Shillong, May 2: Vice-chancellor of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla, has highlighted NEHU’s role in catering to tribal and rural students during a meeting with Sanjiv Sanyal, member of Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister, stated a press release.
The meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday revolved around the transformative possibilities for the region in the context of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and the role of NEHU as a central institution in leading this transformation, the release stated.
They discussed strategic initiatives that could accelerate the growth of higher education and research in North-Eastern region, while ensuring its alignment with national goals outlined under NEP 2020, it said.
According to the release, Prof Shukla briefed Sanyal on current academic, research, and outreach activities being carried out at NEHU, and its commitment to inclusive education.
Prof Shukla also emphasised NEHU’s initiatives in reorienting its academic programmes, promoting regional languages, integrating vocational education, and establishing academic bank of credits in line with the policy.
Sanyal pointed out that universities like NEHU can act as catalyst for socio-economic development through targeted skilling programmes, interdisciplinary research, and technology-enabled learning, the release stated.
Prof Shukla, the release said, underscored need for more awareness on various central government fellowships and scholarship schemes that talented students from the region can avail.
He also proposed the creation of a centralised fellowship helpdesk at NEHU to guide and support students in applying for national scholarships and fellowships, the release stated.
The meeting also discussed importance of research funding and collaborations with industry, government bodies, and international universities.
According to the release, Prof Shukla conveyed that NEHU has the potential to emerge as a hub for cutting-edge research in biodiversity, climate science, traditional medicine, etc.
Sanyal remarked that institutions like NEHU must be empowered to become engines of innovation and national integration, especially in strategically important regions like the North-East, the release stated.
