Partnership to boost joint research, academic exchanges, and manuscript digitisation

By Ganesh Upadhyay, Senior Journalist

Rajgir, November 12, 2026 Thursday: Nalanda University and the National Institute of Technology Calicut (NIT Calicut) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday to deepen academic cooperation and expand interdisciplinary research.
Inked at the Nalanda University campus in Rajgir, the agreement establishes a framework for joint research, teaching and postdoctoral programmes, faculty and student exchanges, and collaborative publications.
The partnership places a special emphasis on cultural heritage conservation, manuscript preservation, and digital resource development. Notably, the two institutions will also collaborate on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the study of classical languages.
By pooling their academic resources and expertise, the institutions aim to bridge traditional humanities with modern technology while fostering regular academic events and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

The MoU was signed by Professor Sachin Chaturvedi, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Nalanda University, and Professor Prasad Krishna, Director, NIT Calicut, in the presence of senior officials from both institutions. The agreement provides a framework for collaboration in joint research and supervision, teaching programmes, postdoctoral research, faculty and student exchanges, and the organisation of academic conferences, symposia and joint scholarly publications. It also envisages the sharing of academic publications and learning resources.

Professor Sachin Chaturvedi welcomed the partnership, noting that it opens promising avenues for collaborative work in archaeology, data analytics, disaster studies and resilient infrastructure. He also highlighted the potential for joint research on classical languages using Artificial Intelligence (AI), which could contribute to the decolonisation of analytical frameworks. Appreciating NIT Calicut’s well-established campus culture and strong industry linkages, he said, “Nalanda University, with its net-zero campus and commitment to sustainable development, looks forward to building a meaningful partnership with NIT Calicut and advancing these areas of shared academic and research interest.”

A significant focus of the partnership is manuscript preservation and the development of digital resources, alongside cultural heritage documentation, preservation and conservation. The collaboration will also explore initiatives in the creative economy, cultural entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.

Through this partnership, both institutions aim to bring together their respective academic and research strengths, encourage interdisciplinary engagement and create new opportunities for students, researchers and faculty members. The MoU marks an important step towards expanding institutional ties and advancing collaborative research and knowledge exchange.