- Summit 2026, Bangkok
Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur, has further strengthened its
global academic engagement by signing a Multilateral Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) on Global University Innovation and Cooperation at the
Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) – World University
Rankings for Innovation (WURI) Impact Summit 2026, held at the ICONSIAM
Convention Centre, Bangkok, Thailand, on 9–10 July 2026.
The MoU was signed by 20 leading universities from South Asia, Southeast Asia
and the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant step towards fostering
international collaboration in higher education, innovation, research and sustainable
development. The agreement seeks to establish a framework for long-term institutional
partnerships among participating universities.
Representing HNLU, Prof. (Dr.) V.C. Vivekanandan, Vice Chancellor, presented a
case study on the University’s pioneering Research Hub & Spoke (R-HaS) model
during the Innovation Case Study session. The presentation highlighted HNLU’s
interdisciplinary research ecosystem, its externally funded research initiatives, and the
University’s commitment to generating research with measurable societal impact.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Vivekanandan stated:
“HNLU is making impactful strides in showcasing and disseminating its
research initiatives through meaningful engagement with regional and global
university associations. Signing this multilateral MoU is a strategic milestone
in expanding our international academic partnerships. We also had
productive discussions with AUAP Secretary General Prof. Dr. Anoop
Swarup and Executive Secretary Dr. Supaporn Chuangchid on exploring
collaborative conferences, research projects, faculty exchanges and other
academic programmes in the near future.”
The two-day summit brought together university leaders, policymakers, innovators and
academicians from across the globe under the theme “University Innovation in
Partnership with Government: Policy, Mechanism, and Impact.” The conference
served as an international platform for sharing innovative institutional practices and
strengthening global partnerships in higher education.
Under Article 3 of the Multilateral MoU, participating institutions agreed to collaborate
in areas including joint research and innovation projects, academic programme
development, innovation case studies, conferences and workshops, faculty,
researcher and student mobility, institutional policy innovation, entrepreneurship,
startup collaboration, and innovation ecosystem development.
About AUAP
The Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) is one of the oldest
and most respected regional university associations, bringing together higher education
institutions across Asia and the Pacific to promote academic cooperation, leadership
development, quality assurance and internationalisation. AUAP serves as a platform for
universities to develop collaborative initiatives that contribute to educational excellence
and sustainable regional development through global partnerships.
About WURI
The World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) is a globally recognised
university ranking system that evaluates institutions based on their real-world
contributions to innovation, social responsibility, entrepreneurship, industrial
engagement and ethical leadership, rather than conventional research metrics alone.
HNLU has consistently earned international recognition in the WURI Rankings for its
innovative institutional practices, particularly in the areas of visionary leadership and
impactful research, reaffirming the University’s commitment to excellence through
innovation and societal engagement.
About HNLU
Established in 2003, Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur, is one of
India’s premier National Law Universities committed to excellence in legal education,
research, innovation and public service. The University has emerged as a leading
centre for interdisciplinary scholarship through its unique Research Hub & Spoke (R-
HaS) model, international collaborations, industry engagement and policy-oriented
research. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence, global partnerships,
experiential learning and societal impact, HNLU continues to expand its footprint on the
international stage through meaningful collaborations with universities, governments
and global organisations. The University’s growing recognition in international rankings,
successful research initiatives, and sustained achievements in advocacy, innovation
and institutional leadership reflect its vision of becoming a globally respected institution
shaping the future of legal education and public policy.
