There is a shift in student Aspirations, Rajya Sabha MP Satnaam Sandhu

Satnaam Singh Sandhu, who is also the Chancellor of Chandigarh University, emphasized his role as an educationist rather than an academician. He stated that his position as a Rajya Sabha MP was possible because of his involvement in the education sector. "I take pride in being an educationist. Though I’m not an academician or from a teaching background, I feel that anyone who has contributed to the education field, in terms of infrastructure or other resources, should be recognized as an educationist," he said.

Sandhu shared about his Roots and Expressed Gratitude for his Recognition

Sandhu shared his background, highlighting his roots in farming and his subsequent involvement in the education system. He established Chandigarh Group of Colleges (CGC) Landran in Mohali in 2001 and founded Chandigarh University in 2012.

Expressing gratitude for the recognition by the Dataquest T School Conference, Sandhu remarked, "Education is not commercial; I still have debts. Education requires reinvestment." He stressed the importance of quality education and recalled a time when numerous educational institutes were established rapidly, leading to both growth and subsequent closures.

Discussing the demographic shifts in education, Sandhu noted that the southern parts of India initially led in prestigious institutions, but the northern states have since made significant progress. "I want to thank our teachers and educators for their contributions. Now we are facing global competition due to the availability of online content. Every day is a challenge, and there is a shift in student aspirations. Now education is more student-centric," he added.

The Rajya Sabha MP echoed Bhagat Singh’s Vision

Sandhu spoke about the need to build the nation and referenced Indian martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Lala Lajpat Rai, who were thought leaders envisioning a developed India. He emphasized that the core pillars of a developed nation include women, youth, farmers, and the underprivileged, urging educationists to work for their inclusivity and development.

MP Satnaam talked about his initiatives with Dr. Madhu Chitkara

He acknowledged the contributions of Dr. Madhu Chitkara in founding the Chandigarh Welfare Trust and the New India Development Foundation, with which he collaborated to improve the education system. "I’m the only representative of the education fraternity in the Rajya Sabha, and I acknowledge my responsibilities. I want all academicians to voice their opinions and send me their views on how we can work for the further betterment of the education system," he concluded.

Finally, Rajya Sabha MP Satnaam Singh Sandhu thanked Dataquest and its founder, Pradeep Gupta, for inviting and recognizing him at the Dataquest Higher Education Conference and Awards.

Authored by Bharti Trehan