Ashoka Co-Founder Vineet Gupta Discusses Why Well-Being Must Be Central to Higher Education

In India’s race toward academic excellence, our higher education system often celebrates top ranks, stellar placements, and groundbreaking research. But beneath the glossy surface lies an uncomfortable truth: students are increasingly stressed, anxious, and emotionally burnt out. The question isn’t whether academics are important, it is whether we can truly prepare young minds for the future if we neglect their well-being.

“We cannot prepare students for the future if we are only teaching subjects and not teaching them how to be well,” says Vineet Gupta Ashoka University Founder. “True learning happens when students are emotionally safe and physically healthy, it is not just about grades, it is about resilience and especially in today’s day and age.”

Well-being Needs to Be Central, Not Peripheral

The journey through higher education today is marked by intense academic pressure, competitive entrance exams, and the looming uncertainty of the job market. After the COVID-19 pandemic, this already stressful landscape grew darker. Isolation, loneliness, and rising instances of anxiety and depression have exposed the fragility of our current system.

To thrive - not just survive, students need more than technical knowledge. They need emotional resilience, physical vitality, and a strong support system. A well-balanced student becomes not only a better learner but also a better leader, professional, and a better human being.

Learning from IITs: Signs of Change

The shift has begun. In early 2024, an internal report by IIT-Bombay identified serious mental health challenges among students, leading the institution to invest heavily in wellness centres, peer counselling initiatives, and physical fitness awareness campaigns. IIT-Hyderabad hosted the National Wellbeing Conclave, a two-day event that brought together IIT representatives, mental health professionals, and government bodies to build a cohesive policy framework for mental health in higher education. The conclave focused on actionable recommendations to integrate well-being into academic institutions, aligning with the UGC’s ongoing push for robust mental health strategies.

This could not come at a more urgent time, as data from the Ministry of Education shows a 14% rise in student suicides in 2023 alone. The message is clear: our campuses need not just reactive solutions but systemic, preventive frameworks that prioritize well-being from the ground up. Other IITs and HEIs are following suit, exploring structured fitness programs and mandatory counselling hours, recognizing that one-off sessions or stress-relief events aren’t enough.

These are more like signals of a much-needed cultural change, where student well-being is no longer a footnote but a priority.

Towards a Holistic Campus Model

What does a truly student-centric institution look like? Imagine a campus where yoga, fitness, and meditation aren’t relegated to clubs or side events but are embedded into the curriculum. Where emotional intelligence and stress management workshops sit alongside core academic modules. Where journaling is part of a student’s weekly reflection, and professional counsellors are as accessible as faculty mentors.

Vineet Gupta of Ashoka University asserts, “Beyond infrastructure, the culture itself must shift. Well-being must be woven into the daily rhythm of campus life, not treated as a crisis response. We need to design institutions that support both the mind and the mission.” 

Internationally, leading institutions are already setting this precedent. Harvard University’s Center for Wellness and Health Promotion offers services such as mindfulness sessions, fitness classes, massage therapy, and health coaching to encourage holistic development. Similarly, institutions like the American University in Cairo provide integrated mental and physical wellness support as part of the student experience. These global models remind us that well-being is not a luxury but a necessity.

Peer support networks must be trained, trusted, and visible. Resilience-building should start from orientation week and continue as part of a student’s long-term personal development. This includes regular check-ins, mentorship programs, and opportunities for students to engage in reflective practices. “When students feel seen and supported by their peers, the campus transforms into a community rather than just a classroom,” adds Gupta.

The Future Demands Resilient Learners

As automation, AI disruptions, and global economic shifts redefine job markets, the need for mental agility and adaptability has never been greater. Technical skills will get students in the door, but it is emotional strength that will help them stay, grow, and lead. Students need the ability to adapt, manage uncertainty, and stay grounded amid change. 

Resilient learners can navigate failure without fear, collaborate under pressure, and remain open to lifelong learning, skills that are critical not just for employment but for leadership and citizenship in an increasingly complex world. Higher education must, therefore, go beyond producing high scorers and start nurturing high performers in the emotional, mental, and interpersonal sense.

Institutions that cultivate this kind of resilience help students turn challenges into growth opportunities. From handling rejection during campus placements to dealing with academic stress or personal loss, students equipped with mental agility are far more likely to thrive. As Gupta puts it, “A student who learns how to deal with failure, rejection, and ambiguity in college is already ahead in life even before they land their first job.”

By focusing on well-being, institutions aren’t just reacting to a crisis—they are building a future-ready generation prepared not only to succeed but to sustain that success meaningfully.

A Framework for Action

To make this vision a reality, institutions need clear, actionable steps:

Appoint dedicated well-being officers in every college and university
 - Hire trained professionals to oversee wellness initiatives, coordinate support services, and serve as key advocates for student well-being on campus.

Make fitness and mindfulness mandatory for credit, not optional extras
 - Integrate structured fitness, yoga, or meditation classes into the academic timetable with credit-based assessment and participation.

Integrate resilience training into orientation programs and semester-long modules
 - Introduce workshops and classroom sessions on stress management, emotional intelligence, and growth mindset from the very first semester.

Ensure anonymity and easy access to mental health resources
 - Set up 24/7 helplines, digital counselling portals, and private, stigma-free spaces on campus for confidential mental health support.

Measure well-being as a key indicator of institutional excellence alongside academic outcomes
 - Conduct regular student well-being audits through surveys and feedback tools and include well-being metrics in institutional reviews and rankings.

Vineet Gupta’s Vision: Student-First Institutions

At the heart of this movement is a simple, powerful philosophy: students first. Ashoka University Founder Vineet Gupta articulates this vision clearly: “The best institutions of the future will be those that invest in the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of their students as much as their academic curriculum. Because a fulfilled student is far more likely to become an empowered citizen. Campuses should be spaces of inspiration, not anxiety. If students do not feel safe, supported, and seen, we have already failed them before they enter the workforce.”

In his call to action, Gupta believes in long-term reform: “We need to build higher education ecosystems that care, not just perform. Well-being isn’t a luxury; it is the foundation of real learning and real leadership.”

Higher education must evolve—not by erasing academic rigour, but by supporting it with the scaffolding of wellness. This is not a compromise. It is the foundation of a future-ready generation.

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