In one of the biggest congregation on higher education after the notification of the National Education Policy 2020, over 300 vice-chancellors and directors of higher educational institutions' (HEIs) and other educationists are to deliberate on how to take the policy further at the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam in Varanasi from Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the summit which will also adopt the "Varanasi Declaration on India's extended vision and renewed commitment for higher education".

Modi will inaugurate the three-day summit, organised by the ministry of education in association with University Grants Commission (UGC) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU), which will bring together heads of public and private universities, IITs, IIMs, educationists, policy makers, as well as industry leaders.

"Uttar Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, will also attend the summit," said a senior MoE official. The summit will provide a platform for leading Indian HEIs to discuss, deliberate and share insights on strategies, success stories and best practices in implementing NE.

Spread over several sessions from July 7-9, discussions will be held on themes such as multidisciplinary and holistic education, skill development and employability, Indian Knowledge Systems, internationalisation of education, digital empowerment and online education, research, innovation and entrepreneurship, quality, ranking and accreditation, equitable and inclusive education, capacity building of teachers for quality education.

(With inputs from agencies)