PASIGHAT, Aug 10: The Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), Pasighat Campus, in collaboration with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi, hosted the inaugural session of the Roundtable of Vice-Chancellors of North-East India 2026 here on Monday.
The two-day roundtable, themed “Transforming Higher Education: Innovations, Collaborations and Strategies for a Future-Ready India,” brings together 16 Vice-Chancellors from universities across the Northeast for deliberations on higher education, research, innovation, technology and institutional development.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the roundtable and stressed the need for universities to play a greater role in nation-building by producing not only skilled graduates but also responsible, ethical and socially conscious citizens.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the Northeast, Khandu urged universities to undertake more research on border areas and frontier development, focusing on locally relevant issues such as livelihoods, connectivity, sustainable development, technology and the socio-economic advancement of border communities.
He also emphasised greater collaboration among universities, saying that sharing expertise, resources and knowledge could generate wider academic and developmental outcomes.
Khandu welcomed the participation of the Vice-Chancellors and expressed hope that the deliberations would translate into concrete academic partnerships and collaborative research initiatives.
The roundtable seeks to strengthen inter-university cooperation and create opportunities for joint research, academic partnerships, innovation, knowledge-sharing, faculty and student engagement and other collaborative initiatives.
The RRU Pasighat Campus said the initiative reflected its commitment to creating a platform for academic leaders to collectively address emerging regional and national challenges. It also seeks to promote research and collaboration in areas including border management, national development, technology, security, governance, innovation and youth empowerment.
The sessions will cover digital transformation and AI integration, building AI-ready universities, internationalisation of higher education, governance in the age of AI, Indian Knowledge Systems, proposed regulatory architecture under the VBSA Bill-2025, innovation and entrepreneurship, startup ecosystems, and financial and institutional sustainability.
The event was attended by Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ojing Tasing, MLA and Advisor to the Home and Educatio Mutchu Mithi, BJP State president Kaling Moyong, MLAs Ninong Ering, Tapi Darang, Oken Tayeng and Oni Panyang, Commissioner (Education) Amjad Tak, East Siang Deputy Commissioner Sonalika Jiwani and Superintendent of Police Pankaj Lamba, besides senior officials, academicians and other dignitaries.
The roundtable is expected to lay the foundation for sustained academic engagement and actionable partnerships among universities of the Northeast. (DIPRO)