Empowering the Next Decade: Nitte University and ET Now unite to shape Karnataka’s Growth Story
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangaluru, Oct 30, 2025: The coastal city of Mangaluru took centre stage in Karnataka’s development narrative as the ET Now Business Conclave and Awards 2025 – Mangaluru Edition was held at the TMA Pai International Convention Centre on Thursday. The event, themed “Empowering the Next Decade”, aimed to chart Karnataka’s contribution to India’s goal of becoming a $7-trillion economy by 2030.
As the official Knowledge Partner, Nitte (Deemed to be University) played a pivotal role in shaping the discussions, reinforcing its vision of positioning Mangaluru as India’s Silicon Beach — a hub where education, entrepreneurship, and innovation converge.
The conclave featured policymakers, industry experts, entrepreneurs, and academicians who discussed how Karnataka, contributing nearly 8.9% to India’s GDP, can lead inclusive, sustainable, and data-driven growth.
Chief guests Captain Brijesh Chowta, Member of Parliament from Dakshina Kannada, and UT Khader, Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, inaugurated the event, emphasizing collaboration between government, academia, and industry to sustain Karnataka’s leadership in innovation.
A key highlight was the panel discussion, “Tomorrow’s Talent with Today’s Trailblazers,” moderated by three Nitte University students — Dhriti Shetty (JKSHIM), Rohan Pinto (NUCSER), and Shasankh Kamat (NMAMIT). They engaged business leaders Ajml Yenepoya (Unity Care and Health Services), Gurudatta Shenoy (Mukund MGM Realty), and Athmika Amin (JV International Pvt Ltd) in a conversation on leadership, adaptability, and innovation in evolving industries. The discussion underscored how young professionals from Nitte are emerging as confident, future-ready leaders.
In a fireside chat, Mr Vishal Hegde, Pro-Chancellor (Administration), Nitte University, spoke with Anuiya Yadav, National Editor, Times Network, about transforming Indian higher education. He highlighted Nitte’s initiatives under the National Education Policy 2020, its focus on Tier-II accessibility, global collaborations, and Centres of Excellence in cybersecurity, health sciences, and business innovation. Mr Hegde described universities as “dynamic contributors to national progress” rather than isolated academic entities.
Adding to the day’s highlights, Dr Harsha Halahalli, Registrar of Nitte University, featured in an exclusive ET Now podcast recorded on-site, where he discussed leadership, research, and Nitte’s institutional growth. He reflected on the university’s strong performance in global rankings, employability focus, and healthcare outreach through the Justice K S Hegde Charitable Hospital and 23 satellite health centres.
In a proud moment for the university, Nitte was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Education & Institutional Innovation Award for its efforts in expanding global education access and promoting innovation-driven learning. Dr Harsha Halahalli received the award on behalf of the institution.
The conclave also saw participation from prominent business figures including Dharmendra B. Mehta (CREDAI Karnataka), Arun Prabha (Mangaluru Smart City Ltd), Dinesh Pai (Hangyo Ice Cream), Dion Monteiro (Rohan Corporation), Rohith Bhat (wrkwrk, 99Games & Robosoft), and Pradeep Jhunjhunwala (AWS), reaffirming Mangaluru’s growing status as a hub of enterprise and innovation.
As the event concluded, it left behind a strong message — that Mangaluru is poised not just to participate in India’s growth story, but to drive it, with Nitte University continuing to play a defining role in shaping the region’s educational and economic future.