’s Joint President Shri Bhupeshbhai Patel.
The organisers also gratefully acknowledged the encouragement of SVKM’s Mentor and Managing Committee Member Shri Rajgopal Bhandari and NMIMS Shirpur Campus Head, Mrs. Rita Patel.
