Prof. (Dr.) Roshan Lal Raina, Vice-Chancellor of Jaipur National University (JNU), Jaipur, was invited to the World Youth Festival (WYF) in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, as an expert in higher education. The festival, held from September 17–21, drew more than 1,000 international participants from fields including education, public administration, media, entrepreneurship, sports, digitalization, and IT.
Prof. Raina was invited by Mr. Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the WYF Directorate, to participate in the WYF Assembly as a panel speaker. He spoke at a high-profile talk show on “The Future of Education: From Digital Platforms to New Learning Formats”, addressing questions from the moderator and leading educationists.
In his address, Prof. Raina highlighted India’s progressive educational reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, along with UGC regulations, NAAC guidelines, and NIRF rankings. He emphasized the need for integrating traditional knowledge into curricula, enabling academic flexibility, adopting multiple entry and exit options, strengthening open and distance learning, and enhancing affordability and access through IT-driven education. His insights received repeated applause and appreciation from the international audience.
The deliberations also fostered academic cooperation between India and Russia. Prof. Raina held discussions with several Russian university rectors and heads of institutions, laying the groundwork for Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod and Minin Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University.
Speaking after his return to Jaipur, Prof. Raina described the visit as “rich, insightful, engaging, and value-adding,” noting that the central focus of all discussions was the youth.
Profile of Prof. R. L. Raina
A distinguished academic and institution-builder, Prof. R. L. Raina took charge as Vice-Chancellor of Jaipur National University after completing two consecutive terms as Vice-Chancellor of JK Lakshmipat University, Jaipur. Prior to that, he served as Professor of Communication and Dean of Planning & Development at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow. Between 2005 and 2008, he also successfully led the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, Delhi, as its Director.
Prof. Raina is widely respected for his contributions to higher education, institutional development, and academic policy. His leadership experience spans teaching, research, administration, and governance, with a strong focus on innovation, quality assurance, and international collaboration. Over the years, he has been instrumental in shaping policies for multidisciplinary education, regulatory frameworks, and the adoption of digital learning.
