Before coding became a career aspiration and India emerged as a global IT powerhouse, Rajendra S. Pawar recognised the potential of computer education to transform the country’s future.
In Episode 2 of The Founder’s Circle, the Founder of NIIT and NIIT University takes us through the vision, risks and decisions behind his journey from pioneering organised computer education in 1981 to building a wider talent development ecosystem.
Pawar discusses the early challenges of making computer education accessible, the entrepreneurial thinking behind NIIT’s growth, and the foresight required to build institutions that remain relevant as industries change. He also examines the questions confronting Indian higher education today: Is a degree still worth its price? Are universities equipping graduates for an AI-driven economy? And where should institutions draw the line between commercial success and their responsibility to students?
The conversation moves beyond professional milestones to explore leadership, institution-building, the future of skilling and the choices facing the next generation of education founders.
Watch Rajendra S. Pawar on The Founder’s Circle by ETEducation—a conversation about anticipating change, building industries and preparing India’s next generation for the future.