Mastersoft ERP Solutions Pvt Ltd hosted the Higher Education Leaders AI Conclave – Chennai Dialogue 2026 on January 31 in New Delhi, bringing together Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, and senior academic leaders to address the future of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in Indian universities. The event placed a strong emphasis on the interplay between AI, ethics, governance, and policy frameworks, raising critical questions about how institutions can leverage AI responsibly while ensuring compliance and student-centric outcomes.
Shri Sham Somani, Founder & Managing Director of Mastersoft, delivered the welcome address, highlighting that education is transitioning into the era of Agentic AI. “Menus will disappear. There will be one search bar, and AI will configure ERP systems, build question banks and support teachers. But responsible use of AI is critical,” he remarked. Somani reiterated Mastersoft’s commitment to developing governance-ready AI systems that align with regulatory requirements and institutional needs.
During the event, Mr. Gaurav Somani, CEO & Co-founder of Mastersoft, introduced the company’s journey and underscored the importance of strong foundations for AI adoption, which includes data privacy, cybersecurity, and alignment with global standards such as GDPR and ISO compliance. “Even a single EU applicant makes GDPR applicable. Institutions must prepare for AI adoption with global compliance standards,” he cautioned.
A significant theme throughout the conclave was the necessity for institutional AI governance frameworks. Dr. Vaibhav Meshram stressed that “every institute must have strong AI governance and ethical policies. Without integrity frameworks, plagiarism, data misuse and academic disputes will multiply.” The discussions underscored that ethical safeguards must evolve in parallel with AI adoption, particularly in research, assessment, admissions, and evaluation.
Two panel discussions moderated by Mr. Gurudev Somani focused on “Academic Leadership and Innovation in the Age of AI” and “Building Student-Centric Journeys in Higher Education.” The first panel featured Dr. V. Bharati Harishankaran, Dr. N. Malmurugan, and Dr. Sheeja Varghese, who emphasized governance reform and ethical innovation as universities integrate AI into decision-making processes.
The second panel included Dr. Paul Wilson, Dr. K. Sridhar, Dr. S. Mohan, Dr. Shashi Prabha, and Dr. Subhaya Bharathi, who discussed how personalized pathways and AI-enabled services can contribute to a holistic campus ecosystem that prioritizes learner-centric transformation.
The conclave concluded with keynote addresses from Dr. T.P. Sasikumar, who spoke on “Reimagining Institutions: The Journey to Universityhood,” and Dr. N. Jayasankaran, who focused on “Leadership Capacity to Capability – The Missing Link in Accreditation & Rankings.” Both speakers stressed that sustainable excellence in higher education depends on visionary leadership, governance maturity, and the capacity to translate potential into impactful outcomes.
The Chennai Dialogue reinforced the message that while AI is set to reshape universities, the ethical frameworks, governance structures, and leadership philosophies will ultimately determine the trajectory of this transformation. The discussions signal a pivotal moment for Indian higher education institutions as they navigate the complexities of integrating AI responsibly.
For more details please refer to: MasterSoft.
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