CHANDIGARH- May 4, 2011: The Department of Education, Panjab University is hosting a
seminar in collaboration with Azim Premji University for Education, Bangalore
titled “Teachers for Development: Quality Concerns in Teacher Education” on 6th May,
2011 at ICSSR 10 a.m. onwards. They have taken this initiative to bring together
educationists, academicians and administrators from allied university departments,
national & state level institutions on a common platform for a meaningful discussion
on preparing teachers for social change and national development. The seminar will be
inaugurated by Prof. Emeritus of Psychology, Prof. Jitendra Mohan. Sh. Anurag Behar,
CEO & Vice Chancellor of Azim Premji University & Prof. Shakuntala Nagpal, Head of
Teacher Education & Extension Department, NCERT will be the key speakers.
Prof. Sherry Sabbarwal, Department of Sociology, Panjab University, Chandigarh shall
chair the session. Key discussants in the seminar will include Faculty of Department
of Education, eminent educationists and officials related to Education, Research
Scholars and students.

Brief resume of Anurag Behar,CEO of Azim Premji Foundation & Vice Chancellor, Azim
Premji University

The Foundation and the University founded by it, are not-for-profit organizations
committed to the vision of “contributing towards a just, equitable, humane and
sustainable society”. They run programs and institutions in India for improving
quality of Education and in related Development fields.  The focus is on creating
professionals, conducting research, continuing education & capacity building for the
Education and Development sector. The field programs are run in collaboration with the
government. All this work is focused on the disadvantaged and the underprivileged in
India
The Foundation is in the process of a significant scale up, by establishing institutes
(which will also run field programs) in 50 districts and 8 state capitals across
India. These are some of the largest non-governmental initiatives in the social
sector, across the world.
Mr Anurag has been closely involved with efforts to improve education in India for the
past ten years. He has led the social initiatives of Wipro Ltd in this period. His
interest and commitment to ecological causes, has been reflected in his engagement
with and leadership of Wipro’s ecological initiatives. He continues to provide
leadership to the social and ecological initiatives of Wipro ltd.
He has earlier played various leadership roles in business. As the CEO of Wipro
Infrastructure Engineering, he led the business to a remarkable growth trajectory –
from being No. 20 in the world to being the No. 1 in 5 years. The business has
operations in Europe, India and China. He has also led Wipro’s investments in two
strategic diversifications in to environment related areas – in the Water and Clean
Energy sectors.
He has earlier played various leadership roles in business. As the CEO of Wipro
Infrastructure Engineering, he led the business to a remarkable growth trajectory –
from being No. 20 in the world to being the No. 1 in 5 years. The business has
operations in Europe, India and China. He has also led Wipro’s investments in two
strategic diversifications in to environment related areas – in the Water and Clean
Energy sectors.
Mr. Anurag has also led Brand, Quality and Innovation for Wipro Ltd. He has played
multiple roles in GE Medical Systems earlier in his career, including being an
integral part of the team that built the leadership position of Wipro GE Healthcare in
South Asia. A significant part of his early career was spent in financing healthcare
infrastructure in India.
    Mr. Anurag has served on the Board of Wipro GE Healthcare Ltd. - the leading
player in Healthcare Technology Solutions in South Asia. He is also a member of the
Board of the TERI University. He is member of the Corporate Executive Council of Wipro
Limited.  
Anurag has an MBA in Marketing & Finance from XLRI, Jamshedpur and has a Degree in
Electrical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Trichy. He has been
honored by the World Economic Forum, by being recognized as a ‘Young Global Leader’.
He writes a fortnightly column for the daily Mint (www.livemint.com) on issues of
Education & Ecology.

        Sh. Anurag Behar, Vice Chancellor of Azim Premji University for Education,
Bangalore will meet the Press in the post-lunch after the seminar from 2.00 pm to 3.00
pm in the ICSSR Complex, P.U. on May 6, Dr. Latika Sharma, Convener of the seminar,
Deptt. of Education, P.U. informed.  Her mobile No. is 9988171707.  

Press Note No.196
       MMK/PS