This year, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham hosted the annual South Asia UNESCO Chairs Round Table to define the organisation’s 2026–2027 strategic priorities. For May 13 and 14, the gathering at Amritapuri campus brought together over 22 representatives, UNESCO Chairholders, and academic leaders from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
A central theme was the “triple planetary crisis,” addressing the interlinked issues of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Other crucial areas included digital transformation, ethical AI, gender equality, and youth engagement. Throughout the round table, discussions about each topic frequently intersected and supported one another.
As Chancellor, Amma met with the dignitaries to share her vision for academic inquiry directed at resolving the multi-dimensional challenges our world faces, from extreme poverty to environmental degradation. With its focus on compassion-driven research, Amrita develops scientific and technological innovations, and at the same time, instills students with essential values such as empathy, love, and selfless service.
Mr. Tim Curtis is the Director and Representative of the UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, which is based in New Delhi and also includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, The Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Addressing the gathering, he emphasised the vital role that UNESCO Chairs play in the organisation’s global network, emphasising that such round table discussions heavily inform policy-level decisions.
“UNESCO’s University Chairs are not peripheral to our work. You are one of our greatest strengths, as powerful brokers of knowledge, bridges between universities and societies, and vital connectors of evidence, policy, and action,” he said.
Under Amma’s guidance, Amrita is the only University in India to hold three UNESCO Chairs: Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment led by Dr. Bhavani Rao, Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation & Development led by Dr. Maneesha V. Ramesh, and Assistive Technologies in Education led by Dr. Prema Nedungadi and Dr. Raghu Raman.
Other distinguished attendees included Ms. Susan Vize, UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh, and Jaco du Toit, UNESCO Representative to Nepal.
The delegates were inspired by Amrita’s Live-in-Labs, a unique program born of Amma’s compassion for the rural poor. Students from India and over 30 international universities spend time in impoverished villages across 25 states. Witnessing the hardships the people face, the youth then collaborate with community members to develop practical, technology-based solutions. It is an initiative that directly aligns with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In honour of India’s cultural heritage, the delegates also participated in meditation and yoga sessions held at Amritapuri Ashram. It was a profound opportunity to directly experience Amma’s teachings.
The event concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening partnerships between academia, policy institutions, and communities to promote inclusive and sustainable development across South Asia.
Supported UN SDGs
| SDG | Goal |
| SDG 4 | Quality Education |
| SDG 5 | Gender Equality |
| SDG 10 | Reduced Inequalities |
| SDG 13 | Climate Action |
| SDG 16 | Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions |
| SDG 17 | Partnerships for the Goals |
