Sukanta Parida Honoured with ‘Excellence in Higher Education Leadership 2026’ at Times Now Education Summit 2026

New Delhi, September 16, 2026: Senior higher education professional and strategic growth leader Sukanta Parida, Director – Admissions & Marketing at Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM), has been honoured with the “Excellence in Higher Education Leadership 2026” award at the Times Now Education Summit 2026 held in New Delhi on September 16, 2026.

With more than 24 years of professional experience, Sukanta Parida has built a distinguished career across higher education, admissions, strategic marketing, business development, skill development, industry–academia partnerships, and educational innovation.

In his current role as Director – Admissions & Marketing at Centurion University, Parida leads strategic initiatives encompassing student admissions and recruitment, institutional branding, marketing communications, digital outreach, stakeholder engagement, and strategic partnerships. His work focuses on strengthening institutional visibility, expanding student outreach, driving enrolment, and developing meaningful collaborations with schools, industry, government organisations, and other stakeholders in the education ecosystem.

Over the course of his career, Parida has held leadership responsibilities across universities, skill development organisations, IT training, and entrepreneurial ventures. His professional journey has been marked by his ability to conceptualise, establish, and scale education-focused business models and institutional initiatives.

Parida's leadership approach has focused on building a stronger industry–academia ecosystem, with emphasis on employability, entrepreneurship, skill development, student outcomes, and sustainable institutional growth.

Commenting on the recognition, Sukanta Parida said, “I am deeply honoured to receive the Excellence in Higher Education Leadership 2026 recognition. I consider this award a reflection of the collective efforts of the institutions, colleagues, students, industry partners, and stakeholders with whom I have had the opportunity to work throughout my professional journey. Higher education is undergoing significant transformation, and I remain committed to contributing to an ecosystem that is more industry-connected, skill-oriented, inclusive, and focused on meaningful student outcomes.”

The recognition comes at a time when India's higher education sector is witnessing rapid transformation, with increasing emphasis on employability, multidisciplinary education, industry collaboration, technology-enabled learning, entrepreneurship, and greater access to quality higher education.

At Centurion University, Parida continues to contribute to the institution's broader vision of skill-integrated higher education and sustainable livelihoods, while working to strengthen its engagement with students, industry, academic institutions, government bodies, and society.

The Excellence in Higher Education Leadership 2026 recognition adds another milestone to his more than two-decade-long professional journey in the education sector and acknowledges his contribution to institutional growth, strategic leadership, and the development of industry-linked higher education initiatives.

 

 The views expressed in this article are those of Centurion University and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha.