Conference on Infectious Diseases

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) will host the Nature Conference on Meeting the Challenge of Infectious Diseases in a Changing World from October 14-16 2026 in Manipal, Karnataka. Organised in partnership with Nature Medicine, Nature Microbiology, Nature Health, Nature Communications, the three-day conference will address emerging pathogens, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), pandemic preparedness, disease surveillance, diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccination strategies, and one health approaches. Speakers include Alessandro Vespignani (Northeastern University, the U.S.), Elaine Nsoesie (Boston University, the U.S.), Lauren Gardner (Johns Hopkins University, the U.S.), Madhukar Pai (McGill University, Canada), Shabir A. Madhi (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa), and Marion Koopmans (Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands). Details at https://tinyurl.com/4r33z3st

Youth Ideathon 2026

IIT Delhi, ThinkStartup, and the Management and Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills Council, in association with the CBSE, have launched Youth Ideathon 2026, an innovation and entrepreneurship platform for school (Classes 8-12) and college (undergraduate and postgraduate) students. Ideas can be submitted across the following themes — AI and Chip, Space Tech, Sustainability, the Next Billion Innovation Challenge (affordable tech for rural and vernacular users), Supporting Girl Entrepreneurs, EdTech and Open Innovation (pick any problem of choice outside the above themes) — either individually or in teams of up to five members. For more information, visit www.youthideathon.in

Coursera has partnered with UNESCO to offer a free Global MOOC on the Ethics of AI course, developed with LG AI Research. The course uses real-world applications to help learners identify ethical risks, balance competing priorities, and make informed decisions on AI’s design, use and governance. Visit https://tinyurl.com/2d2tfajj for details.

Vidyamandir Classes launched Vidyamandir Intellect Quest (VIQ 2026), a national scholarship exam for students from Classes 6-12. Selected students will receive scholarships from a ₹2.5 crore pool, detailed All India Performance Analysis, expert career counselling, and structured guidance for preparing for IIT-JEE, NEET, Olympiads, and other competitive examinations. The offline exam will be held on October 4, 11, 18, and 25 and the online one on October 4, 10, 17, 24, and November 1. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/bp94md9d

SVKM’s NMIMS School of Business Management invites applications to its MBA programme across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Indore, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. For eligibility criteria and other details, visit https://tinyurl.com/3vwtyvxf

Macquarie University, Australia, invites applications for the February 2027 intake of its Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning in part-time, full-time and hybrid modes. For details of the course, eligibility criteria, and more, visit https://tinyurl.com/272e524w

SRM University Sikkim has opened admissions for its online BBA, Bachelor of Computer Applications, MBA, and Master of Computer Applications programmes. For details of the courses, eligibility criteria, and more, visit https://bit.ly/4pXIEV8, https://bit.ly/4fAH2gx, https://bit.ly/4fV7IHN, and https://bit.ly/4xoT56J

The University of Sheffield, the U.K., is offering the International Postgraduate Scholarship 2027 (£7,000) to students who will commence a postgraduate taught degree in September 2027. The deadline to apply is July 6. Visit https://tinyurl.com/43pryxkj for details

SecurEyes invites applications for its three-month, online Cybersecurity Certification Programme, which offers expert-led instruction, hands-on labs, and real-world learning. The course begins on September 7 and is open to graduates and final-year students in any discipline. Details at https://secureyes.net/newcscp/

Manipal University Jaipur invites applications for its PCI-approved B.Pharm course under its School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Eligibility: Pass in Class 10 and 12 from a recognised board with English, Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects and either Maths or Biology.

Details at https://tinyurl.com/yedd8wv5

Orientations and convocations

Aarupadai Veedu Institute of Technology, Chennai, organised an orientation programme for the students of the 2026–27 batch. Chief guest Mario David, Vice President-Corporate Development, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Hyderabad, delivered the keynote address. 

IIM Kozhikode inaugurated the second cohort of its Bachelor of Management Studies (Honours with Research) programme. Harish Bhat, former Brand Custodian at Tata Sons, was the chief guest.

VIT Bhopal University held a Fresher’s Orientation Programme for students of the B. Tech CSE (Core) and BBA programmes. Sujay Sen, Executive Vice President and CEO, Global Head, Interactive Services, LTM, was chief guest, and Sandip Singh Sasan, HRPP and OT, Construction Civil Infrastructure Industry, was the guest of honour.

JS Institute of Design held a three-day orientation programme for its incoming batch, which brought together academic leaders, practising designers, alumni and faculty to help students begin their academic journey.

BITS School of Management welcomed its MBA Class of 2026-28 with a week-long induction programme that included academic briefings, leadership talks, team-building activities and interactions with faculty, alumni and industry leaders.

VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology conducted an Induction Programme for its new batch of 2,200 UG students with sessions on student well-being, mentorship, campus resources, extracurricular opportunities, and career development

Amity University Haryana held Deeksharambh 2026, its annual student induction and orientation programme on the theme Discover. Aspire. Achieve. Akhilesh Mishra, Former Ambassador of India to Ireland, was the chief guest.

The Delhi School of Communication welcomed the 32nd Batch of its two-year Post Graduate Diploma Programme in Communication. Anushka Seth, Head of Communications for Asia-Pacific at the British Council, was the chief guest. Seshadri Mitra, Marketing Lead with India Global Forum, was the guest of honour.

CEPT University recently welcomed its new postgraduate cohort, with about 470 students enrolling in 17 postgraduate programmes across the University’s five Faculties — Architecture, Planning, Design, Management, and Technology.  

The Indian Institute of Information Technology Sri City, celebrated its 10th convocation with 328 students receiving their degrees. Suchitra Ella, Managing Director of Bharat Biotech, delivered the convocation address.

Mahindra University celebrated its fifth convocation with 1,309 students receiving their degrees. Rajiv Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Auto Limited, was the chief guest.

Nottingham Trent University (NTU), the U.K., celebrated the graduation of more than 200 Indian students during the 2025/26 academic year. 

The IITB-Monash Research Academy in Mumbai celebrated the graduation of its 300th Ph.D. graduate. 

KCG College of Technology held its 24th convocation for 560 students. J. Radhakrishnan, Director General, Anna Institute of Management and Training, Tamil Nadu, was the chief guest. M. Vellaipandian, Director General, Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification Directorate, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, was the guest of honour.

Appointments

FLAME University, Pune, appointed Professor Raunaq S. Pungaliya as Dean of the FLAME School of Business and ENAM Professor of Finance. He was earlier Vice Dean, Professor of Finance, and Director of the AI in Business Innovation Lab at the SKK Graduate School of Business, Seoul.

The University of Aberdeen Mumbai appointed Professor Marnie Campbell as Provost and Vinu Chakravarthy as Chief Operating Officer. 

Lt. Gen. M. D. Venkatesh was appointed as the new Chairperson of Manipal University Jaipur.

Research

Prof. Debasis Banerjee from the Department of Chemistry and researchers at IIT Roorkee, in collaboration with McGill University, Canada, have developed a sustainable method to convert renewable alcohols into complex molecules for pharmaceuticals and advanced materials. The findings were published in Nature Communications. 

Researchers from IIT Roorkee have developed an acid-resistant nanocomposite to remove uranium and rare earth elements from contaminated environments.

Dr. Rajesh Kumar Prusty, Assistant Professor, Bankim Chandra Ray, Professor, and research scholar Parimal Jana Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at NIT Rourkela and Dinesh Kumar Rathore from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MNIT Jaipur have secured a patent for a composite manufacturing technology that can increase the strength, and durability of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites. The developed technology represents a major milestone in composite materials for high-performance engineering applications.

Researchers from the BITS Environmental Science and Technology (BEST) Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, have developed a low-energy wastewater treatment technology that uses Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) technology instead of conventional chemical- and steam-based sterilisation. 

Prof. Tapas K. Mandal and Prof. Harshal B. Nemade and research scholars Shrikant Kashyap, Smriti Sachan, and Neha Majee from IIT Guwahati, Maitrayee Bhuyan from KIIT Bhubaneswar, and Humayun Kabir from Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Kolkata, have developed E-Eye, a portable optical sensor that can rapidly detect toxicants in water and biological samples. The findings were published in IEEE Sensors Journal.

Events

KMC College of Law, Tirupur, held a five-day certificate course on Tax Laws Decoded: A Practical Approach to Direct and Indirect Tax, to give its students practical training through lectures, case studies, and interactive sessions. 

Cisco and IIT Delhi have launched a Technology Hub for AI and cybersecurity to support research, student grants and fellowships, and a Chair of Excellence.

DJ College of Dental Sciences and Research inaugurated a Lecture Theatre equipped with advanced digital technologies to enable interactive, immersive and collaborative learning.

Ambuja Foundation and Venktesh Investment and Trading Company have launched the BL Taparia Kaushalya Vardhan Academy in Porbandar, Gujarat, to offer three-month training programmes in Customer Care, Refrigeration and Air Conditioner Assembly, and Accounts Executive, along with a six-month programme in General Duty Assistant. 

QNu Labs has trained and certified the first cohort of faculty from SRM Institute of Science and Technology to teach professional quantum communication courses, and established a dedicated Quantum Communications Lab equipped with industry-grade quantum-safe technologies.

The Departments of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women, Chennai, inaugurated the Physical Sciences Association with a lecture on non-destructive evaluation. A student debate was held on whether geoengineering can improve Earth’s living environment.

Feeling Minds inaugurated E-Cube Lab, an experiential emotional education centre to build emotional intelligence and life skills through immersive, structured learning, Prelude Public School, Agra, adopted the four-zone E-Cube Lab model, covering cognitive, emotional regulation, experiential and reflection-based learning. 

Narayana Schools, Coimbatore, launched The Catalyst Lab, a four-zone soft-skills programme for classes 4 to 12. The centre was inaugurated by Rajmohan, Minister for School Education, Tamil Development, Information & Publicity, Government of Tamil Nadu.

Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management, Hyderabad, launched a PGDM in Agribusiness Management, covering emerging areas such as agritech, AI-enabled agriculture, precision farming, and agribusiness analytics.

Whistling Woods International celebrated its annual Art and Poetry Day, marking lyricist Anand Bakshi’s birth anniversary, with the launch of Rakesh Bakshi’s book on the lyricist and Aslam Hassan’s poetry collection, Potli Mein Chand.

RoboGenius has introduced LEGO® Education’s Computer Science, AI and LEGO® Education Science learning kits to schools across India. It will also conduct AI workshops, teacher programmes and hands-on learning events.

IIT Roorkee and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), hosted the Research X Impact Conclave 2026, featuring over 50 research presentations, 77 posters, and more than 127 research showcases across diverse disciplines.

Capital Goods and Strategic Skill Council (CGSSC), in partnership with Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE), launched Project UTKARSH, a CSR-led skilling initiative to equip engineering students with industry-relevant skills and prepare them for careers in India’s growing EPC, and manufacturing infrastructure sector.

Revature hosted the AI Academy in a Box National Summit 2026 in Chennai, bringing together 40 engineering institutions to discuss AI’s impact on engineering roles, hiring, and graduate skills. Engineering India’s Next Engineer, a report co-authored by Ashwin Bharath and Tan Moorthy, the co-founder and CEO respectively, was also launched at the summit.

Samsung India, in partnership Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI) and the Telecom Sector Skill Council, launched the 2026 Samsung Innovation Campus to train 20,000 youth across 10 states in AI through hands-on learning, projects and mentorship.

Envalior India inaugurated the EV Technology Centre of Excellence in Pune to provide hands-on training in electric vehicle systems, diagnostics, maintenance and servicing for eligible ITI and Polytechnic students from Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Mechatronics, Computer Science and allied disciplines.

Oxford International’s Student Global Mobility Index, based on insights from 20,341 respondents, found teaching methodology to be the top factor influencing students’ decisions to study abroad.

KLH Bachupally’s Department of BBA conducted an AICTE-ATAL-sponsored six-day day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on AI and Advanced Analytics in Digital Marketing.

The BRICS Technical and Vocational Education and Training Cooperation Alliance held its Research Symposium and Joint Management Committee Meeting on the theme Sustainable and Digitally Enabled TVET: The BRICS Perspective.

The Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow, the U.K., have launched a Leverhulme Doctoral Programme in Responsible Hybrid Intelligence to explore brain-AI interfaces and their scientific, psychological, legal, ethical and philosophical implications.

IIM Kozhikode and Bloomberg have launched a Bloomberg Finance Lab with 12 terminals, giving students access to professional financial data, analytics, and market intelligence.

Delhi Public School, Sector 45, Gurgaon hosted the Spotlight 2026 university fair bringing together 54 Indian and foreign universities for its students to explore academic disciplines, admission processes, and more. Participating institutions included University of Birmingham and King’s College London from the U.K., Tokyo International University from Japan, BITS Pilani Dubai from the UAE, and Ashoka University, O.P. Jindal Global University, and Bennett University from India among others.

JD Institute of Fashion Technology hosted a fireside chat with designer-filmmaker Mozez Singh on the evolving relationship between storytelling, craftsmanship and luxury.

Awards

Team Nightmare from Gurugram won the STEM Racing India 2026 National Championship hosted by Sharda University, in collaboration with STEMplify. Team Anantam from Noida was first runner-up.

Anant Ojha, Adithya Sunil Kumar, and Shreyas Ghildiyal, students of IIIT Bangalore, have qualified for the International Collegiate Programming Contest World Finals 2026, which will be held in UAE in November.

Indian students participating in Space India’s All India Asteroid Search Campaign 2026 have made 27 preliminary asteroid discoveries across its first two phases. D.A.V. Public School, Rohini, led with five discoveries, and Satya School, Gurugram, had three discoveries.

Ishaan Som Singh and Rishikesh Muralimohan, students, Greenwood High International School, were declared winners of HPE Code Wars hosted by Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

Team Vegapod Hyperloop from MIT-WPU won the Emerging Engineering Talent Award at the European Hyperloop Week (EHW) 2026, held at the European Hyperloop Center, Groningen, The Netherlands.

The University of Strathclyde, the U.K., was named Research University of the Year in the Daily Mail University Guide 2027.

Aerosearch Technologies and DIASOL Pvt. Ltd. from FITT, Delhi; Alkamy Carbon and EarthSprint Solutions Pvt. Ltd. from SINE, IIT Bombay; Oreejoy MedTech Pvt. Ltd from IIEC Gandhinagar; StelX Dynamics from T Hub, Hyderabad, and SWRN Systems Pvt. Ltd from FSID-IISC, Bangalore, were the winners at the fifth edition of the Boeing University Innovation Leadership Development (BUILD) programme 2026. 

Shaurya Patel, Class 10 student at Adani International School, Ahmedabad, won the gold for the second consecutive year at the Initiative for Research and Innovation in STEM (IRIS) National Fair 2025-26 Cohort 2.

East Point Group of Institutions, Bengaluru, won the Best Educational Group of the Year award at the Outlook Business Spotlight-Nation Builders Excellence Awards.

NalaWatch, an AI-powered urban flood intelligence platform, built by students from Hyderabad, won the first prize at NxtWave’s Idea to Impact hackathon.

Collaborations

MIT World Peace University, Pune, signed an MoU with Germany’s Berlin School of Business and Innovation for academic and cultural exchange, joint research, and technology-driven learning and innovation.

K.P.B. Hinduja College of Commerce has partnered with the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and provide students with practical, industry-relevant learning.

IIT Gandhinagar and BITS Pilani have signed MoUs with the Indian AI Research Organisation (IAIRO) to advance AI research, education, innovation and talent development.

Rayat Bahra University’s School of Mass Communication and Journalism has partnered with the Tribune Trust to establish an AI-enabled Media School and enhance students’ industry exposure in fields associated with Communications.

CFA Institute has expanded its University Affiliation Programme in India through partnerships with ATLAS SkillTech University, IIM Bodh Gaya, and Banasthali University.

MAHE has partnered with GHCL Limited to develop a real-time, data-driven system using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy to monitor the calorific value of carbon-based fuels.

Pearl Academy School of Business has partnered with Italy’s POLIMI Graduate School of Management to bring faculty-led modules in luxury management, digital transformation, strategy and marketing to its curriculum, with students earning POLIMI GSoM certifications.

KMC College of Law, Tirupur, also signed an MoU with The Right Argument, New Delhi, to collaborate on courses, workshops, research, internships and skill-development initiatives.

Published - August 09, 2026 11:32 pm IST