The Leadership Excellence for Academic Development (LEAD) 2026, a five-day Executive Leadership Development Programme aimed at nurturing strategic leaders for future-ready higher education institutions, was inaugurated today at NIT Calicut.
The programme brings together senior academic leaders, Deans and Heads of Departments from 31 NITs and IIEST, along with eminent experts and institutional leaders from across India.
The inaugural session featured the Presidential Address by Prof. Prasad Krishna, Director, NIT Calicut, and the Inaugural Address by Prof. Godwin Tennyson, Director (In-charge), IIM Trichy.
“Leadership in higher education is not merely about managing institutions; it is about creating a culture that enables people, ideas and innovation to flourish. LEAD 2026 is an opportunity to reflect, learn from one another and shape institutions that are ready to meet the challenges of the future.” Prof. Prasad Krishna, Director, NIT Calicut
LEAD 2026 explores critical dimensions of higher education leadership, including academic excellence, research and innovation, institutional culture, governance and policy, sustainability, AI and digital governance, student wellbeing, and stakeholder engagement.
The programme features distinguished academic and institutional leaders, including Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi; Prof. Sudhir Jain, Former Director, IIT Gandhinagar; Prof. Subhasis Chaudhari, Former Director, IIT Bombay; Prof. Saji Gopinath, Vice Chancellor, Digital University Kerala; Prof. N. V. Varghese, Former Vice Chancellor, NIEPA; Prof. Kannan Moudgalya, Former Professor, IIT Bombay; and Prof. Jayasankaran, Former Vice Chancellor, Kanchi University, among several other eminent experts.
A distinctive feature of LEAD 2026 is its focus on reflection, dialogue, networking and action-oriented leadership, creating a platform for academic leaders to exchange experiences and develop practical approaches for institutional transformation.