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MUMBAI: Vivekanand Education Society’s Institute of Management Studies and Research (VESIM), Mumbai, successfully hosted AHEAD 2026, the International Conference on Accessible, Holistic and Equitable Advancement through Digital Education. Organised under AIDEdu, the European Union’s Erasmus+ co-funded Capacity Building in Higher Education project, the three-day hybrid conference brought together academicians, researchers, institutional leaders and international delegates from Europe, India and Nepal.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Guest of Honour Prof. Dr. Badri Narayan Tiwari, Vice Chancellor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, and Chief Guests Dr. Doris Kiendl, Institute Chair, FH JOANNEUM, Austria, and Dr. Bal Krishna Bal, Dean, Kathmandu University, Nepal. The conference featured 79 scheduled research paper presentation slots across 12 groups, covering topics such as AI in education, digital learning, inclusive pedagogies and educational sustainability. The sessions included in-person, online and video presentations, supported by 24 reviewers and 20 session chairs. An international panel discussion on ‘Accessible, Inclusive and Digital Education in Higher Education Institutions for Sustainable Development Goals’ was moderated by Dr. Rupert Beinhauer of FH JOANNEUM, Austria.
As a pre-conference initiative, the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Teaching and Learning at VESIM also conducted a two-day online faculty workshop. The workshop received 121 registrations from 17 institutes, including eight foreign universities and 10 Indian universities.
Commenting on the conference, Dr. Vijay T. Raisinghani, Director, VESIM, said, “AHEAD 2026 provided an important platform for academicians and researchers from different countries to exchange ideas and share perspectives on the future of higher education. As digital technologies continue to shape teaching and learning, it is important for institutions to ensure that these advancements are accessible and inclusive. Through initiatives such as AIDEdu, VESIM remains committed to strengthening academic collaboration and supporting the development of more equitable and digitally enabled learning environments.”
Dr. Shalini Bariar, Professor and Head – International Relations, VESIM, said, “Leading the AIDEdu project has been a significant opportunity to strengthen international academic collaboration and advance the cause of accessible and inclusive digital higher education, while contributing to SDGs 4, 10 and 17. The initiative reflects our collective commitment to leveraging digital innovation to make higher education more equitable, inclusive and accessible, while building stronger global partnerships for the future.”
AIDEdu aims to strengthen institutional capacity and promote accessible, inclusive and digitally enabled management education. As part of the conference, selected research contributions are being compiled into an edited volume titled Education for an Equitable Future: Best Practices in Digital and Inclusive Higher Education for SDGs, featuring 26 chapters by authors from seven countries. Through AHEAD 2026, VESIM provided a platform for research, knowledge exchange and international academic collaboration, reinforcing its commitment to advancing inclusive and accessible digital education.
