Nagaland University confers degrees on 6,884 students at 8th convocation, 54 get gold medal

Nagaland University held its 8th convocation at the Lumami campus, where it conferred degrees on 6,884 students. The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Governor of Nagaland and chief rector of the university Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and the Vice President of India, CP Radhakrishnan, who addressed the graduating students and faculty during the event.

The graduating cohort included 107 PhD scholars, 825 postgraduate students, 846 graduates from professional programmes, and 5,106 undergraduate students. The university also presented 54 gold medals to top-performing students across disciplines in recognition of exceptional academic performance.

Addressing the convocation, the Vice President highlighted the broader role of universities in shaping future leaders. “A university’s greatest achievement is not only the knowledge it stores but also the leaders it creates,” he said, encouraging graduates to use their education to contribute to society.

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Nagaland University: Research, expansion plans

In the official announcement, Nagaland University said that it currently hosts 53 externally funded research projects, with additional initiatives supported internally by the university. It added that research activity has also gained momentum, with faculty producing hundreds of publications across major academic indexing platforms, alongside books and book chapters over the past academic year.

Speaking at the event, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla urged the graduates to remain adaptable in a rapidly changing world. “The future demands creativity, resilience, and ethical leadership. Remain lifelong learners and uphold the highest standards of character and professionalism,” he said.

Vice-Chancellor Jagadish K. Patnaik congratulated the graduating students and emphasised the responsibility that comes with higher education. “A university degree is not merely a certificate — it is a responsibility,” he said, urging students to apply their knowledge for the benefit of society.

The university has also been strengthening its academic infrastructure and innovation ecosystem, including new buildings funded under the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) and initiatives promoting intellectual property generation and interdisciplinary research. Plans are also under consideration to introduce additional academic departments in engineering, physical education, and vocational studies in the future.