In a major step toward advancing inclusive education worldwide, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has partnered with UNESCO to establish a new UNESCO Chair on Assistive Technologies in Education. The Chair aims to promote innovation and accessibility in education for persons with disabilities, bridging global research and practical solutions.
The agreement was formally signed by Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, and Dr. P. Venkat Rangan, Vice Chancellor of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. The Chair will remain active through June 2029, with Dr. Prema Nedungadi, Associate Dean of the School of Computing, serving as Chair, and Dr. Raghu Raman as Co-Chair.
The launch ceremony took place on September 27, 2025, at Amritapuri, during Amritavarsham 72, in the presence of Chancellor Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma). The Chair was formally inaugurated by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament.
The new Chair focuses on key objectives, including:
This Chair joins two existing UNESCO Chairs at Amrita:
With three UNESCO Chairs, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham now stands as a leading member of UNESCO’s global UNITWIN network, working at the intersection of gender equality, sustainability, and inclusive education. These Chairs embody Amrita’s holistic vision — uniting research, community engagement, and global collaboration to address humanity’s most pressing challenges.
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, welcomed the new initiative, stating that the Chair joins “over 10,000 academics worldwide dedicated to open collaboration, social impact, and knowledge sharing for inclusive global progress.”
The establishment of this Chair reflects Amrita’s continued leadership in aligning academic excellence with compassion-driven research and innovation — a hallmark of Amma’s vision for education that serves humanity.
