The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, successfully organised the "Himalayan Bodh - 3rd All-India IQAC Workshop 2026" on Saturday at the Swami Vivekananda Auditorium in hybrid mode. The national workshop brought together eminent academicians, policymakers, industry experts, researchers, Vice-Chancellors, Directors, Principals, IQAC Coordinators, faculty members and higher education administrators from 23 States and Union Territories to deliberate on Outcome-Based Education (OBE), National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation, sustainability, artificial intelligence, research integrity, internationalisation and future-ready higher education.
The workshop was organised with the objective of strengthening institutional quality assurance mechanisms and promoting academic excellence, innovation, sustainability and global engagement in alignment with the vision of NEP 2020 and Viksit Bharat 2047.
Welcoming the gathering, Er. Rajesh Deorari, Director, Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Uttaranchal University, highlighted the objectives of the workshop and emphasised that quality assurance, accreditation, digital transformation, sustainability and responsible adoption of emerging technologies have become indispensable for building globally competitive higher education institutions. He observed that collaborative learning platforms such as Himalayan Bodh play an important role in strengthening institutional capacity and promoting best practices across Indian higher education institutions.
The inaugural session was graced by Sh. Jitender Joshi Ji, President; Ms. Ankita Joshi, Vice President; Dr. Abhishek Joshi, Executive Director, Student Affairs & IT Services; Prof. Dharam Buddhi, Vice-Chancellor; and Prof. Rajesh Bahuguna, Pro Vice-Chancellor, along with Deans, Directors, Principals, Heads of Departments, University officials and faculty members. Addressing the participants, the University leadership reaffirmed Uttaranchal University's commitment to academic excellence, research, innovation, institutional quality, multidisciplinary education, sustainability and international engagement.
The Chief Guest, Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Former Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), joined the programme virtually due to unavoidable circumstances. In his keynote address, he emphasised that excellence in higher education must be driven by innovation, quality assurance, institutional leadership, multidisciplinary education, research excellence and international collaboration. He highlighted the need for Indian universities to leverage technological advancements and strengthen global partnerships to achieve international recognition and contribute meaningfully to nation-building.
The workshop featured five technical sessions delivered by eminent experts representing leading national institutions and organisations.
Dr. Meenakshi Sood, National Institute of Technical Teachers' Training and Research (NITTTR), Chandigarh, delivered the first technical session on "Integrating Outcome-Based Education (OBE), National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Accreditation." She elaborated on aligning curriculum design, programme outcomes, teaching-learning methodologies and assessment practices with accreditation requirements while promoting learner-centric education and continuous quality improvement.
The second technical session was jointly delivered by Dr. Livleen K. Kahlon and Dr. P. K. Bhattacharya from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, on "Promoting Green Campuses among Higher Education Institutions and Community Engagement for Sustainable Development." The speakers highlighted the critical role of universities in environmental sustainability, climate resilience, resource conservation, community engagement and implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The third technical session was delivered by Dr. Rajesh Dey, Taylor & Francis, on "Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Research and Publishing." He discussed ethical issues relating to AI-assisted research, publication integrity, transparency, plagiarism prevention and responsible scholarly publishing, emphasising that artificial intelligence should enhance, rather than replace, human intellect and academic ethics.
The fourth technical session featured Dr. Bapi Chatterjee, Infosys Centre for Artificial Intelligence, IIIT Delhi, who spoke on "Foundations of Artificial Intelligence for Teaching Pedagogy and Research." He demonstrated how AI is transforming teaching-learning processes, personalised education, research methodologies and academic decision-making while advocating responsible adoption of AI-enabled educational practices.
The final technical session was delivered by Prof. Rajeev Kumar Singh, Shiv Nadar University - Institution of Eminence, on "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Higher Education." He highlighted AI's transformative impact on curriculum design, institutional governance, research innovation, digital learning ecosystems and future workforce preparedness, urging universities to proactively prepare students and faculty members for an AI-enabled future.
Each technical session concluded with interactive discussions, enabling participants to exchange ideas, deliberate on contemporary challenges and explore practical strategies for strengthening institutional quality and academic excellence.
The Valedictory Session featured a virtual address by Dr. B. Shadrach, Director, Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA), who appreciated Uttaranchal University's initiative in creating a national platform for dialogue on quality assurance and institutional excellence. He emphasised the importance of collaborative learning ecosystems, technology-enabled education and continuous professional capacity building for higher education institutions.
A major highlight of the programme was the Exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between StudyIn and the Office of International Affairs, Uttaranchal University, aimed at strengthening international academic collaboration, student mobility, faculty exchange and global learning opportunities.
The successful organisation of the workshop was supported by Xebia (Goodies Partner), Bank of Baroda, Premnagar Branch, Dehradun, Systaldyn Services Pvt. Ltd., Morgan Building Technology Pvt. Ltd., Society of Pollution & Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS), Society for Research & Skill Advancement (SRSA), Taylor & Francis and StudyIn, whose valuable collaboration contributed significantly to the success of the national event.
The formal Vote of Thanks was proposed by Dr. Madhu Kirola, Associate Professor, Uttaranchal Institute of Technology, who expressed sincere gratitude to the Chief Guest, distinguished resource persons, University leadership, COL-CEMCA, partner organisations, sponsors, delegates and participants for their valuable contributions. Special appreciation is also extended to the event-hosting team, Ms. Malika Payal and Dr. Shipra Shah, faculty members of Uttaranchal University, for their graceful and professional conduct of the programme, which contributed significantly to its smooth and successful execution.
On the successful conclusion of the workshop, Er. Rajesh Deorari, Director, IQAC, expressed his gratitude to the University leadership, resource persons, sponsors, collaborating organisations and participants for their support. He also appreciated the dedicated efforts of the entire IQAC Team, the Organising Committee and volunteers, with special acknowledgement to Er. Sudhir Jugran, Assistant Manager, IQAC, for his
coordination and support, and Mr. Abhishek Pathak, Assistant Manager, Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), Organising Secretary of the Workshop, for his effective coordination and management, which contributed significantly to the successful organisation of the event.
The workshop concluded with a collective resolve to strengthen quality assurance mechanisms, promote innovation-driven institutional practices and foster globally competitive higher education institutions capable of addressing the emerging needs of society and contributing effectively towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Through its successful organisation of Himalayan Bodh - 3rd All-India IQAC Workshop 2026, Uttaranchal University has once again reaffirmed its commitment to promoting academic excellence, research, innovation, institutional quality, sustainability and international engagement while creating meaningful platforms for knowledge sharing and capacity building across the Indian higher education ecosystem.
