Keynote Speakers

Closing Keynote: Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Dr. Rajesh Tandon is an internationally acclaimed leader and practitioner of participatory research and development. He is Founder-President of Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), a global centre for participatory research & training. He is also Co-Chair of the UNESCO Chair in Community Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education since 2012. Engineering in Electronics from IIT, Kanpur, MBA from IIM Calcutta and PhD in Management from Case Western Reserve University, USA, Dr. Tandon left his teaching job at IIM Calcutta to support & champion the cause of building organizations and capacities of the marginalised through their knowledge, learning and empowerment. A pioneer of participatory research, Dr. Tandon has given new meaning to academic research by redefining the relationship between the researcher and the researched. He has been contributing to the emergence of several local, national and international initiatives to promote authentic and participatory development of societies. Dr. Tandon has taught courses on participatory research & democratic governance around the world, and he has written more than 100 books, articles and training manuals on participatory research, social responsibility of higher education, civil society & local governance. A recipient of multiple awards, Dr. Tandon received the Nehru Literacy Award from the Indian Adult Education Association (IAEA) in 2015 and was honored by the Government of India with the prestigious Award in ‘Social Justice’ in March 2007. He is the first Indian to be inducted to the International Adult and Continuing Education (IACE) Hall of Fame (class of 2011) and in the Academy of Engagement Scholarship in 2019.