Shillong, Oct 31: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday, inaugurated the first academic session of the Shillong Government College of Engineering at the college campus in Mawlai, Shillong.
The inauguration marks a major milestone in Meghalaya’s higher and technical education sector.
Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui , Chief Secretary, Dr. Shakil Ahammed, Commissioner & Secretary, Education, Vijay Kumar Mantri and Arts and Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai were present for the academic inauguration.
In his address, the Chief Minister described the day as “truly historic” for Meghalaya, stating that years from now, people would look back at this as the day the state’s first government Engineering College began. He expressed gratitude to all who contributed to realizing the long-awaited project, including the Education Department, ministers, officers and faculty.
“Starting late does not mean we will be left behind,” the Chief Minister said, emphasising that technology can help Meghalaya leapfrog in development, just as India did in the banking sector through innovations like UPI and Aadhaar.
He cited the example of a young Khasi engineer from Shillong who developed cutting-edge software used in the migration of S/4HANA systems — a $10 billion global market — incorporating Nvidia’s “Speed of Light” concept to reduce testing time from over a year to just a few months. “This is happening right here in Shillong,” he said, adding that senior officials from Nvidia had already visited the city to explore partnerships and expansion.
He also announced that training for 50 youths has already begun under this initiative, with plans to expand to 200–300 more. He said such opportunities will open new frontiers for Meghalaya’s youth in the field of artificial intelligence, computing and engineering.
The Chief Minister also shared that the second phase of the Shillong IT Park will be inaugurated by December, featuring around 3,000 seats and that a company from the UK has already expressed interest in starting operations even before its official launch.
Highlighting Meghalaya’s growing presence in the tech space, Sangma announced that the National Artificial Intelligence Conference for the Eastern Region will be held in Shillong on December 3–4, 2025, marking a major milestone for the state.
He then addressed the long-pending issue of student scholarships, revealing that Meghalaya will now release funds in advance, without waiting for the Government of India’s disbursal.
He informed that the Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme will be released before Christmas and the Centrally Sponsored Scholarship will be released even before it is disbursed by the Government of India.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to investing in human capital, the Chief Minister said, “Yes, we need roads and buildings, but ultimately, it is the quality of our people that determines the strength of our state.” He also shared that the Shillong Medical College is ready for inauguration and is awaiting confirmation from either the Prime Minister or Home Minister for the launch within the next few weeks.
Encouraging students and faculty to dream big, he concluded, “Let’s not just look at where we are today — let’s look at where we want to go. Set high standards. Dream boldly. Think ahead. With the right courses, partnerships and collective effort, we can and will achieve great things.”
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, in his address, congratulated the principal, faculty, and the first batch of 50 students who have joined the college. He commended the government’s consistent efforts to improve education in Meghalaya and encouraged faculty and students to strive toward making the college one of the finest in India.
Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, expressed happiness at witnessing the rapid expansion of higher and technical education in Meghalaya. He noted that prior to 2018, the state had only five government colleges, but in the last seven years, several new institutions — including those in Mawkyrwat, Rongjeng, Patharkhmah, and now Shillong — have been established under the leadership of the Chief Minister.
Rymbui added that over 650 posts have been sanctioned for various colleges and that student scholarships have grown significantly, from 5,000–6,000 recipients before 2018 to around 45,000 today.
During the programme, the Chief Minister also unveiled a plaque commemorating the inauguration of the first academic session and also unveiled the foundation stone for the construction of a new RCC building at Shillong Polytechnic. The project includes workshops, laboratories, an examination centre, a smart classroom, and teachers’ rooms, funded by the North Eastern Council under the Ministry of DoNER, Government of India.
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