Chennai: The first half of the United Economic Forum (UEF) Trade Summit 2025, held on December 12 and 13, concluded on a high note, offering participants an enriching and thought-provoking experience. Special invitees described the opening sessions of the three-day summit as value-driven, insightful and impactful.

The summit was organised under the leadership of UEF Chairman Nawabzada Ashraf Ali, also known as The Prince of Arcot, along with the UEF leadership team. Despite challenges, the organisers delivered a well-curated trade summit in collaboration with UEF’s founding members.

Legacy and Leadership of UEF

The United Economic Forum was founded in 1979 by Alhaj Late Dr B. S. Abdur Rahman, a renowned entrepreneur, philanthropist and educationist, with the mission of uplifting socio-economic conditions of marginalised communities. Today, UEF is led by Mr Ahmed A. R. Buhari, President of UEF and Founder President & CEO of Coal & Oil Group, who continues to expand the organisation’s vision of inclusive economic development in Tamil Nadu.

PTR’s Vision for a $4 Trillion Tamil Nadu

One of the major highlights of the summit was the keynote address by Dr Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR), Honourable Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services, Government of Tamil Nadu. Speaking on the theme of dreaming big, PTR outlined his vision of transforming Tamil Nadu into a $4 trillion economy by 2047.

He emphasised several strategic priorities, including:

• Digital governance and e-governance initiatives
• Startup ecosystem development through StartupTN and iTNT Hub
• Skill development and education reforms
• Human-centric artificial intelligence policies for inclusive growth

PTR stressed that technological advancement must benefit all sections of society.

Design Thinking and Innovation in Education

Arun Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of Intellect Design Arena, delivered a compelling address on Design Thinking and innovation. A pioneer in financial technology and founder of Polaris Group, Jain highlighted the importance of limitless thinking and creativity in education and industry.

Using metaphors such as a bird’s boundless freedom and a Rubik’s Cube, he explained how conventional conditioning restricts innovation. His analogy that “3 × 9 equals 27, yet we are conditioned to believe only 3 × 3 equals 9” resonated deeply with the audience.

Dr Jain’s session was widely appreciated for challenging conventional mindsets and inspiring the audience to embrace abundance and unconventional thinking.

Powerful Panel Discussions on Education Reform

Panel discussions at the summit focused on redefining education beyond marks and rote learning. Panelists highlighted the irony of teaching children to “stay within the lines” early in life, only to later demand “out-of-the-box thinking.”

One panelist remarked, “If we don’t listen to our children when they talk about small things, they won’t come to us with the big things later.”

The discussions also addressed contradictions in education—such as teaching children that the sun rises in the east at early grades and later correcting it scientifically—often confusing Gen Z learners.

Montessori Education Takes Centre Stage

Montessori education was strongly emphasised during the summit. Dr R. Vijaya Saraswathy, Pro Vice-Chancellor of St Mother Theresa University and Editor-in-Chief of Women of Substance Magazine, actively contributed to the discussions. Drawing from her experience as the founder principal of Godwin Academy, a Montessori-based institution since 2007, she highlighted the importance of holistic development through reading, writing, speaking, listening and empathising.

International participation also added depth, with a panelist from Sydney joining virtually and sharing emotional insights on the challenges of training early educators in modern methodologies.

Learning from Failure and Embracing Backbenchers

The summit celebrated unconventional success stories. Pritam Agarwal, founder of the Hello Kids chain of schools and co-author of Backbenchers, shared how academic labels do not define future success. Panelists unanimously agreed that true success lies in moving from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.

Another panelist shared an inspiring anecdote of being labelled academically weak in sixth grade, only to score 200/200 in mathematics in higher secondary education—eventually becoming a soil scientist, proving the power of good mentorship.

Policy Developments in Higher Education

Looking ahead, the second half of the summit is expected to focus on the Union Cabinet’s approval of a single higher education regulator, replacing UGC, AICTE and NCTE. The proposed legislation, now named the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill, aligns with the National Education Policy 2020.

The new regulator will oversee regulation, accreditation and professional standards, while funding autonomy will remain with the administrative ministries. Medical and law institutions will remain outside its purview. The reforms aim to overhaul and revitalise India’s higher education sector.

Conclusion

Overall, the first half of the UEF Trade Summit 2025 stood out for its rich discussions on innovation, education reform and economic growth. With visionary leaders, engaging panels and forward-looking policies, the summit set a strong foundation for the remaining sessions and exhibitions scheduled in the coming days.