Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham hosted the UNESCO Chairs Round Table for South Asia on 13–14 May 2026 at its Amritapuri campus, bringing together UNESCO representatives, UNESCO Chairs, and academic leaders from across the region to strengthen regional collaboration and advance shared priorities for sustainable and inclusive development, reinforcing the university’s leadership in interdisciplinary research, experiential learning, and community-centered innovation.
Organized in partnership with UNESCO’s Regional Office for South Asia, the Round Table served as a platform for dialogue on regional cooperation, interdisciplinary research, knowledge exchange, and grassroots engagement aligned with UNESCO’s priorities for 2026–2027.
Twenty-two delegates participated in the discussions, representing UNESCO Chairs and institutions working across education, sustainability, science, communication, culture, technology, and social transformation. The gathering highlighted the growing role of academic institutions in South Asia in addressing complex societal challenges through collaborative and community-engaged approaches.
Dr. Maneesha V Ramesh, Pro Vice Chancellor and UNESCO Chair on Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation and Development, delivered the welcome address and emphasized the importance of strengthening academic partnerships that connect research, policy, and grassroots action.
The Round Table brought together representatives from UNESCO’s Regional Office for South Asia, including Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, Susan Vize, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh, and Jaco Du Toit, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Nepal.
Addressing the gathering, Tim Curtis highlighted the role of UNESCO Chairs in advancing knowledge networks and connecting universities with societal needs.
“UNESCO Chairs are not peripheral to UNESCO’s work; you are one of our greatest strengths,” he said. “They are powerful brokers of knowledge, bridges between universities and societies, and vital connectors of evidence, policy, and action.”
The discussions focused on UNESCO’s five regional priorities for South Asia, responding to the environmental crisis, supporting digital transformation, meaningfully engaging youth, mobilising cultural diversity, and advancing gender equality.
Participants identified opportunities for collaborative research, capacity building, policy engagement, and community-based initiatives that can strengthen resilience and sustainable development across South Asia.
Amrita’s UNESCO Chairs actively contributed to the thematic discussions and collaborative planning sessions throughout the Round Table. Contributions included perspectives on experiential learning, women’s empowerment, assistive technologies, sustainability, digital inclusion, and community resilience.
The university currently hosts three UNESCO Chairs, UNESCO Chair on Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation and Development led by Dr. Maneesha V Ramesh, UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment led by Dr. Bhavani Rao, and UNESCO Chair on Assistive Technologies for Education led by Dr. Prema Nedungadi.
Discussions also highlighted Amrita’s ongoing initiatives in experiential learning, digital inclusion, sustainability, women’s empowerment, assistive technologies, and rural community engagement through its UNESCO Chair programmes.
The Round Table reaffirmed Amrita’s commitment to advancing education, research, innovation, and community engagement in support of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient societies.
