IIAS Shimla Concludes National Seminar on Student Migration and Higher Education
Scholars from NITI Aayog, DSE, NEUPA, IGNTU and other institutions deliberate on migration trends and policy frameworks
The Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla successfully hosted a two-day national seminar on “Understanding Students’ Migration Patterns and their Impact on Higher Education in India” on June 10–11, 2025. The seminar brought together scholars, policymakers, and researchers from across India to examine the dynamics of internal student migration and its broader impact on India’s higher education landscape.
The inaugural session commenced with a welcome address by Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, Director, IIAS (online), followed by a thematic introduction by Prof. Sudhakar Venukapalli (Senior Professor, IEDS). Chief Guest Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member of NITI Aayog, emphasized the socio-economic significance of student migration across Indian states.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. V. K. Malhotra (Chairperson, Food Commission of M.P.) highlighted structural inequalities in access to higher education and the resulting regional migration patterns.
Throughout the two days, the seminar featured eight academic sessions and a panel discussion. Scholars presented papers on topics such as migration and representation, seasonal migration’s impact on education, institutional governance, digital education and econometric analyses, among others.
Notable contributors included Prof. Biju K.C. (Christ University), Prof. Satish Verma (RBI Chair), Dr. Sandip Datta (Delhi School of Economics), Dr. Vikholienuo Kire (Nagaland), Dr. Vinod Sen (IGNTU), Dr. Ramya Patel (JNU), Dr. Tanwi Patra (Amity), and many others. The sessions revealed critical insights into how student mobility reflects broader economic disparities, infrastructural gaps, and changing career aspirations in India.
The valedictory session featured a summary of proceedings by Dr. Anish Gupta and Shubham Sharma, closing remarks by Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, and a formal vote of thanks by Prof. Sudhakar Venukapalli.
The seminar concluded with a consensus that understanding and planning for student migration is essential not only for equitable access to education but also for crafting inclusive, future-ready policies in Indian higher education.
