Roundtable of Vice-Chancellors of NE India gets underway
REGIONAL: The Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), Pasighat Campus, Arunachal Pradesh, in collaboration with EDLD and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi, Monday hosted the inaugural session of the Roundtable of Vice-Chancellors of North-East India 2026. The two-day Roundtable, being held on the theme “Transforming Higher Education: Innovations, Collaborations and Strategies for a Future-Ready India”, brings together 16 Vice-Chancellors from universities across the region to discuss issues relating to higher education, research, innovation, technology and institutional development.
The inaugural session was attended by Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu as the Chief Guest. Dr Amarendra Pani, Joint Director (Research), Association of Indian Universities (AIU); Dr Avinash Kharel, Dean, Campuses, RRU; and Dr M Sanjeev Singh, Director, RRU Pasighat Campus, were also present on the dais.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu in his speech highlighted the important role of universities in realising the vision of Viksit Bharat. He said that universities should focus not only on producing skilled graduates but also on developing responsible, ethical and socially conscious young people who can contribute to society and nation-building.
The Chief Minister spoke on the need for greater research on border areas and border-area development, particularly on issues such as livelihoods, connectivity, sustainable development, technology and the socio-economic development of communities living in frontier areas. He also attached importance of collaboration among universities and sharing of knowledge expertise and resources to address issues of common concern.
The Roundtable will discuss several issues related to the future of higher education, including Digital Transformation and AI Integration; Building AI-Ready Universities: A Roadmap for Academic Leaders; Globalization and Internationalization; Leading Universities in the Age of AI: From Governance to Cognitive Transformation; Strategic Integration and Implementation of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS); Proposed Regulatory Architecture and Design in Higher Education under the VBSA Bill-2025; Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Startup Ecosystem; and Financial and Institutional Sustainability.
The discussions are aimed at promoting collaboration among universities in the North-East, including joint research, academic partnerships, innovation, knowledge sharing and faculty and student engagement. The Roundtable will also provide an opportunity for participating institutions to discuss how higher education and research that can address the specific needs of the region, and contribute to national development.
The participation of 16 Vice-Chancellors is expected to provide a platform for continued interaction among universities of the North-East and encourage cooperation in areas of common academic and research interest. RRU Pasighat Campus is also looking to facilitate research and academic collaboration in areas relevant to border regions, national development, technology, security, governance, innovation and youth development.
The programme was attended by Ojing Tasing, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj; Mutchu Mithi, MLA and Advisor to the Chief Minister on Home and Education; MLAs Ninong Ering, Tapi Darang, Oken Tayeng and Oni Panyang; Amjad Tak, Commissioner, Education; Sonalika Jiwani, Deputy Commissioner, East Siang; Pankaj Lamba, Superintendent of Police, East Siang; besides senior government officials, academicians and other dignitaries.