Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur, has marked a significant milestone by signing a Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Global University Innovation and Cooperation. The signing took place during 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 in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 9 and 10, 2026.
The MoU, joined by 20 universities from regions such as South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the United Arab Emirates, aims to nurture international collaboration in higher education, focusing on innovation, research, and sustainable development. This agreement establishes a framework for enduring institutional partnerships among the involved universities.
Representing HNLU, Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) VC Vivekanandan delivered a compelling presentation on the University’s Research Hub & Spoke (R-HaS) model during the summit’s Innovation Case Study session. His presentation emphasized HNLU’s interdisciplinary research ecosystem, highlighting its externally funded research initiatives and the University’s dedication to producing research with tangible societal impact.
Prof. Vivekanandan commented on the occasion, saying, “HNLU is making significant 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 programs in the near future.”
The two-day summit gathered university leaders, policymakers, innovators, and academicians worldwide under the theme “University Innovation in Partnership with Government: Policy, Mechanism, and Impact.” This event provided an international platform to share innovative institutional practices and strengthen global partnerships in higher education.
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Under Article 3 of the Multilateral MoU, the participating institutions committed to collaborating in various areas, including joint research and innovation projects, academic program 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 among the oldest regional university associations, uniting higher education institutions across Asia and the Pacific to promote academic cooperation, leadership development, quality assurance, and internationalization. AUAP serves as a platform for universities to develop collaborative initiatives that enhance educational excellence and sustainable regional development through global partnerships.
About WURI
The World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) is a unique university ranking system that evaluates institutions based on their real-world contributions to innovation, social responsibility, entrepreneurship, industrial engagement, and ethical leadership, moving beyond conventional research metrics alone.
