Higher education Higher Purpose: Are we losing it?
Event Report
IEEE Canada – Global Talk Series (Expert Session 1)
🌍 Global Insights – Wisdom Beyond Borders
Title: Higher Education, Higher Purpose: Are We Losing It?
Date & Time: January 24, 2026 | 9:00 AM (EST)
Speaker: Dr. Rajeshwari Narendran
Mode: Virtual
Overview
The first expert session of the IEEE Canada – Global Talk Series, titled “Global Insights – Wisdom Beyond Borders,” was successfully held on January 24, 2026. This session marked the formal launch of a new global knowledge initiative by IEEE Canada, through the IEEE Education Committee, under the banner “Global Insights: Wisdom Beyond Borders” (Region-7 Talk Series).The session received an enthusiastic response, with more than 50 participants attending from Canada, India, the United States, and the United Kingdom, reflecting the truly global outreach of the initiative.
This session marked a strong beginning for the Global Talk Series and set a meaningful tone for future knowledge-sharing engagements.
Session Proceedings
The event commenced with a Land Acknowledgement, followed by a formal welcome address and an introduction of the distinguished speaker, Dr. Rajeshwari Narendran — Alumni of Harvard Business School and Director, NTPC Business School, India.
Gratitude was extended to the technology partners and university partners, whose collaboration contributed to the success of the session.
Key Highlights & Speaker Insights
Dr. Rajeshwari Narendran delivered a deeply insightful and reflective talk on the evolving purpose of higher education. She emphasized the importance of reconnecting education with core human values and roots, sharing her powerful success mantra:
“Stay connected to the roots — stay in touch with the soil.”
She introduced the concept of “SPARSH”, describing it as a magical mentoring therapy that fosters healing, empathy, and holistic growth by strengthening the mentor-mentee relationship. The session strongly highlighted the need for value-based education alongside technological and career-oriented learning.
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This session is being coordinated by Dr. Inderpreet Kaur, Educational Activities Lead - IEEE Canada.
- Starts 17 January 2026 05:00 AM UTC
- Ends 24 January 2026 01:58 PM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Rajeshwari
Higher education Higher Purpose: Are we losing it?
is designed to provoke critical reflection on the evolving role of higher education in a rapidly changing global landscape. As academic institutions increasingly respond to market pressures, technological disruption, and employability-driven outcomes, this talk will help participants examine whether the foundational purpose of higher education—intellectual growth, ethical leadership, societal impact, and lifelong learning—is being diluted.
Biography:
Dr Rajeshwari Narendran is Ph.D. in Management & MBA. Andrew Towl Scholar- Harvard Business School (GloColl and CWW), Boston, USA & FDP IIM-A 2009. She has the distinction of being the first ever woman and youngest National President of Indian Society for Training & Development, New Delhi, India (2013-14). She is the first woman to be elected in any professional body in HR & Management Across Asia. . She is currently the National Council Member with Higher Education Council of Women International Chamber of Commerce and Industries, a State coordinator of All Ladies League. Recently she is a Board member to the Pravasi Legal Aid Cell for gulf countries for supporting the working people of India abroad for the rehabilitation, rights, dignity, safety, compensations, empowerments and mental moral support in distress etc.
She is an external IC member for POSH in IIM Udaipur. She has been nominated as National President of women of International Federation of Electric Vehicle Association.
Currently she is Director, NTPC School of Business, Noida mentored by IIM A. She formerly was Professor, Head, and Director MHRM in the Department Business Admin. M L Sukhadia University, Udaipur; Visiting Professor to IIM Udaipur, IIM Ahmedabad and many Universities across the globe and former Director Academy of HRD. She has delivered Lectures and Trainings at Harvard Business School as well. She also has a rare attribute of being a Psycho Dynamic Analyst helping Indian Public sector giants corporate like BOB, NTPC, DGH, Ministry of Petroleum, Accenture, Reserve Bank of India, NCFE, PGCL, Punjab National Bank, CII, NPS trust, NHMRC, Rubamin, RCFL, etc to hire and promote leadership pipeline and Training. She has established the first Behavioural lab in any University in India.
Her work for emancipation of rural and tribal women and Make a difference (MAD) initiative for rural and youth development have been greatly appreciated by various State Governments and Govt of India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Middle East countries to mention few. She has motivated around thousands of students and make a difference social workers to contribute to self and social development and nation building.
She is a coach, evangelist and a great motivational speaker and her immense positive energies inspires hundreds of thousands of women around the globe as a role model. She has been leading the MDP for women entrepreneurs at IIM-U.
Email:
Address:India
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