Universities have the responsibility of being engines of innovation, social transformation and sustainable development, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) Vice-Chancellor GD Sharma said at the Association of Indian Universities’ (AIU’s) East Zone Vice-Chancellors’ Meet 2025-26 last month.
Sharma, former president of the AIU, spoke at the gathering hosted by Aryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU) in Patna on December 22–23.
Chairing the technical session on ‘Research and Innovation in Higher Education Institutions for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’, Sharma delivered emphasised that higher education institutions must move beyond traditional teaching models and become problem-oriented, outcome-driven and impact-focused. He stated that universities today are not merely centres of learning but key stakeholders in addressing global challenges such as climate change, inequality, public health and sustainable economic growth, a USTM press release informed today.
Highlighting the importance of aligning research with societal needs, Sharma remarked that the silo-based approach to education and research is no longer viable. He called for interdisciplinary collaboration, industry-academia partnerships, incubation centres and start-up ecosystems to nurture innovation and empower students and researchers as change-makers and entrepreneurs.
The AIU East Zone event concluded by reinforcing the collective commitment of academic leadership towards sustainability, social responsibility and innovation in higher education, with Sharma’s insights providing a strong intellectual and strategic direction for the way forward, the USTM release added.
