Institutions across Nagaland hold academic seminars, freshers' meets, skill training, and farewell events.
DIMAPUR — Education institutions across Nagaland conducted a series of academic dialogues, freshers' meets, farewell programmes, skill development sessions, and literary competitions over the past week.
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Nagaland University: The Nagaland University Students’ Union, Kohima Campus (NUSU-KC), held its 33rd freshers’ meet at AGOK Badze, Meriema, on September 18, with Deputy Commissioner Kohima B Henok Buchem as the guest speaker.
Held on the theme “Kairos – The perfect moment begins now”, the programme welcomed the new batch of students and marked the beginning of their university journey.
According to an update, speaking on the occasion, Buchem encouraged the freshers to recognise and seize opportunities rather than wait for perfect circumstances.
Explaining Kairos as a right, opportune, or decisive moment, he urged the students to make the most of their university years through learning, participation, and personal growth.
Buchem encouraged students to participate in debates, literary activities, competitions, and other opportunities that develop communication and critical-thinking skills. He advised them to use technology and artificial intelligence responsibly, while cautioning against substance abuse, gambling, excessive social media use, misinformation, and other distractions.
Dimapur Government College: The departments of Political Science and History at Dimapur Government College (DGC), in collaboration with the PA Sangma Foundation, hosted a seminar exploring peace, development, and identity in Nagaland and the Northeast on September 18.
The PA Sangma Dialogues was held on the theme "Peace through development: Nagaland and the unfinished journey of the Northeast".
Three dialogues formed the core of the programme: Mmhonlümo Kikon, politician, author, poet, and public policy analyst from Nagaland, examined federalism, autonomy, and Naga identity within the Indian Union, while Avantika Roohi, food writer and digital chronicler of traditional weaves from the Northeast of India, and Daniel Langthasa, politician from Northeast India, reflected on food and traditional weaves as expressions of the region's cultural diversity.
In another programme, IBM Skillsbuild for Adult Learning (SB4AL) conducted an extensive training programme from September 15 to the 17th at Dimapur Government College, with soft skill trainer Kamalesh Krishnaraj as the resource person.
The training sessions were organised by the EDUNET Foundation, Gurugram, Haryana, in collaboration with the Directorate of Higher Education, Nagaland, alongside the IQAC and Career Guidance and Placement Cell of DGC.
The trainer introduced the IBM Skillsbuild programme, which provides courses ranging from machine AI learning to leadership and resume writing, awarding universally accepted certificates upon completion free of cost.
Altogether 1,600 students participated in the training sessions.
Fazl Ali College: In Mokokchung, Fazl Ali College organised a farewell programme in honour of retiring officer Dr. Tsukjemchila Imchen, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Geography, at the college conference hall on September 16.
Dr. Tsukjemchila was acknowledged for her dedication, commitment, and contribution to higher education and the college.
Principal Dr. I Wati Imchen described her as a key pillar of the college who provided both her time and resources for its upliftment. He spoke on the need to capitalise on the intellectual resources of retiring officers so that they continue to mould young minds.
Associate Professor and present Head of the Department Dr. Temjensangla Pongener highlighted the academic infrastructure developments achieved during the tenure of Dr. Tsukjemchila, including the expansion of the departmental library, strengthening of the cartographic laboratory, development of the remote sensing laboratory, and installation of the mini soil laboratory.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Tsukjemchila stressed the need to start post-graduation programmes in the college to fulfil one of the goals of NEP 2020 and encouraged the faculty to innovate with sustained commitment.
Patkai Christian College: At Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) in Chümoukedima, two academic programmes were organised on September 18.
The Department of Education conducted a seminar titled “The contribution of Christian missionaries to education in India” at the college conference hall, with Dr. Albert M Chawang, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Advanced Religious Studies, North East Christian University, serving as the resource person.
Dr. Chawang outlined the progression of Christian educational initiatives in India, starting with early Protestant missions and their impact on formal education, printing, literacy, and teacher training. He highlighted the establishment of the Tranquebar Mission in 1706 and the Serampore Mission's contributions in founding schools and advancing Indian languages.
Concurrently, the departments of Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science and IT jointly organised an interdepartmental talk. Presentations were delivered by Najmina Begum on “Time is not absolute”, Zuchano L Patton on “Calculus of cosmos: How differential equations run the cosmos" and Shanyo Ronra Shimray on “The hidden engine of AI”.
MGM College: In Dimapur, the Department of English at MGM College organised a slam poetry competition on the theme “Poetry in motion – voices that inspire” at the college auditorium on September 19.
Reji Abraham, Principal of MGM Higher Secondary School, attended as the guest of honour and highlighted the role of literature and poetry in nurturing creativity and critical thinking.
In the competition, Narion L Khuvung won the first prize, while Ethungbeni and Joimie Angpuh secured the second and third prizes, respectively.