Ken42 to Convene Higher Education Leaders at 42 Degrees Summit in Udaipur

Higher education technology platform Ken42 is set to host the inaugural edition of 42 Degrees, a three-day, invitation-only summit bringing together university leaders, policymakers, industry executives, investors and technology experts to examine the future of higher education.

Scheduled in Udaipur from August 12 to 14, 2026, the summit is being organised in partnership with BW Businessworld and BW Education. Its central theme, “Building Globally Relevant Institutions for the Next Decade,” will explore how universities can respond to changing student expectations, emerging technologies, evolving workforce needs and growing international mobility.

Ken42, an AI-native operating system for higher education, integrates institutional data, workflows and analytics across the student journey, from admissions through graduation and beyond.

The summit will examine six key areas: building enduring institutions, the future of learning, research and innovation, industry-academia partnerships, sustainable growth models and the concept of the lifelong university. Discussions will focus on strengthening academic frameworks, expanding research capabilities, developing industry relationships and maintaining meaningful engagement with students and alumni.

The speaker roster includes former Tamil Nadu minister Dr Palanivel Thiaga Rajan; KIIT and KISS Founder Prof. Achyuta Samanta; O.P. Jindal Global University Founding Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr) C. Raj Kumar; Chitkara University President Dr Madhu Chitkara; Baret Scholars Founder Chris Whittle; former IIIT-Bangalore Director Prof. S. Sadagopan; Indian School of Public Policy Co-Founder Luis Miranda; BITS Pilani Digital and Industry Research Partnerships CEO Rajiv Tandon; FLAME University Governing Body member Krutarth Shah; and BW Businessworld Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Dr Annurag Batra.

The programme will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions and participant-led sessions examining strategic challenges facing institutions.

Ken42 will also introduce the 42 Degrees Forum, a year-round thought leadership initiative featuring interviews, essays, reports and perspectives from education leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and industry experts. The platform aims to extend conversations from the summit throughout the year.