Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen (retired) KT Parnaik emphasized the importance of innovation, research, and creativity in higher education during the 23rd Conference of Higher and Technical Education in Itanagar. He called for universities to pursue a purposeful vision and stressed the need for focused research in areas pertinent to the state, such as sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, disaster management, Himalayan ecology, renewable energy, and indigenous knowledge systems. The Governor recognized contributions to higher education with various awards, including Outstanding College Teacher Awards and Best NSS Volunteer Awards. He also launched a book titled “Shifting Cultivation: Traditions and Practices adopted by the Tangsa Tribe” by Dr. Odol Pertin. Highlighting the role of technology, he advocated for the integration of Artificial Intelligence, robotics, coding, and data science into academic programs, suggesting that AI-enabled digital platforms and smart classrooms could enhance educational access, particularly in remote areas. Parnaik urged institutions to foster entrepreneurship through innovation hubs and start-up laboratories, encouraging students to become job creators.
