Highlights From ASU GSV and Emeritus Summit 2025 (Day 2)

Highlights From ASU GSV and Emeritus Summit 2025 (Day 2) | online learning | Emeritus

As we arrived at the third ASU GSV and Emeritus Summit 2025 at Gurugram, all eyes were still on India. For the third consecutive year, the summit that brings edtech players, investors, and policymakers together for a power-packed three days of discussions, networking, and collaboration, is exploring the common theme of India and its unique position in education globally. Day 2 of the ASU GSV and Emeritus Summit 2025 started with a very topical declaration from Jorgan K. Andrew, the Charge D’Affaires of the United States. “All talent is global,” he said, reinforcing the spirit of collaboration between the two countries when it comes to talent and education. 

The second day of the ASU GSV and Emeritus Summit 2025 brought together educators, policymakers, investors, and edtech leaders to discuss the future of learning in India, especially with a lens on the advent of AI. As digital transformation reshapes education, conversations today revolve around the role of AI, transnational education, edtech IPOs, and policy regulations. Here are the main takeaways from an action-packed day of discussions, insights, and thought-provoking debates.

1. The Power of AI in Edtech: Promise and Pitfalls

The role of AI in education took center stage as industry leaders discussed both the opportunities and challenges that emerging technologies present.

“We need to move from information to insight (with AI) and ensure that this information is clean of perceptions because it doesn’t take too much to push perception out as reality on the internet,” said Maheshwer Peri, Careers360.

A key concern was ensuring AI-driven education remains human-centric and does not create an AI divide akin to the digital divide, particularly in India, where the urban-rural divide is quite noticeable. Vishal Sunil, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Rocket Learning, explained, “In edtech, we have been impacted by GenAI instead of taking the bull by its horns. Now it’s high time that we design for GenAI in our lives but keep the design human-centric. We should stay away from creating an AI divide.” 

Panelists agreed that AI can significantly personalise education, allowing students to follow non-linear learning paths tailored to their needs. However, the question remains: will AI enhance critical thinking or diminish it? Ankit Aggarwal, Founder and CEO at Unstop, summed up the discussion with his wish list: “I wish the use of AI in education improves critical thinking instead of reducing it.” 

2. Building AI for India’s Unique Needs

While AI models developed in the West lead in sophistication, India’s vast scale offers unique opportunities for innovation in AI-driven learning. And this was the focal point of the discussion surrounding India’s unique place in the AI ecosystem. 

“One of the biggest use cases for AI in India is in government and quasi-government agencies where employees can be trained to clear massive backlogs. For instance, AI can help translate legal documentation into regional languages, moving the judicial process faster,” said Srikanth Iyengar, CEO of upGrad’s enterprise business. 

Speakers emphasised the need for AI models that address India’s multilingual diversity and urban-rural divide. “For India, we need to build population-scale platforms like Digi Yatra that use real-time biometric validation. Making systems that are usable across 1 billion Indians equitably is key,” explained Pankaj Gupta, Country Leader, India and South Asia-Enterprises, Public Sector, Healthcare and Education at AWS. 

3. The Debate on EdTech IPOs: To Go Public or Not?

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One of the biggest highlights of the day was the fireside chat between Ashwin Damera (CEO, Emeritus) and Rahul Bothra (CFO, Swiggy) on the financial prospects of edtech companies going public.

“My personal belief is that every company should aspire to be in the public market. An IPO is not just a financial event—it’s the single largest marketing event in a company’s life,” opined Rahul Bothra, CFO at Swiggy

However, going public presents unique challenges for edtech firms due to their reliance on long-term educational partnerships and evolving business models. The discussion emphasised the importance of strong governance and early investor engagement.

“You need to have an independent board of directors at least six quarters before you go public. Good corporate governance builds intangible premiums that set successful public companies apart,” suggested Bothra.

Pranjal Kumar, CFO of Emeritus, added another dimension to this discussion while he was speaking on a different panel, shedding light on the critical role of private credit in preparing companies for public markets. He explained, “As you get increasingly into the growth stage, you start to get more and more associated with how public markets behave. Equity raising becomes more structured, and the importance of financial discipline rises significantly.” He emphasised that while equity markets remain an option, private credit can provide edtech firms with the necessary capital while instilling financial discipline.

“Private credit or venture debt helps companies build stronger financial structures by requiring transparent reporting, frequent financial disclosures, and a deeper understanding of market expectations. This discipline is invaluable when transitioning to public markets,” summed up Kumar. 

Despite challenges, there was a consensus that edtech IPOs will be a reality in the coming years, with market readiness playing a crucial role in timing the move.

4. Transnational Education: India’s Global Play

The growing role of international universities in India and the potential for transnational education dominated discussions, with speakers from VIT, Deakin University, and the Australian Government weighing in on regulatory frameworks and collaborative models.

“The government is rolling out the red carpet for global universities. They are allowing institutions to set up with full autonomy—deciding their curriculum, pricing, and segment. This is one of the most forward-looking policies in education,” said Pooja Jayaram, Executive Vice President – University Partnerships at Emeritus. 

Experts highlighted the need for India to improve its attractiveness to international students by addressing employability concerns and liberalising visa rules.

“Our GDP per capita needs to rise to $8,000-$10,000 to make India an attractive education destination. The moment foreign students see a good return on their education, India will become a global education hub,” predicted Sahil Chalana, Founder of Collegedunia.

5. Governing AI in India’s Education Sector

Regulating AI in education was a major theme, with policymakers debating between bureaucratic risk measures and self-regulation. As OpenAI expands its footprint in India, its leadership underscored the importance of localising AI for India’s diverse landscape.

“India is pivotal to OpenAI’s global strategy. Our mission is AI for all of humanity, and that includes ensuring our models support India’s multilingual and cultural diversity,” said Pragya Mishra, who is OpenAI’s first Indian hire. 

The session also raised concerns about AI’s unintended consequences, urging policymakers to focus on explainability, compliance, and ethical deployment.

6. The End of Traditional Learning? Sanjeev Sanyal on AI’s Impact

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Renowned writer and economist Sanjeev Sanyal, who is currently serving on the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India, addressed the transformative effect of AI on traditional education models, predicting the decline of conventional college lectures in a riveting fireside chat with Michael Moe, Founder of Global Silicon Valley Ventures. He emphasised that AI-driven learning tools can provide better explanations and engage students more effectively than traditional classroom setups.

“AI is basically the end of the college lecture. It’s simply not worth our while to go and listen to the average lecturer drone on for an hour when AI can do it better and answer our questions more efficiently,” said Sanyal, making a bold statement. 

While AI offers accessibility and cost benefits, Sanyal cautioned about unintended consequences, including the loss of critical thinking skills and the challenge of acculturating students in a digital-first learning environment.

7. Suresh Prabhu on India’s Higher Education Landscape

In a one-on-one chat with Chaitanya Kalipatnapu, Co-Founder at Emeritus, Suresh Prabhu, former union minister and current chancellor at Rishihood University, highlighted the need for a systemic approach to improving India’s higher education ecosystem. He emphasised that education must evolve as part of a broader ecosystem, starting from early childhood to higher education.

“Higher education is not an isolated entity. It must be built on a strong foundation, and that requires a complete rethinking of our learning structures from the ground up,” he explained. 

He also stressed the importance of aligning policy frameworks with global education standards, allowing greater flexibility in curriculum design, and encouraging research-focused institutions.

8. Ved Mani Tiwari on the Future of Skills-Based Education

Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), spoke about the growing need for skill-based education and its role in employability. He pointed out that while traditional degrees remain relevant, industries are shifting toward competency-based hiring.

He said, “The future of education is skills-first. Employers are increasingly prioritising demonstrable skills over degrees, and education systems must adapt to bridge this gap.” He also emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships in vocational training and the role of edtech in democratising access to skill development programmes.

Final Thoughts: India’s Education Revolution is Here

Day 2 of the ASU GSV and Emeritus Summit 2025 reinforced that India is at the cusp of an education revolution. AI, transnational education, public market aspirations, and research-led growth are shaping the future of learning.

With its massive student population and policy shifts encouraging global collaboration, India’s education ecosystem is poised to lead on a global scale. The key challenge remains balancing technological advancements with equitable access, ensuring that AI, globalisation, and policy reforms benefit all learners, not just a privileged few.

Stay tuned for more insights from the summit as we track the next phase of transformation in the education sector.

Write to us at content@emeritus.org

About the Author

Managing Editor, Emeritus Blog
Anwesha is our in-house expert on careers, trends impacting the workforce, and what makes content tick. As a journalist and content creator for 10+ years, Anwesha leaves a bit of herself in every story. Her superpower is to take the bare bones and turn it into a winning narrative for brands. Her passion to tell stories of human triumph led her to Emeritus where she continues to weave engaging tales. Anwesha is also a doting dog mom and hopes to make her boisterous canine a pawfluencer.
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