Nipun Goenka
Pro-Chancellor, GD Goenka University, Gurugram
Nipun Goenka (centre right)
A management sciences alum of the University of Warwick (UK), followed by advanced certification from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK), Nipun Goenka is Pro-Chancellor of GD Goenka University, Gurugram and Managing Director of the GD Goenka Group of institutions comprising 150 GD Goenka K-12 schools, 150 Toddler House and La Petite preschools, 90 GD Goenka Healthcare Academy centres, GD Goenka World Institute and the GD Goenka University.
What are the major objectives set for GD Goenka University until India’s Freedom Centenary in 2047?
In alignment with the Indian government’s Viksit Bharat @2047 vision of a developed, self-reliant and innovative India, the GD Goenka Group which includes G.D. Goenka University and the G.D. Goenka World Institute and over 150 GDG schools countrywide, we intend to build a nationwide network of high quality education institutions to foster innovation, research, entrepreneurship, future-ready skills, tech integration, critical thinking and socially responsible future global leaders to support India’s growth and achievement of all United Nations’ Sustainable Developmental Goals
How satisfied are you with your progress thus far?
Quite satisfied. Over the past several years, GD Goenka Group has blossomed into one of India’s largest education networks with an aggregate enrolment of 1 lakh children and young people mentored by 15,000 educators.
What are your major initiatives to contemporise GDG University’s syllabus/curriculum?
To contemporise our syllabus and curriculum, we have undertaken several key initiatives that align with global educational trends and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Our major focus has been on integrating skill-based learning, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary approaches across grade levels. We are increasingly embedding digital literacy, coding, AI fundamentals, financial literacy, and sustainability education into our academic framework to prepare students for real-workplace challenges.
How satisfied are you with your connect with Indian industry and business?
Our endeavour is to provide a holistic education that empowers our students to become innovators, entrepreneurs, inventors, global leaders who can confront the challenges of the future with equanimity and élan.
Towards this purpose, it is important for them to experience application of knowledge in the real world. Therefore we have initiated active collaborations with industry for internships at school and university levels; initiated joint labs, research, projects, interface with industry; invited guest lecturers from various walks of life. Moreover curricula are regularly updated with industry input through invitations, curriculum review committees, and professionals on our Board of Studies keep us abreast of business and industry needs. Students also have access to alumni mentors, seed funding and incubation facilities.
R&D and innovation are widely perceived as Indian academia’s infirmity. What’s your institutional response to create new knowledge?
We are fully aware that R&D and innovation are critical pillars for the advancement of education and creation of new knowledge. In response, we have made a conscious effort to develop a culture of inquiry, exploration, and problem-solving in all our institutions. Our higher education institutions, especially GD Goenka University, are equipped with dedicated research cells, innovation labs, and incubation centres that support faculty and students in pursuing original research, publishing in reputed journals, and working on industry-linked projects.
What’s your prescription for transforming India into a $30 trillion GDP economy by 2047?
To achieve the goal of a $30 trillion GDP economy by 2047, India must place education at the heart of its transformation. A thriving, knowledge-driven workforce is essential for driving innovation, improving productivity, and enhancing global competitiveness. Policy formulators, industry, and educational institutions must ensure that India’s education system is adaptable, inclusive, and future-focused, enabling our youth to excel in an ever-evolving global landscape.
How optimistic are you about India’s future growth and development?
Highly optimistic. With our youthful population, expanding digital infrastructure, and progressive policy initiatives like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Digital India, as the world’s fourth largest economy, India is well-positioned to become a global leader in innovation, education, and entrepreneurship.
Also Read: Minister Anurag Thakur inaugurates GD Goenka University’s Centre for Excellence
