A One-Day National Conference on the theme “Reimagining Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation: Pedagogy, Research, Governance, and Institutional Change” was successfully organised at the Special Centre for Disaster Research (SCDR), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. The conference was jointly organised by SAFL India Foundation and SCDR, JNU. The national conference brought together academicians, policymakers, researchers, industry experts, faculty members, and scholars from various institutions across India. The event served as an important platform for discussions on the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital transformation in shaping the future of higher education. The inaugural session began with ceremonial lamp lighting and Saraswati Vandana, reflecting the spirit of knowledge and academic excellence. Presiding over the session, Prof. S. Sreekesh, Chairperson of the Special Centre for Disaster Research, JNU, highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and responsible use of technology in educational institutions. Prof. Kaushal Kishore, Professor and Head of the Department of Educational Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, attended the conference as the Guest of Honour. In his address, he spoke about the importance of digital pedagogy, inclusive learning systems, and academic leadership in the changing educational landscape. He stressed that higher education institutions must adopt innovative teaching practices while ensuring equal access to learning opportunities. Delivering the Chief Guest Address, Sh. Arjun Singh Bedi, Founder of Neev AI, discussed the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence on educational ecosystems, institutional governance, and innovation-driven academic models. He emphasized that technological progress should remain connected with ethics, inclusivity, and human-centred educational values. Dr. Kshitij Kumar Singh, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, delivered the Special Address during the inaugural session. He reflected on the ethical and legal dimensions of Artificial Intelligence, especially issues related to data privacy, digital governance, and academic integrity. He also underlined the need for policy frameworks to regulate the responsible use of AI in educational institutions. A major highlight of the conference was the plenary session on “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Higher Education: Governance, Innovation, and Inclusion.” The session was chaired by Dr. Deep Narayan Pandey and co-chaired by Dr. Abhijeet Dwivedi, Coordinator of the National Conference. The plenary session featured prominent speakers including Mr. Kartik Sharma, Founder of RankinLLM (Aurora Intelligence), and Dr. Minakshi Tomer, Assistant Professor at Maharaja Surajmal Institute of Technology. The speakers discussed AI-enabled educational innovation, digital inclusion, policy reforms, and the evolving role of teachers in technology-driven learning environments. During the discussion, Dr. Ujjwal Narayan Ji also highlighted the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in promoting academic innovation, digital governance, and inclusive educational development in modern higher education systems. The conference further included multiple parallel technical sessions organised across different venues within the JNU campus. Scholars and researchers presented research papers on a wide range of subjects, including AI-enabled pedagogy, governance and institutional transformation, digital knowledge systems, sustainability, academic ethics, mental health, inclusion, and the future of higher education. Speaking about the importance of the conference, Mr. Jagdish Bishnoi, Convener of the National Conference, said that the rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence into educational systems demands serious academic dialogue and interdisciplinary engagement. He stated that universities must prepare students not only for technological advancement but also for ethical leadership, democratic values, and social responsibility. Mr. Lav Kumar Singh, Co-Convener of the Conference and Director of SAFL India Foundation, said that the conference aimed to create a meaningful platform connecting academia, governance, technology, and society. He added that the future of higher education depends on balancing innovation with inclusion, ethics, critical thinking, and human values. The valedictory session was attended by distinguished personalities including Dr. L.R. Bishnoi, IPS, Former DGP Meghalaya and SDGP Assam, and Prof. Ravi Shekhar, Professor at CSRD, JNU. The conference concluded with a vote of thanks, certificate distribution ceremony, and a collective commitment towards building inclusive, ethical, and future-ready higher education systems in the era of Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation. The conference at JNU reflected the growing national focus on integrating Artificial Intelligence into higher education responsibly. Experts at the event agreed that while AI offers new opportunities for innovation and learning, educational institutions must also address ethical concerns, inclusivity, governance challenges, and human-centred development to ensure sustainable academic progress in the digital age. 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