Dr. Indra Mani, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani, was conferred with the prestigious ‘Vice Chancellor of the Year for Exceptional Leadership Award’ at the 8th Edition of the Higher Education Innovation and Technology Summit & Awards 2025 on 15th May, 2025. The event was held in Pune and was organized by Plus Nineone Media, a reputed platform promoting excellence and innovation in the education sector. The award was presented by Mr. Sandeep Gulati, Founder and CEO, and Mr. Ashutosh Dubey, Co-Founder of Plus Nineone Media, in recognition of Dr. Indra Mani’s exceptional leadership and visionary contributions to the advancement of agricultural education and institutional development.
The summit witnessed the participation of several prominent education leaders including Vice-Chancellors, Chairpersons, Directors, Principals, and Deans from across the country. The event served as a key platform for discussing the most pressing challenges and opportunities in higher education through round table discussions, expert panels, and EdTech showcases.
Dr. Indra Mani was invited as an Awardee and Esteemed Guest at the summit. He participated in a high-level panel discussion on the theme “Reimagining Higher Education: Building Future-Ready Universities Through Innovation, Industry Integration, and Digital Transformation,” where he shared valuable insights on the role of digital agriculture, Academic-Industry-Government (AIG) collaboration, and technology-driven transformation in agricultural universities. He also highlighted the key initiatives undertaken by VNMKV, Parbhani, in this domain.
The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Sayalee Gankar, Vice Chancellor of DY Patil University, Pune. Other distinguished panelists included Faiz Varsi, Associate General Manager at Meritto; Dr. Rakesh Kumar Jain, Vice Chancellor of Ajeenkya D Y Patil University, Pune; Prof. (Dr.) Safia Farooqui, Professor and Director at Dr. D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, Pune; Prof. Parag Shah, Chief Mentor of Midas School of Entrepreneurship and Founding Chairman of Flame University, Pune; Dr. Lakshmi Mohan, Pro Vice Chancellor of ITM Skill University, Navi Mumbai; Rajesh Khanna, Director of Business Operations at Symbiosis Centre for Corporate & Professional Learning, Pune; and Shri Amit N. Kolhe, Managing Trustee and President of Sanjivani Group of Institutes & Sanjivani University, Kopargaon–Shirdi.
The panel brought together a rich blend of academic leaders and industry experts, who engaged in meaningful dialogue on the future of higher education in India, emphasizing innovation, employability, and digital transformation as key drivers for creating future-ready universities.
Key sessions during the summit included closed-door roundtable discussions on “Standardized Assessments in Higher Education Admissions: Opportunities and Challenges for Domestic and International Admissions,” and reforms related to placement cells and examination systems. The event also featured presentations on the latest education technologies shaping the future of learning.
The felicitation of Dr. Indra Mani as ‘Vice Chancellor of the Year’ highlights the growing national recognition of VNMKV’s strides in academic excellence, research innovation, and digital outreach under his dynamic leadership. The award is a proud moment for the university and a testament to its commitment to nurturing future-ready agricultural professionals.