Service Leads To Leadership: Kiran Bedi At The 1st National Women Vice Chancellors’ Conference

Vice Chancellors are the biggest administrators, who have the capability to bring a revolutionary change in society, said Dr Kiran Bedi, Former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry at the 1st National Women Vice Chancellors’ Conference organised by IILM University, Gurugram. 

Dr Bedi said that the involvement of girls and women in the field of academics has increased significantly over the years but there is still a ‘pipeline leakage’ that women’s number is not sufficient among the posts of principals, head of the department and other administrative ranks. 

Focusing on the role of Vice Chancellors in Universities, Dr Sujata Shahi, Vice Chancellor, of IILM University, said, “The role of women Vice Chancellors and leaders in higher education, is particularly critical in driving this change. As agents of transformation, we have the power to shape policies, advocate for inclusivity, and challenge the status quo.”

The event was graced by other dignitaries like Dr SY Quraishi, Chancellor, IILM University & Former President, AIU, Dr Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, AIU Presidential, Prof. GD Sharma, President, AIU and VC, USTM, Meghalaya and Atul Kothari Ji, Secretary, Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas. 

Dr Bedi mentioned work-life balance as the major issue of why gold medalist girls leave their studies and work after marriage and asked the present women Vice Chancellors to enrol the courses like work-life management and gender perception in their respective universities.

“Vice-Chancellors can become the real reformers as they have youth power”, mentioned Dr Bedi and motivated every woman VC present in the event to work effectively so that their university will be recognised for their remarkable performance in education as well as in the field of socio-economic changes. 

She also suggested that women's VCs focus on physical wellness inside the university as deterioration of health is one of the factors that resist women to grow in their respective sectors. 

While addressing the eminent women VCs, the Former Lieutenant Governor, of Puducherry said that as India is aiming to become the third largest economy by 2047, youth function as the engine to this goal while Vice Chancellors are the fuel to this engine. 

Universities are known to be the epicentre of research & development and Dr Bedi emphasised the same. She added, “Universities need research. Research universities need transformation. Research universities need character building. You are not teachers, you are transformers.”

The event significance came from the fact that it is the first National Conference of Women Vice Chancellors in order to encourage their leadership.