World Academic Centre launched virtually to foster global academic collaboration and knowledge sharing among scholars.
KOHIMA — The World Academic Centre (WAC), a platform established for academicians across the globe to promote academic interaction, knowledge sharing, and collaboration, was virtually launched on the theme 'Knowledge society' on Saturday.
Vice Chancellor of Kaziranga University Murari Lal Gaur launched the centre virtually.
In his inaugural address, Gaur highlighted the importance of collaboration, integration, and meaningful academic interaction beyond institutional, disciplinary, and geographical boundaries.
He encouraged academicians to exchange ideas, remain curious, respectfully disagree, and work together across universities and countries. Gaur outlined three principles for academic engagement, “collect, collaborate and create”, and expressed the view that WAC could develop into a bridge connecting scholars, ideas, and generations across borders.
Professor at the Arab American University of Palestine Wael Mustafa Abuhasan, in his keynote address, spoke on the need to transform information into knowledge and knowledge into skills, solutions, and wisdom.
He stressed that education should prepare learners to confront real-world challenges and that academic contributions should ultimately serve humanity.
He highlighted the need for collaboration rather than excessive competition, interdisciplinary engagement, and maintaining human judgement, creativity, and responsibility alongside the growing use of AI.
Chairman and founder of WAC Zavise Rume informed that 68 academicians from across 12 countries are members of the centre currently, adding that invitations have been extended to more countries to join.
He spoke about the vision of creating a global academic platform and fostering a knowledge society through intellectual exchange and interaction. The centre’s aspiration is to expand its academic network across countries and create regular opportunities for scholars to engage with one another, Rume said.
Director of the UGC-Human Resource Development Centre at Pondicherry University, Dr. Panch Ramalingam, stated that knowledge should be shared beyond geographical and institutional boundaries, encouraging stronger collaboration among academicians from different countries.
Historian and former professor and inaugural Head of the Department of History and Archaeology at Nagaland University Visier Sanyü spoke on the changing nature of academia and the importance of making knowledge more human. He said indigenous knowledge should not be treated merely as folklore but should be brought into respectful dialogue with modern scientific knowledge.
Research Scientist at HITSZ in China and General Secretary of WAC Dr. Bongliba T Sangtam outlined the vision behind WAC as a platform to bring together academicians, researchers, scholars, and students across disciplines, institutions, and countries for meaningful academic interaction, knowledge sharing, collaboration, and mutual support.
Participants from 12 countries, including India, Palestine, the United States, South Korea, Portugal, Norway, Malaysia, Nepal, Indonesia, Israel, Australia, and France, took part in the programme.
The centre aims to encourage international academic collaboration, research interaction, and mutual support among its members, with an aspiration to gradually expand its network to between 50 and 100 countries.