Lucknow: School principals, educationists, and academic experts discussed the

future of learning

in a rapidly transforming digital world at the Principals' Meet – Educators' Excellence and Times NIE Principals' seminar held in the city on Saturday.
The event was jointly organised by the Times of India and the

Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology

, with focus on how artificial intelligence is reshaping classrooms, pedagogy, and student engagement.
Chief guest and UP deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak emphasized the role of educators in shaping the next generation.
Pathak, said, "Educators today hold the immense responsibility of equipping our children for a dynamic, AI-driven world, where change is constant and uncertainty is the norm. In such a landscape, teaching must go beyond textbooks. We must innovate in our methods, inspire confidence in our learners, and guide them not just with knowledge, but with the values that define humanity. Technology may shape the tools of the future, but it is the wisdom and integrity of our educators that will shape the minds that use them."

"While innovation is essential, we must ensure that the soul of teaching, human connection, compassion, and character-building is never lost in the process." he added
The event served as a platform for school leaders to exchange ideas on upskilling teachers, adapting and creating future-ready learning environments.
A panel discussion on 'Teaching and Learning in the World of Artificial Intelligence' was held. Panelists included Thapar Institute VC Padma Kumar Nair, Deputy Director and Chief Officer, Thapar Institute Ajay Batish, educationist and career consultant Amrita Dass, CMS managing director Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, IIIT Lucknow director Arun Mohan Sherry and Dean of Liberal arts and sciences, Thapar Institute, Vinay Kumar.
The seminar was followed by a sufi performance.