Rajgir/Patna : Nalanda University has strengthened its academic and cultural engagement by signing three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with institutions in India, Hungary and Mexico over the past week. The partnerships aim to expand research collaboration, knowledge exchange, academic mobility and cultural studies.
The agreements involve the CSIR–Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (CSIR-TKDL) Unit, Dharma Gate Buddhist College in Budapest, Hungary, and Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero (UAGro), Mexico.
Alongside these partnerships, the university will host a two-day sustainability workshop on October 3 and 4, bringing together students, artists, craftspeople, self-help groups and community participants to explore traditional knowledge, creative practices and environmentally responsible living.
MoU With CSIR-TKDL to Promote Traditional Knowledge Research
Nalanda University signed an MoU with the CSIR-TKDL Unit on September 30, 2026, to strengthen cooperation in traditional knowledge, intellectual property rights (IPR), people’s rights and cultural heritage, including Traditional Cultural Expressions.
The agreement was signed at the university’s Rajgir campus by Professor Sachin Chaturvedi, Vice Chancellor of Nalanda University, and Dr Viswajanani J. Sattigeri, Head of the CSIR-TKDL Unit.
The partnership will facilitate joint research and academic activities, training programmes, student internships, exchange visits and intellectual exchanges. It will also create opportunities to identify and document traditional knowledge and cultural expressions, including those associated with Bihar.
Professor Chaturvedi highlighted the importance of documenting and preserving traditional knowledge in areas such as community ecological practices, folklore, music and other cultural traditions.
He said the collaboration would help connect traditional knowledge with contemporary research while raising awareness of intellectual property rights and protecting the interests of knowledge holders and local communities.
Dr Sattigeri highlighted the significance of the partnership in advancing India’s work on traditional knowledge and connecting it with Nalanda’s intellectual and cultural legacy.
Hungary Partnership to Strengthen Buddhist Studies
On September 30, Nalanda University also signed an MoU with Dharma Gate Buddhist College in Budapest, Hungary, to promote academic, educational, cultural and scholarly cooperation.
The agreement will explore opportunities for joint research supervision, teaching programmes, postdoctoral research, conferences, symposiums and academic publications.
It also provides for exchanges involving faculty members, research fellows and students, along with the sharing of academic publications and access to scholarly resources.
The partnership is expected to create opportunities for researchers and students from India and Hungary to engage with Buddhist studies and the broader intellectual and cultural traditions associated with India.
MoU With Mexican University to Expand Academic Cooperation
Nalanda University signed its third MoU with Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero (UAGro), Mexico, on September 24, 2026.
The agreement aims to strengthen academic cooperation between India and Mexico through student and faculty mobility, joint research projects, seminars, conferences and the exchange of academic information and publications.
Professor Chaturvedi emphasised the role of international partnerships in promoting education, research and closer people-to-people connections.
The online signing ceremony was attended by representatives of both institutions and the Embassy of India in Mexico.
The collaboration adds another international link to Nalanda University’s academic network and is intended to create opportunities for researchers and students to exchange knowledge and expertise.
Two-Day Sustainability Workshop From October 3
In a related initiative, Nalanda University will host a two-day workshop titled “Kalā, Kaushal aur Sahabhāgita” on October 3–4, 2026.
The programme is being organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Regional Office, Patna, in collaboration with the university and its Sahabhagita partners under the ICCR Horizon Series.
The workshop will bring together students, artists, craftspeople, members of self-help groups and other community participants to explore the connections between traditional knowledge, art and sustainability.
Bamboo, Mud, Straw and Jute to Feature in Sustainable Practices
The workshop will include sessions on traditional construction practices using locally available materials such as bamboo, mud, straw and jute.
Hands-on activities will focus on upcycling, reuse and circular economy practices, highlighting ways to reduce waste and make better use of available resources.
The programme will also showcase Bihar’s local knowledge and community-based practices, with an emphasis on sustainable and environmentally responsible living.
By combining practical activities with cultural and traditional knowledge, the initiative aims to encourage participants to explore how local materials and skills can contribute to sustainability.
Connecting Local Knowledge With Global Research
The three MoUs and the upcoming workshop reflect Nalanda University’s efforts to connect traditional and local knowledge with contemporary research, education and cultural exchange.
While the international agreements create avenues for cooperation with institutions in India, Hungary and Mexico, the sustainability workshop will focus on community participation and practical knowledge.
Together, the initiatives are intended to strengthen academic collaboration, promote cultural understanding and create new opportunities for students, scholars and communities to share knowledge across borders
