USTM and UGC Ink MoU to Boost Research Excellence
The University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) signs a landmark MoU with the University Grants Commission (UGC) to enhance PhD admissions using UGC-NET scores, boosting research excellence in the North East region of India.
In a move that is bound to set the academic world abuzz, the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with none other than the University Grants Commission (UGC) in New Delhi. This landmark agreement will see the UGC sharing the UGC-NET scores with USTM, paving the way for a more streamlined and rigorous admission process into its PhD programmes.
The formalities were neatly tied up by Prof. Manish R. Joshi, Secretary of the UGC, Ministry of Education, Government of India, and Mrs Anju Hazarika, Registrar of USTM. The paperwork was signed, sealed, and delivered with the air of an important new chapter in the making.
Under the terms of the agreement, UGC will hand over a treasure trove of information regarding NET-qualified candidates—details such as roll numbers, names, photographs, signatures, parents’ names, gender, category, marks obtained, qualifying status, and other pertinent data. This will be instrumental in helping USTM separate the wheat from the chaff, ensuring that the credentials of PhD applicants are thoroughly verified.
Chuffed to bits with the development, Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of USTM, said, “We feel honoured as the University Grants Commission, Government of India, has partnered with us in our continued commitment to excellence in research and development.”
Meanwhile, Prof. G.D. Sharma, Vice Chancellor of USTM, was equally upbeat: “UGC and USTM have signed a MoU to enhance the quality of research in the North East region of India. They will be sharing a list of NET-qualified candidates in different subjects for PhD admission. USTM will identify emerging areas for research relevant to the North East and cherry-pick nationally meritorious NET-qualified candidates to conduct research that has a real-world impact. This support will not only bolster quality research publication but also help transform research outputs into incubators and start-ups. This is the first time UGC has taken such an initiative to raise the bar for research in universities.”
Over the years, USTM has been going great guns in the field of academic and research excellence. Notably, the Department of Physics at USTM recently bagged the 34th position in the prestigious Nature Index 2024, leaving many of the country’s premier institutions eating its dust. Furthermore, USTM secured the 48th spot overall in the Nature Index for research output—no mean feat, by any stretch of the imagination.
The university’s research activities span a wide range of disciplines and boast 124 patents published to its name. USTM has also successfully roped in funding for various projects from both government and private entities, focusing on crafting innovative solutions for both regional and global challenges.
The university’s research centres are firmly in the business of advancing fields such as biotechnology, environmental science, and nanotechnology. Moreover, USTM has its finger on the pulse of the North East, working tirelessly to address local issues and contribute towards sustainable development and community well-being.
With this latest agreement in the bag, USTM is clearly not one to rest on its laurels. It continues to roll up its sleeves, push boundaries, and make its mark on the national and global stage.
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