A two-day roundtable of UNESCO Chairs in South Asia, hosted by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham on May 16–17, brought together academic leaders and UNESCO representatives to explore ways of aligning regional research and community initiatives with UNESCO’s 2026–2027 priorities.
The discussions focused on key global challenges, including the triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—along with digital transformation, ethical AI, gender equality, and youth engagement. More than 22 representatives, UNESCO Chairholders, and academic leaders from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka participated in the roundtable.
Tim Curtis described UNESCO Chairs as a vital part of the organization’s global network, noting that they play an increasingly important role in informing policy-level discussions.
Distinguished participants included Susan Vize and Jaco du Toit. During the hybrid event, the delegation also met with the university’s Chancellor, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is currently the only university in India to host three UNESCO Chairs: Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, led by Dr. Bhavani Rao; Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation and Development, led by Dr. Maneesha V. Ramesh; and Assistive Technologies in Education, led by Dr. Prema Nedungadi.
