Alumni collaboration and AI centre to drive global excellence : Nara Lokesh

Visakhapatnam:Education minister Nara Lokesh announced plans to enhance the higher education ecosystem through alumni collaboration and the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at Andhra University’s annual alumni meet, Lokesh outlined the government’s goal to restore the university’s prestige and position it among India’s top three and the world’s top 100 institutions.

He also revealed plans to establish an AI Centre of Excellence at Andhra University, aiming to make it a global hub for innovation. Addressing challenges in job preparedness, the minister stressed the importance of alumni involvement in mentoring students and connecting them to industry networks.

Lokesh highlighted Andhra University’s decline in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), falling from 16th in 2019 to 25th in 2024. He emphasised a holistic approach to education, incorporating human values and respect for women, and called for collective efforts to elevate the university’s standards.