Pune: Higher education institutions must build a mission driven culture of world class research if India is to strengthen its position globally by 2047, said Dr Vinod Kumar Paul, member, NITI Aayog and former professor at AIIMS, New Delhi, while addressing faculty and students at Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, on Monday.Speaking at the university’s Teachers’ Day celebration, Paul said India already had the platform, legacy and talent required to excel in research, but institutions needed to focus on sustained, high quality work rather than only academic rankings and metrics. “We must aggressively push the boundaries of world class research to truly stand out on the global stage. We already have the platform, the legacy, and the raw talent. What we need now is a mission driven culture to sustain it,” he said.Paul also stressed the responsibility of teachers in healthcare education, saying they needed to serve as role models for students. He said medical students learn not only from what teachers say but also from how they practise their profession. “Teachers must be the ultimate role models. We need to live and breathe the professional commitment, clinical discipline and deep empathy we want our students to inherit,” he said, adding that healthcare professionals should combine clinical competence with a genuine commitment to service.Paul was speaking at a ceremony where D Y Patil Vidyapeeth recognised faculty members for their contributions to teaching, research and academic excellence. The 2026 Faculty Awards included honours for research, young researchers, consistent performance, innovative teaching and research collaboration. The Research Award carried a cash prize of Rs50,000, while the Young Researcher and Consistent Performance awards carried Rs30,000 each. The Innovative Teaching Award carried Rs25,000.DPU Chancellor Dr P D Patil said teachers were the foundation of academic excellence and played a key role in shaping the future of education and healthcare.“ These awards recognise the dedication, knowledge and innovation of our faculty members,” he said.Pro Chancellor Dr Bhagyashree P Patil said teachers went beyond classrooms to inspire curiosity and meaningful growth, while Pro Vice Chancellor Dr Smita Jadhav said educators needed to continually learn and innovate.The event, held at the DPU Auditorium, was attended by around 250 MBBS students, faculty members and university representatives.