Shillong, May 2: Vice-Chancellor (VC) of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, on Wednesday met Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India, to discuss strategic initiatives that could accelerate the growth of higher education and research in the North-Eastern region, while at the same time ensuring its alignment with national goals outlined under NEP 2020.

The hour-long meeting discussed steps towards strengthening the educational landscape and harnessing the potential of North-East India, and the role of NEHU as a central institution in leading this transformation.

Prof. Shukla briefed Sanyal on the current academic, research, and outreach activities being carried out at NEHU, and its commitment to inclusive education. He also highlighted the university’s unique role as a central university in the North-East that caters to a large population of tribal and rural students across Meghalaya and neighbouring states.

A key focus of the discussion was the implementation of NEP 2020, particularly its vision for flexible, multidisciplinary, and holistic education. Prof. Shukla emphasized 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 appreciated these efforts and emphasized the need to make NEHU a model institution for NEP implementation in the North-East. Both leaders discussed the importance of promoting an ecosystem that encourages innovation, critical thinking, and entrepreneurship among students. He also acknowledged the intellectual and cultural richness of the North-East and pointed out that universities like NEHU can act as catalysts for socio-economic development through targeted skilling programmes, interdisciplinary research, and technology-enabled learning.

A crucial component of the discussion centred around the various fellowships and scholarship schemes offered by the Government of India that students from the region can avail. Prof. Shukla underscored the need for wider dissemination of information about these schemes, especially in remote districts, to ensure that talented students from underrepresented communities are not left behind due to lack of awareness.

He proposed the creation of a centralized fellowship helpdesk at NEHU to guide and support students in applying for national scholarships and fellowships.

Sanyal agreed that better access to fellowships and research grants can significantly enhance the academic output of the region and empower first-generation learners. He assured his support in exploring mechanisms for improving outreach and communication between central agencies and institutions like NEHU.

The meeting also touched upon the importance of research funding and collaborations with industry, government bodies, and international universities. Prof. Shukla conveyed that NEHU has the potential to emerge as a hub for cutting-edge research in biodiversity, climate science, traditional medicine, indigenous knowledge systems sustainable agriculture, and cultural studies; areas in which the North-East has natural and intellectual capital. In this context, both sides explored the idea of setting up specialized centres and innovation hubs at NEHU.

Sanyal expressed interest in initiatives that link academic research with developmental goals, particularly those focused on tribal welfare, rural entrepreneurship, and sustainable resource management. He further 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.

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