Latest news with #RishihoodUniversity
Time Business News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time Business News
From Dropout to Builder: How Ajay Gupta Made Rishihood Inclusive
As per a national report, 27% of students with disabilities have never attended any educational institution. Moreover, there are only 0.2% students with disabilities in higher education. These numbers strongly indicate that the entire education system in India needs reform, especially during this time when the Viksit Bharat 2047 mission drives the country forward and no individual deserves to be left behind due to a lack of access to education at any level. Rishihood University, located in Delhi-NCR, marks a significant milestone in this journey, being fully accessible to persons with diverse needs. Rishihood University 'Who are our universities designed for?' is a question that has resonated with numerous changemakers for centuries. As the conversations about NEP 2020 dominate the higher education landscape, with a focus on multi-disciplinary learning and wider access, the role of higher educational institutions grows manifold. Social-impact models pioneered by universities such as Rishihood tend to become a statement where many higher educational institutions in India lack ramps on their premises, have narrow toilets that are not wheelchair-friendly, and neglect to include Braille in their libraries. However, do you know that the country's first fully accessible university, Rishihood, was conceptualized by a man who is himself a dropout and who is himself in a wheelchair due to an 80% locomotor disability? Ajay Gupta is the co-founder of Rishihood University. He is also the renowned founder and CEO of Bachpan Play Schools and Academic Heights Public Schools (AHPS) and is thus no stranger to the education landscape. His vision for inclusive education seeks to rewrite the lived reality of thousands and lakhs of students with disabilities in India. In the process, he aims to build an inclusive society, because for India to be a developed country, it is important that everyone grows to their full potential, breaking every barrier. Mr. Ajay Gupta alongside Rishihood University members, uniting for a purpose-driven conversation at the event. In a conversation with the Time Business News, Ajay Gupta shared, 'I have always believed that education should not be a privilege that depends on accessible infrastructure, assistive technologies, and inclusive culture. Education should be a choice and a right, very well in alignment with the Right to Education (RTE) Act. For that to happen, our educational institutions need to take the first step.' Ajay Gupta further shared that the inspiration for Rishihood University came while looking for the best universities in India for his daughter, but finding none that could be called inclusive. According to him, 'I think that every parent wants to raise a responsible and empathetic child for whom inclusivity is the norm. Inclusivity is not only for PwDs. It is for the country's best.' Disheartened by his experiences in school and college, encouraged by his early ventures in the Indian education system, and confident in his capability to start a fully accessible university, he discussed the idea with his close associate and family friend, Mr. Rakesh Aggarwal, on a trip to Shimla. It all eventually led to the birth and evolution of Rishihood University, and a number of visionaries and changemakers joined the board of founders over the years. As India debates the future of its universities with respect to AI integration, foreign collaborations, and credit frameworks, it may be time to also ask who still remains on the outside looking in. Ajay Gupta's own educational experiences were filled with numerous hardships, but he did not fail the education system that failed him, emerging as not only one of the most impactful business leaders in inclusive education but also as an investor in emerging startups that are making a similar difference through faculty sensitization and support systems for inclusion. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Time Business News
20-06-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Transforming Education in India for a $30 Trillion Economy
India aims to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047 through the Viksit Bharat initiative. As part of this national vision, leaders across sectors are voicing their perspectives. According to Ajay Gupta, Founder of Bachpan Play Schools and Academic Heights Public Schools, India must position its education system as a global benchmark by 2047. A Vision Beyond Borders The Urgency to Rethink India's Education System Leading edupreneur Ajay Gupta, in his Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, called for a rethinking of India's school education system. He asserted, 'To become a global powerhouse, India must not only adopt global standards but also set more of them for others to adopt.' While efforts have long aimed at imparting world-class education, Mr. Gupta emphasizes that we should aim so high that the term 'world-class education' naturally comes to be associated with India's education system on the world stage. What Is Vision 2047? The year 2047 will mark India's 100th Year of Independence. 'Viksit Bharat @2047', as it is officially named, is a national mission to make India a developed country through collective action at individual, sectoral, and national levels. The Viksit Bharat @2047 vision is also quite significant globally. It shapes the future of the country through inclusive economic growth, good governance, youth empowerment, social development, and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Viksit Bharat @2047 vision focuses on global competence, inclusion, and innovation via skill development and tech-driven initiatives. Education is central, with the youth as both drivers and primary beneficiaries of change. Key Pillars of Gupta's Vision for Indian Education Educational leader Ajay Gupta also co-founded Rishihood University as India's first university focused on social impact. Creating an enduring impact from PG (Play Group) to PG (Post Graduate), he envisions India as a global role model in education and innovation. Ajay Gupta advocates bridging local values with global standards. His institutions, which consist of 1200+ Bachpan Play Schools, 120+ Academic Heights Public Schools (AHPS), and Rishihood University, work towards cultivating a deep appreciation for Indian values rooted in Panchakosha Shiksha, while preparing students for the future. Ajay Gupta's vision for Indian education is shaped by his role as an educationist and a proud Indian. As India's value-driven models like mindfulness gain global traction, he urges the country to change from a consumer to a major contributor on the world stage in 2047. Transforming the Indian Education Landscape India's education landscape needs an overhaul to attain the national vision of becoming a developed country. From preschool to higher education, a shift towards skill-based and value-based learning is now becoming increasingly imperative. Technology, curriculum, and infrastructure play a crucial role in shaping education. With AI rapidly integrating into daily life and work, the education system has to evolve at the same pace to stay relevant and future-ready. Empowering educators and school leaders is also vital to transforming the education system. Technology can become a powerful enabler in the hands of educators and school leaders under the right circumstances. Ajay Gupta's Vision 2047 and legacy in the Viksit Bharat context cannot be sidelined. Consistent effort and multi-sectoral collaboration towards education that inspires the world remain key points. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
