University News

The Microbiological Society of India (MBSI), West Bengal Chapter, in collaboration with the Techno India University (TIU), organized the Annual Conference of MBSI along with the Dr Ananda Mohan Chakraborty Memorial Lecture on Thursday.

The event coincided with the birth anniversary of Ananda Mohan Chakraborty, a renowned Indo-American biotechnologist known for his pioneering work in genetic engineering.

Honouring a Pioneer in Biotechnology

Dr. Ananda Mohan Chakraborty, who earned his PhD from University of Calcutta, is recognized as the first biotechnologist to receive a US patent for a genetically modified living organism—Pseudomonas putida, often referred to as an oil-degrading bacterium.

The memorial lecture and conference were held to mark his contributions to the field of microbiology and biotechnology.

Keynote Address and Award Presentation

During the event, Souvik Mukherjee, Professor at the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, was presented with the Dr A.M. Chakraborty Memorial Award. He also delivered the keynote address at the conference.

Several academic leaders were present at the event, including:

• Saikat Maitra, incoming Vice-Chancellor of TIU
• Dr Paladhi, Director Academics
• Swapna Mukherjee, Past President of MBSI
• Arunima Biswas, President of MBSI

Book Launch and Academic Participation

The conference also witnessed the formal release of the book “Foundations of Microbiology, Molecular and Cell Biology,” co-authored by the late Srilekha Raha along with Dr Pijush Mallick and Dr Arindam Mitra.

The event saw participation from around 130 faculty members and students from MBSI across West Bengal, along with approximately 80 faculty and students from TIU.

Students also took part in a poster-making competition, showcasing their academic and research interests in microbiology.

Awards and Recognition

MBSI presented awards in multiple categories, including:

• Excellence in teaching
• Lifetime achievement
• Outstanding students in microbiology

These recognitions highlighted contributions and achievements within the academic and research community.

Organising Team

The event was coordinated by Atreyee Kundu, Head of the Department of Microbiology at TIU, along with faculty members and students, who managed the conference proceedings.

The joint conference by the Microbiological Society of India and Techno India University brought together academicians, researchers, and students to mark the legacy of Dr A.M. Chakraborty while facilitating academic exchange and participation in the field of microbiology.

Apex University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with First India News to strengthen practical learning opportunities for students in Journalism and Mass Communication.

The university establishes this collaboration to provide students with actual training and internship and placement opportunities through several media platforms.

Industry Exposure Needs to Be Established

The agreement provides students with authentic media experiences through three different media formats which include print and television and digital journalism. The initiative is intended to support experiential learning alongside academic coursework.

The partnership will also enable students to receive guidance from industry professionals who will provide information about contemporary media operations and standard industry workflows.

Academic–Industry Collaboration

The MoU establishes a connection between classroom education and essential professional skills which media professionals require in their work. Higher education institutions establish such partnerships with media organizations to bolster their students' readiness for employment in journalism and communication fields.

Apex University aims to create defined pathways for student interaction with media professionals through its partnership with First India News.

Opportunities for Students

The agreement establishes benefits for Journalism and Mass Communication students through their enrollment in the program which includes:

• Practical training across media formats
• Internship opportunities within a working news organization
• Students will learn about industry-standard practices
• The program will provide students with various career placement options

The partnership between Apex University and First India News aims to develop skills through hands-on experiences while students acquire academic knowledge that meets industry standards for journalism and mass communication.

Parul University, Vadodara, has become the first university from Gujarat to win the West Zone Inter‑University Chess Championship (Men). The university’s chess team secured 1st position at the AIU‑recognised tournament, which concluded at HSNC University, Mumbai, in March 2026.

The event, officially listed as the “West Zone Inter‑University Chess (Men) Tournament 2025–26”, was organised under the aegis of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and brought together 81 universities from Western India. Parul University finished on top of the final team‑ranking table, ahead of Marwadi University (runnersup), University of Mumbai (third), and Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune (fourth).

Historic Win for Gujarat

According to official tournament results published on chess‑results.com and coverage by HSNC University and Parul University, this is the first time a university based in Gujarat has claimed the top spot in the West Zone Inter‑University Chess Championship.

Parul University’s team average rating is listed at 1,870 points on the chess‑results.com leaderboard, with strong performances across individual boards. Social‑media posts by Parul University confirm the milestone: “With this achievement, we become the first university from Gujarat to claim the top spot at the West Zone Inter‑University Chess Championship.”

Tournament Details

• Organiser: Association of Indian Universities (AIU), hosted by HSNC University, Mumbai.
• Format: 9‑round Swiss system, open to men’s university teams from Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and nearby states.
• Top finishers:
• 1st – Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat
• 2nd – Marwadi University, Gujarat
• 3rd – University of Mumbai
• 4th – Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune

Why This Win Matters

Parul University’s victory highlights:

• Growing strength of chess in Gujarat’s higher‑education institutions.
• Increased visibility for non‑Metro Indian universities in national‑level AIU sports events, alongside traditional centres such as Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, and Kolkata.

The team’s 1st‑place finish in the West Zone also qualifies Parul University for future AIU‑governed inter‑university championships, where top‑ranked Indian institutes, including some IITs and central universities, regularly participate in chess and other sports.

For the latest standings and AIU‑linked university‑chess updates, readers can refer to the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) website and chess‑results live‑score pages

NorthCap University's Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) conducted its two-day International Conference on NEP Implementation in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) through Outcome-Based Education and Internationalisation from March 30 to March 31 in 2026. The conference was co-organised with ASIC, UK, and supported by the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), with sponsorship from Metisoft Labs and Somah EduSolutions Pvt. Ltd.

What the Conference Was About

The event brought together Vice-Chancellors, Deans, international quality experts, and industry leaders from across India and the world, with research contributions from institutions spanning more than eight states. The Indian National Education Policy 2020 provides a base for educational institutions to develop their programs through outcome-based educational practices and artificial intelligence technologies and academic internationalization. 

Key Voices at the Inauguration

The inaugural session featured two keynote addresses from senior figures:

1. Prof. (Dr.) Raj Nehru, Director General of the Swaran Jayanti Haryana Institute for Fiscal Management and OSD to the Haryana Chief Minister, emphasised the importance of outcome-based education, skill development, and the integration of Indian Knowledge Systems in higher education, arguing that the learner must remain at the centre of every reform effort. 
2. Dr. Abhay Sinha, Director General of the Services Export Promotion Council, spoke on the internationalisation of Indian education, outlining the schemes and opportunities available through SEPC and the role the council can play in taking Indian academic institutions to a global audience.

Three Panel Discussions Over Two Days

The conference organized three panel discussions which dedicated their focus to specific topics that guided the discussion throughout both days. The first session studied how artificial intelligence implemented in academic systems developed through NEP 2020. The second session focused on artificial intelligence systems which provide quality assurance and accreditation services. The third session investigated methods to enhance industry-academia partnerships which would support academic excellence while universities in India pursue international standards.

Why This Matters

The National Education Policy 2020 of India represents the most extensive educational reform effort which has taken place in the country during the past several decades. The process of implementing this program throughout multiple higher education institutions remains a difficult and resource-intensive task. The implementation is actually shaped during events like this which bring together policymakers and academic experts together with business leaders.

NCU's IQAC made its position clear: quality assurance in education is not a box-ticking compliance exercise. The organization needs to establish a quality assurance system which will develop its educational standards through continuous implementation. 

The conference received support from SEPC while Metisoft Labs and Somah EduSolutions Pvt. Ltd sponsored the event. For further information, contact the IQAC, NorthCap University, Gurugram.

Sri Sri University hosted SSUIMUN 9.0, an event sparking global leadership among youth. Students from all parts of India gathered at Sri Sri University to participate in Sri Sri University International Model United Nations (SSUIMUN) which transformed the campus into a diplomatic canter for international relations and new concepts. 

Participants at committee sessions worked to resolve difficult global challenges through their active participation which resulted in strong resolutions through their dynamic presentation skills. The evening entertainment provided enjoyment through musical performances and dance activities which helped people establish strong friendships and create joyful experiences. The combination of daytime serious discussions and nighttime festive activities demonstrated how theoretical concepts can become practical solutions. 

The SSUIMUN 9.0 program taught future leaders' essential skills in public speaking and teamwork and problem-solving which serve as fundamental competencies for young people pursuing careers in politics and law and international relations. 

The event demonstrates that Sri Sri University supports complete student development through its academic programs which include practical leadership development experiences from real-world situations.

In a significant move to strengthen industry-aligned education, Chandigarh University has partnered with Microsoft to establish the “Skill Centre: AI for Everyone”, an initiative aimed at bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world industry demands.

The collaboration was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which created a strategic partnership that will teach students essential digital competencies. The initiative is built around the vision of making artificial intelligence accessible to learners across all academic disciplines, not just those in technical fields.

University officials state that the newly established Microsoft Skill Centre will provide training that teaches students Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cloud Computing and Data Science, which are three fields that currently shape international employment trends. The programme is designed to move beyond theoretical knowledge, enabling students to gain practical exposure aligned with current industry standards.

The partnership reflects a growing trend among higher education institutions to collaborate with technology leaders in order to enhance employability outcomes. By integrating industry-relevant tools and learning frameworks, the initiative aims to prepare students for evolving roles in the digital economy.

University officials emphasised that the ‘AI for Everyone’ aims to democratise the use of advanced technologies, meaning that students with different academic backgrounds should be able to acquire future-proof skills. This strategy is set to increase the career prospects not only in the traditional technology-related positions but also in areas where AI is entering fast.

A video showing the most important moments of the MoU signing ceremony has also been published, presenting the opening of the collaboration and the further perspective of the collaboration. The initiative is being positioned as a step toward creating a more industry-integrated learning ecosystem within the university.

With this partnership, Chandigarh University and Microsoft aim to set a benchmark for academia-industry collaboration, focusing on skill development that aligns closely with the needs of the modern workforce.