Queen Mary Vice-Principal speaks at QS India Summit 2026

Building on its reputation for fostering meaningful dialogue and partnerships in higher education, the QS India Summit once again brought together policymakers, education leaders and researchers from across the globe to engage in insightful debate, share innovative practice and establish new collaborative networks. 

On Tuesday 3 February, Dr Philippa Lloyd took part in a panel titled “Impactful research for nation building: How research drives progress, prosperity, and long-term national transformation”. The session explored how universities can align research agendas with national development priorities while maintaining academic excellence and global relevance.  

During the panel, Dr Philippa Lloyd emphasised how: “At Queen Mary, public engagement and civic responsibility have always been central to who we are as a university. We are committed to transdisciplinary research that works beyond academic boundaries, bringing together policymakers, industry, civil society and communities to address complex local and global challenges. By embedding impact at the heart of our research, we ensure that knowledge does not remain abstract, but actively contributes to more inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies.” 

Dr Lloyd also reflected on the value of international partnerships, particularly between the UK and India, in co-producing research that is locally relevant while globally informed, supporting national development priorities alongside global challenges.  

The panel discussion featured other distinguished speakers from India, New Zealand, and the UK, including Professor Lucy Johnston Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research of University of Canterbury, Professor Veezhinathan Kamakoti, Director Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Professor Ram Sharma, Vice Chancellor of University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, and Prof Sanjay Srivastava, Vice Chancellor of Manav Rachna International Institute of Research & Studies.  

During the QS India Summit, Queen Mary also signed a partnership agreement with Abu Dhabi University to grow areas of collaboration between the two institutions. The Queen Mary delegation to the 2026 QS India Summit also included Professor Kavita Datta, Deputy Vice-Principal for Humanities and Social Sciences, and Dr Maggie Leggett, Director of External Relations.