The Office of Global Engagement at Chanakya University proudly welcomed Prof. Ashwin Rao, Adjunct Professor at Stanford University and Executive Vice President of AI Tech at o9 Solutions, for a comprehensive day of high-level academic interactions and strategic discussions across multiple schools of the University. This significant visit highlights Chanakya University’s ongoing commitment to fostering global academic engagement, driving technological innovation, and building meaningful partnerships with globally recognized scholars and industry leaders.
The visit commenced with an initial briefing between Prof. Rao and Dr. Ravikant Ranjan (Associate Director, Global Engagement). This was immediately followed by a detailed roundtable discussion with Prof. Dileep Prabhakar Jatkar, Dean of the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (SMNS), alongside faculty members. The core focus of this session centered heavily on the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and advancing interdisciplinary research across mathematics, computing, and natural sciences, while creating robust avenues for future academic and industrial research collaborations.
Continuing the day’s itinerary, Prof. Rao engaged extensively with the School of Engineering in a session led by Prof. Shobana Padmanabhan, Director of Academics, and engineering faculty members. The dialogue targeted the critical need to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world technology deployments by focusing on industry-linked engineering education, AI-driven innovation, digital transformation, and curriculum development. Following the formal session, Prof. Padmanabhan and the faculty hosted Prof. Rao for a networking lunch, creating informal setting for continued dialogue and the exchange of modern pedagogical ideas.
Drawing from his extensive experience at the intersection of elite academia and enterprise technology leadership, Prof. Rao shared invaluable insights on the shifting demands of the global tech workforce and the precise skills required for future-ready graduates.
Moving forward, faculty members across the University explored concrete roadmaps for sustained future engagement, detailing opportunities for guest lectures, mentoring, collaborative projects, and joint industry-academia initiatives. Ultimately, the visit served as a powerful platform for intellectual exchange, reinforcing Chanakya University’s mission to deliver globally integrated education and stay at the forefront of technological advancement through meaningful partnerships.
