Continuing her impactful tour in France, Dr. Bhavani Rao, UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, spent a meaningful day representing AMMACHI Labs and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in the city of Nantes. Her visit highlighted the growing global dialogue on gender equality, education, and AI ethics, and further strengthened academic ties between India and Europe.
Dr. Rao began her day with a high-level meeting at Université de Nantes, where she was warmly received by Carine Bernault, President of the University, and Isabelle Richard, Vice President for European and International Affairs. The leaders shared valuable insights into how gender equality is approached and implemented in France and India, noting the importance of inclusive policy-making and culturally rooted strategies. Dr. Rao’s presentation of Amrita University’s grassroots work—especially with underserved women and communities—was met with appreciation and admiration.
Later, Dr. Rao engaged in a dynamic Q&A session with PhD scholars and faculty from the university’s science campus, delving into complex conversations at the intersection of gender, technology, and social impact. Her candid exchange offered both inspiration and a practical framework for integrating gender perspectives into STEM and AI research.
The day concluded with a thought-provoking talk on “Women Empowerment and AI”, hosted by Professor Colin de la Higuera, UNESCO Chair on Open Educational Resources and AI. In her address, Dr. Rao emphasized the need to embed ethics, inclusivity, and equity into the development and deployment of artificial intelligence:
“Women must not be left behind in the AI revolution. Empowering them through education and ethical technology is essential to achieving truly inclusive innovation.”
Dr. Rao’s visit to Nantes marks another significant step in fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange in the areas of gender empowerment, education, and ethical AI—core pillars of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s mission on the global stage.
