Rajgir: Nalanda University will host a delegation from Dongguk University on January 23, marking a significant step in strengthening academic, cultural and research collaboration between India and South Korea.
The visit will open with a ceremonial programme reflecting Nalanda’s global and civilisational ethos. A traditional lamp-lighting ceremony will be followed by Buddhavacana chanting in multiple languages by Nalanda University students, symbolising the institution’s historic links with the Buddhist world and its contemporary international character.
The university’s vice-chancellor, Sachin Chaturvedi, will formally welcome the delegation. Senior members of the visiting team, including Venerable Donkwan and Prof Jaewoong Yun, are scheduled to deliver a special address and take part in an interactive session focused on shared academic values, global education challenges and future avenues of cooperation.
A key highlight of the visit will be the inauguration of an exhibition of Thangka paintings and Buddhist artefacts, curated by Korean monk Bhikshu Dovung. The exhibition aims to showcase Buddhist artistic traditions and underline the long-standing cultural bridge between India and Korea.
Alongside the ceremonial and cultural events, the programme will include parallel academic and strategic dialogue sessions. These discussions will focus on institutional collaboration, joint research initiatives, faculty and student exchange programmes, and academic presentations from both universities, signalling an intent to deepen long-term engagement.
Nalanda University and Dongguk University already have a formal memorandum of understanding, and officials say the visit will build on this foundation. It also follows Chaturvedi’s recent academic visit to Dongguk University in Seoul, with both sides keen to expand cooperation in education, culture and research rooted in shared intellectual and spiritual traditions.
