The STTAR Global Education Conference 2025, themed “Human First, Tech Forward – The New Balance in Education” and organized by the Saamarthya Teachers Training Academy of Research (STTAR), an initiative of the Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions, brought together over 700 educators, counsellors, and industry leaders from 18 Indian states on September 27 in New Delhi. The conference created a vibrant platform for dialogue through panel discussions, masterclasses, and interactive sessions.
The inaugural session featured Dr. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE, as Chief Guest, who was conferred with the Shiksha Garima Puraskar. Joining as Guests of Honour were Dr. Biswajit Saha, Director, CBSE, and Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, Chief Executive and Secretary, CISCE. Industry leaders including Sanjay Jain, Head, Google for Education India, and Raju Pullan, SVP, MX Business, Samsung India, also participated. The STTAR leadership was represented by Mr. Shishir Jaipuria, Chairman, Jaipuria Group, Mr. Vinod Malhotra, Chairman, STTAR, and Ms. Sushma Raturi, CEO, STTAR.
In his address, Mr. Shishir Jaipuria noted: “The theme of this year’s conference could not be timelier. We are living in unprecedented times, where the pace of technological change is unlike anything humanity has ever witnessed. The challenge before us is not only about what AI can do, but what it will mean for us as human beings.”
Dr. T. G. Sitharam, in his acceptance remarks, emphasized the need to harness AI while preserving the human touch and the core values of education: “My perspective is Human First and Human Last. Technology has to assist, not replace humans. In education, teachers have to change the way we assess students. Technology has enabled learning in multiple Indian languages, and that must be harnessed.” He also highlighted higher education’s role in nation-building, the fight against substance abuse among youth, and the promise of project-based learning, innovation, and hackathons. He further underlined the democratization of engineering education, noting the valuable contributions of tier-2 and tier-3 colleges to developmental projects.
The conference featured keynote addresses by leading industry voices. Sanjay Jain delivered an insightful session on “Evolving Education Landscape and Tech-led Transition”, reflecting on concerns about AI diminishing critical thinking but affirming its potential to reduce teachers’ routine workload and enhance student creativity. “If you take out the top 10% and bottom 10%, the middle 80% of learners benefit the most from technology tools as they boost creativity and confidence. We must ask: who are we solving problems for?” he said.
Raju Pullan, in his keynote “The Human and Tech Equation – Creating Impactful Learning Experiences”, spoke about the need for synergy between innovation and empathy in classrooms. A set of Knowledge Papers on AI in Education was also released during the inaugural.
Dr. Joseph Emmanuel underscored the importance of balance: “School education is increasingly realizing the value of student centricity and integrating technology. We must use tech mindfully to ensure what we teach in classrooms helps students succeed in life.”
Dr. Biswajit Saha emphasized the National Education Policy’s focus on competency-based learning: “Technology must serve students’ interests. Schools should leverage government and public platforms such as innovation labs to enrich learning and co-create for humanity,” he remarked, while cautioning against manipulative marketing in the education ecosystem.
A highlight of the event was the STTAR Excellence Awards, graced by Ms. Vrinda Sarup, Former Secretary, School Education and Literacy, as Guest of Honour. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Shalini Advani, School Advisor and Governing Body Member, Pathways Schools & NEASC. Awards were conferred across four categories—Principals, Teachers, Counsellors, and Schools—celebrating excellence from across India, with winners representing regions from Jammu & Kashmir to Chennai, Gujarat to Nagaland.
