Mon Dec 15 14:27:02 UTC 2025: Summary:
Former Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, N. Ram, spoke at the inaugural ceremony of Kristu Jayanti University, emphasizing the importance of public funding for education and the need for differential institutional missions to avoid mediocrity. He highlighted that academic design must incorporate equity beyond just reservations and addressed the opportunities and risks that Artificial Intelligence poses to education, including the potential for bias, intellectual dependency, and threats to academic integrity. He congratulated Kristu Jayanti for pursuing quality and excellence alongside accessibility and affordability. The ceremony also included the release of a commemorative book and the unveiling of the university’s logo.
News Article:
Former The Hindu Editor Urges Public Funding for Education at Kristu Jayanti University Inauguration
Bengaluru, December 15, 2025 – At the inaugural ceremony of Kristu Jayanti University in Bengaluru today, N. Ram, former Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, called for a stronger commitment to public funding for education, arguing it’s crucial for reconciling excellence with accessibility. Ram emphasized the need for diverse institutional approaches to combat mediocrity, warning against the standardization imposed by authoritarian forces, referencing the UGC and Governors.
Ram also stressed that equity in education should extend beyond reservation policies to include comprehensive support for first-generation learners and students from marginalized backgrounds. He addressed the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence on education, acknowledging its potential to personalize learning and accelerate research, but also highlighting risks to academic integrity, intellectual dependency, and data privacy.
“There’s a danger of cognitive atrophy, and the AI models could reflect biases and structural injustice,” Ram cautioned, urging researchers at Kristu Jayanti University to contribute to shaping the field responsibly.
The ceremony also saw the release of “Luminescence – The Silver Journey of Kristu Jayanti,” a commemorative book, and the unveiling of the university logo. Vice-Chancellor Fr. Augustine George reiterated the university’s commitment to providing transformative education that shapes minds and serves society.
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