South Asia Roundtable 2026: UNESCO Chairs Boost Regional Academic Engagement
The Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham UNESCO Chair on Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation and Development participated in the Roundtable of UNESCO Chairs in South Asia 2026, held on 13–14 May 2026 at the Amritapuri Campus. The event brought together UNESCO representatives, Chairs, and academic leaders across South Asia to align on priorities for 2026–27.
Key discussions focused on advancing gender equality, promoting cultural diversity, engaging youth, and addressing cross-cutting challenges such as digital transformation and environmental crises. Senior UNESCO officials, including regional directors and country representatives from India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, attended the dialogue.
Chairholder Dr. Maneesha V. Ramesh presented the Chair’s achievements and outlined its strategic roadmap for 2026–27. She highlighted initiatives in smart cities, water governance, digital twins for rural development, sustainability dashboards, climate resilience, and the Live-in-Labs® experiential learning program.
The roundtable also explored collaboration opportunities with UNESCO India Headquarters, particularly in guiding PhD research aligned with global development priorities. Broader discussions addressed regional risks such as floods, droughts, landslides, and climate vulnerability, alongside themes of education access, livelihood enhancement, and community empowerment.
Delegates visited experiential learning exhibits and engaged with students working on community-centered innovation. The event strengthened regional cooperation and reinforced UNESCO’s commitment to sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development across South Asia.
