Our Priority

The University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya is founded upon certain values, goals and priorities which is inherently manifest in its institutional strategy, mechanisms, involvements and outreaches. These values constitute the priority matrix which ultimately propels the trajectory of the university towards certain desired outcomes and objectives- excellence as per global benchmarks.

The World Economic Forum opines that automation and radical disruptions in the economic system will be inflection phenomena in the contemporary world. To be successfully able to respond to these challenges, education can no longer be traditional but rather has to be “cross-disciplinary, personalized and focused on human skills” to realize what it calls “future fit education”.

Similarly, one of the core pillars of the hallowed Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations is SDG4: Quality Education. The UNO envisages a world order where young men and women alike will have access to quality technical, vocational and tertiary education by 2030.

These global priorities are of immense importance for a developing behemoth like India, especially for a region like North East India which, despite being relatively nascent, stands as a gateway to the Asian economies- which are supposed to emerge as the economic hotspots of the 21^st century.

The University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya envisages itself as a stakeholder in this global transformation in education sector and seeks to emerge as a leader in the education revolution through high impact, cutting edge programmes that prepare its alumni with what the World Economic Forum has called “future fit education”.

Similarly, USTM has demonstrated, quantitatively and qualitatively, through tenets and tangible outcomes its mission to quality, affordable and accessible education with global benchmarks.

2030 stands as a inflection point in the 21^st century as can be seen from the UN SDGs. Similarly, USTM has outlined in precise parameters its transformation towards excellence by 2030 through the USTM Vision 2030: A Vision Document which outlays the plans, priorities and mission of the University to claim its avowed objective of emerging as a globally recognized, impactful centre of educational excellence.

This also implies that USTM is committed to attracting top notch researchers and educationists, especially with international background, from leading institutions to join in this mission in the coming time. At the same time, we are committed to developing and up scaling our local, indigenous talent from academia and industry. The synergy between foreign and local pool of talent with enable us to achieve a synergistic growth of the institution, development of academic rigour and intellectual capital along global standards and thus be able to fully realise the vision of world class education and research.

To realise such objectives, USTM’s strategic plan and institutional delivery mechanisms lay emphasis on certain areas such as

• Stakeholders, institutional mechanisms and involvement of stakeholders ensure not only learning, but a holistic education and grooming that prepares students for a brave, new world.
• Serene, ambient surroundings with state of the art infrastructure stimulate learning and creativity and foster intellectual curiosity.
• Eclectic mix of experienced and young, energetic faculty who incubate intellectual capital and induce the pursuit of excellence.
• Industry- academia collaboration as well as interventions from the leading institutions of research and excellence such as IITs, NITs, Universities and other institutions lead to synergy and symbiosis.
• Dedicated mechanisms for career guidance and competitive examinations produce laurels in examinations like NET, IIT JAM, GATE. USTM offers free, in-house coaching for UPSC, SSC, Banking etc. with the best faculties of the industry.
• Training in soft skills, life skills, communication and articulation orientation prepares student to excel in their professional lives.
• Maintaining and upholding a multicultural, academically immersive experience with a strong emphasis on research and growth.
• Constant brainstorming and academic innovations through novel programmes like Bachelor of Arts in Administration and Governance to prepare students for Civil Services Examinations with a successful mindset.
• Gender inclusivity, multicultural immersion and exposure to diversity achieves civil, constitutional and global values.
• Northeast India being a biodiversity hotspot is endowed with rich and varied ecological and biological wealth. USTM seeks to commission and undertake cutting edge research in biotechnology, pharmaceutical and health sciences etc. to fully harness these resources to develop accessible, high quality medications, formulations and compounds which may be of immense use to the scientific community in particular and society as a whole.

However, it must be remembered that these priorities are not bipolar processes involving only student and teacher in a traditional teaching-learning medium. Rather, USTM believes in inducing and fostering collective intelligence and ideation through multipolar involvement of various stakeholders from academia and industry, institutions and idea-leaders, visionaries and entrepreneurs.

Thus, the matrices and determinants of our priority are achieved with the highest spirit of excellence, innovation, ideation and a thrust on world class education.

Similarly, a well defined objective matrix reflects the tangible realization of the underlying policies. USTM endeavours to execute and achieve its cherished priorities through tangible, quantifiable and qualitatively verifiable outcomes such as:

• Establishment of Centre for South and South East Asian Studies as India readies to pursue an aggressive Act East Policy
• Develop competence and capabilities in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Big Data and Data Sciences.
• Establish in-situ infrastructure and establish capacities for research and innovation in organic agriculture, food sciences, herbal and biotechnological innovations.
• Bring cutting edge medical education and research through proposed world class Medical College, Research Centre and Superspeciality hospital.
• Achieve laurels in cutting edge research through innovations, global and peer recognition, patents etc.
• Involvement of interntional students, faculty and experts.
• Involvement of eminent leaders, Nobel Laureates and academicians.
• Producing successful aspirants in the Civil Services, creating youth entrepreneurs and leaders.

It must be borne in mind that the journey of USTM also exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit and journey which has blossomed into a leading educational hub of Northeast India. Started with only 6 students less than a decade ago, USTM today stands proud and thiving with a vibrant, energetic intellectual, student and academic community pursuing a common goal. This entrepreneurial spirit and vision stands as one of the founding ethos of USTM’s core philosophy, which it seeks to impart and imbibe among the students.

Promotion of the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation is sought to be inculcated among the students so that their education and orientation at USTM may transform them as job-creators rather than job-seekers by the time they complete their formal education and step out as a member of society and the world. This thrust on entrepreneurial spirit, USTM firmly believes, will play a catalytic role in the transformation of the society and nation. Thus, it is of utmost importance to develop the right competencies, skills and capacities among the students to equip them to pursue this visionary track. The thrust on skill development and entrepreneurship shall also act as a cornerstone to produce visionary leaders, technocrats and changemakers who will go on to play a leading role in the society, community and world of the future.

In a nutshell, USTM’s commitment to its priorities is underpinned by global trends informed with local necessities and conditioning. These priorities are articulated through the vision and misson of the institution which find articulation in the institutional strategy and mechanisms. Together, they seek to realise the vision of excellence as a catalyst to achieve the mission of emerging as a global epicenter of education with world class standards.