Nagaland University awards degrees to 6,884 students at its 8th convocation in Lumami.
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LUMAMI — Nagaland University conferred degrees upon 6,884 students during its 8th convocation ceremony held at the university headquarters, Lumami, on Friday.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Jagadish K Patnaik in his address stated that research continues to serve as a cornerstone of the university's development.
He expressed particular pride in the fact that four professors from Nagaland University remain ranked among the world's Top 2% Scientists according to the prestigious Stanford University listing.
The convocation awarded degrees to 107 PhD recipients, 825 postgraduate students, 846 graduates from professional programmes, and 5,106 undergraduates. Adding to the occasion's prestige, 54 Gold Medallists were recognised for their outstanding academic performance.
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Prof. Patnaik highlighted the university's research portfolio, stating that it is currently managing 53 externally funded projects.
He said that the institution secured 15 new grants this year from agencies including DBT, DST, ICAR, ICSSR, DRDO, CSIR, and others.
These initiatives cover disciplines from sciences and agriculture to humanities, social sciences, and strategic areas.
Additionally, Nagaland University is supporting 30 internal research projects, he added.
The university now encompasses six Schools of Studies, 43 departments, and five UGC Centres of Studies, backed by 239 faculty members, with further recruitment in progress.
"Our faculty, drawn from various parts of the country, bring rich academic diversity and reinforce the spirit of national integration," the vice-chancellor observed.
Serving over 26,000 undergraduate students through 77 affiliated colleges, alongside postgraduate and research scholars, the university remains dedicated to the transformative goals of the National Education Policy 2020, he said.
Initiatives such as credit transfer systems and digital platforms like SWAYAM are enhancing access, flexibility, and innovation in education, he informed.
The academic year 2025–2026 stood out for research output, he said, with 320 articles published in Scopus-indexed journals, 106 in Web of Science-indexed journals, 118 in UGC-CARE-listed journals, and 184 in other peer-reviewed refereed journals.
Beyond academics, Patnaik said the university demonstrated excellence in competitive fields. Eight alumni successfully cleared the Civil Services examinations, while 44 secured teaching positions in higher education institutions, 73% of whom are women, he said.
In sports, he informed Nagaland University’s men’s football team claimed fourth position in the North East Zone and qualified for the All-India Tournament. Ten teams participated in zonal and national inter-university competitions, and one football player was shortlisted by Churchill Brothers Professional Football Club in Goa.
Infrastructure advancements were also highlighted by the vice chancellor. He said under HEFA Phase I, seven buildings were completed at a cost of INR 73.4 crore and are now fully operational.
Phase II has received sanction for 20 additional buildings across the three campuses, with an estimated investment of INR 239.47 crore. Engineering Projects India Ltd (EPIL), a Mini-Ratna Central Public Sector Undertaking, has been appointed as the executing agency.
Proposals for new departments in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physical Education, and Vocational Studies & Skill Development are currently under consideration by the Ministry of Education, signalling further academic expansion, he informed.