Technology always wins. That was the clear-eyed reality Nitish Jain, Founder and President of the SP Jain Group, shared with 110+ school principals and education leaders gathered at the Future of Education Summit 2026 at the Dubai campus of SP Jain Global this January.

Not "technology is important" or "we should embrace innovation." Technology wins—and the implications for education demand urgent, strategic response.

Nitish's keynote addressed a defining challenge: AI will displace entry-level jobs. Which means universities must fundamentally rethink how they prepare students for careers where the traditional entry points are disappearing.

"Universities need to work urgently towards taking students to a higher level," Nitish told the gathering of education leaders from the UK, Singapore, Dubai, India and the Philippines. The message focused on moving beyond adding AI courses to existing curricula—toward reimagining what "prepared for the workforce" means in this transformed landscape.

So how do institutions actually take students to a higher level? Nitish was direct about the problem: the current model is suboptimal because all students study together irrespective of their backgrounds, grasping abilities, and even style of learning. What students need is personalised learning so they can optimise learning and develop to their fullest potential.

The summit explored this challenge from multiple perspectives.

A panel discussion on "Innovation & Impact: Insights from Industry Trailblazers," moderated by Dr Christopher Abraham, CEO and Head of Campus – Dubai, SP Jain Global, featured Faranak Farahmand Pour, Global Strategic Director – Google, Dubai (UAE), and Vikram Pandya, Director – AI Initiatives and Fintech, SP Jain Global, examining how AI is reshaping industry expectations and redefining what "prepared for work" actually means.

Participants experienced the SP Jain’s technological response firsthand: AI tutors and EEG-based learning technologies designed to personalise learning at scale. These systems help every student reach their maximum potential through real-time adaptation to individual learning patterns, allowing institutions to elevate learning outcomes while technology handles foundational skill development.

The summit also offered attendees a deeper look at how SP Jain is building the institutional infrastructure to support this vision. Senior leaders from across India, Dubai and London walked participants through the institution's global footprint, programmatic approach, and distinctive learning experiences. A closing leadership roundtable provided an opportunity for education leaders to explore SP Jain's model in depth—from program design and delivery to campus life and student outcomes.

The day concluded aboard the iconic Queen Elizabeth II, where participants enjoyed an evening of food, drinks, and the kind of relaxed conversation that follows a day of serious work.