11th International Conference on Life Skills Education
"Life Skills Beyond 2030: Learning to Live Together in an Interconnected World"
Sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research
Jointly Organised by
School of Liberal Studies, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT),
Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS)
&
Indian Association of Life Skills Education (IALSE)
In Collaboration with
Knowledge Partner
About the Conference
Held on 5–7 February 2026 in hybrid mode, the 11th International Conference on Life Skills Education offered a dynamic platform to explore how life skills education can become a cornerstone of equitable, inclusive, and sustainable societies. Bringing together over 300 life skills professionals from diverse sectors, the event opened new avenues for deep dialogue, policy reflection, and practice-based innovation.
Across three days of keynotes, paper presentations, and workshops, delegates joined a collective endeavour to reimagine educational systems as transformative spaces that equip learners not only for the future, but to shape it with courage, compassion, and conviction.
Sub-themes Explored at the Conference
Building Transformative Citizenship through Life Skills: Participation, Advocacy, and Ethics in a Polarised World
Life Skills for Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health: Agency, Consent, and Rights-Based Learning
Reimagining Life Skills Education in the Age of Disruption: Purpose, Paradigms, and Policy Pathways
Life Skills and Human Rights: Educating for Dignity, Justice, and Global Solidarity
Gender Justice through Life Skills Education: Disrupting Patriarchy and Building Equitable Futures
Life Skills and Climate Resilience: Nurturing Sustainability Mindsets
Social Inclusion through Life Skills: Advancing Equity and Participation among Tribal and Disadvantaged Communities
Wellbeing as an Educational Outcome: Positioning Life Skills as Central to Mental, Emotional, and Social Health
Life Skills in the National Education Policy (NEP) Era: Opportunities and Challenges for Systemic Integration
Holistic Tools for Life Skills Education: Yoga, Art, and Sports as Catalysts for Connection and Wellbeing
Situating Life Skills in Global Contexts: Comparative Perspectives from the Global South
Digital Citizenship and Life Skills: Navigating Misinformation, Surveillance, and Disconnection in Hyperconnected Spaces
Life Skills for Entrepreneurial Mindsets: Fostering Agency, Innovation, and Resilience
Assessing the Impact of Life Skills Education: Indicators, Innovations, and Interrogations
Status of Life Skills Education across the States and UTs of India
Key Speakers of ICLSE 2026
Prof. Dr. Achyuta Samanta
Founder, KISS & KIIT
Keynote Address
Prof. Terrance Madhujith
Vice Chancellor – University of Peradeniya
Keynote Address
Prof. Anoop Swarup
Secretary General, Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific
Inaugural Address
Prof. Saranjit Singh
Vice Chancellor, KISS-DU & KIIT-DU
Presidential Address
Dr. A. Radhakrishnan Nair
President, Indian Association of Life Skills Education
Introductory Address
Dr. Gauri Hardikar
Vice President, Indian Association of Life Skills Education
Welcome Address
Dr. Indrani Bhattacharyya
CEO, Child In Need Institute (CINI)
Special Address
Ms. Poornima Garg
Country Director, Room to Read India
Special Address
Prof. (Dr.) Jnyana R Mohanty
Registrar, KIIT-DU
Special Address
Dr. Prashanta K Routray
Registrar, KISS-DU
Vote of Thanks
Prof. K S Chandrashekhar
Vice Chancellor, Jammu Cluster University
Guest of Honor
Dr. Preeti Galagali
Director, Bengaluru Adolescent Care and Counselling Centre & Clinical Lead, Adolescent Clinic, Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru
Dr. K. Ellangovan IAS
Managing Director, INKEL Ltd. Addl. Chief Secretary (Retd.), Government of Kerala
Prof. S Sivakumar
Senior Prof., Indian Law Institute, New Delhi; Former Member, Law Commission of India
Dr. Kanishka Bedi
President, World Council of Comparative Education Societies, Geneva, Switzerland
Prof. Suman Kumar
Professor, Department of Political Science, Rajdhani College, New Delhi
Prof. T.M. Sakunthala Yatigammana
Head, Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Prof. Sanath
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Prof. Zoengpari
Department of Psychology, Mizoram University, Aizawl
Mr. Saktibrata Sen
Senior Director, Programs, Room to Read India
Prof. K C Sahoo
Professor of Education, Visva-Bharati, West Bengal
Mr. Dipak Kumar
Former Regional Director, NSS Guwahati
Dr. Sunitha Ranjan
Life Skills Educator & Former President, IALSE
Dr. P D Nayyar
World Health Organisation, South-East Asia
Dr. C Praveen
Former Principal, Institute of Advanced Studies in Education, Kerala
Prof. Aditya Mohanty
North East Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, Meghalaya
Prof. (Dr.) Akhil Bihari Ota IAS (Retd.)
Former Director and Special Secretary, Tribal Research Institute, Government of Odisha
Prof. Deepak Kumar Behera
Adviser, KISS DU and Former VC, KISS DU, Sambalpur University and Berhampur University
Dr. Rathnamala Desai
President, FPA India
Dr. Srikala Bharath
Former Professor of Psychiatry and Consultant, NIMHANS Bengaluru; Senior Consultant in Adult and Old Age Psychiatry; Life Skills Master Trainer/Mentor
Prof. Surendra K. Jena
School of Rural Management, KIIT DU
