Shillong, October 31 : Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated the first academic session of the Shillong Government College of Engineering at Mawlai, marking a historic moment for Meghalaya’s higher and technical education. The event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil Ahammed, Commissioner & Secretary (Education) Vijay Kumar Mantri, and Arts and Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai.
In his address, Chief Minister Sangma called the occasion “truly historic”, noting that future generations would remember this as the day Meghalaya’s first government engineering college came to life. He thanked the Education Department, ministers, officers, and faculty for their contribution toward realizing this long-awaited project. “Starting late does not mean we will be left behind,” he said, emphasizing how technology can enable Meghalaya to leapfrog in development — just as India did through digital innovations like UPI and Aadhaar.
The Chief Minister cited a remarkable example of a young Khasi engineer from Shillong who developed cutting-edge software in the global S/4HANA migration market, valued at $10 billion. The software integrates Nvidia’s ‘Speed of Light’ concept, reducing testing time drastically. Sangma revealed that Nvidia officials had already visited Shillong to explore potential partnerships.
He announced that training for 50 youths under this initiative has begun, with plans to expand to 200–300 more, creating new opportunities in artificial intelligence, computing, and engineering.
Sangma announced that the second phase of the Shillong IT Park would be inaugurated by December, offering 3,000 new seats. A UK-based company has already expressed interest in setting up operations before the park’s official opening.
He further revealed that Shillong will host the National Artificial Intelligence Conference for the Eastern Region on December 3–4, 2025, positioning the state as a growing tech hub.
Addressing scholarship concerns, Sangma declared that Meghalaya will release scholarship funds in advance, without waiting for central disbursal. The Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme will be released before Christmas, and Centrally Sponsored Scholarships even before they arrive from the Government of India.
Reaffirming his commitment to human capital, Sangma stated, “Yes, we need roads and buildings, but ultimately, it is the quality of our people that determines the strength of our state.” He also mentioned that the Shillong Medical College is ready for inauguration pending confirmation from the Prime Minister or Home Minister.
Encouraging students, he concluded “Let’s not just look at where we are today — let’s look at where we want to go. Dream boldly. Think ahead. With the right courses, partnerships, and collective effort, we can achieve great things.”
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong congratulated the principal, faculty, and the first batch of 50 students, urging them to make the college one of India’s finest.
Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui highlighted the rapid growth in higher education under the current leadership. He noted that prior to 2018, Meghalaya had only five government colleges; today, new institutions have been established in Mawkyrwat, Rongjeng, Patharkhmah, and now Shillong.
He added that over 650 teaching posts have been sanctioned and student scholarships have grown from 6,000 before 2018 to around 45,000 today.
During the event, the Chief Minister also unveiled a plaque marking the inauguration of the college’s first academic session and laid the foundation stone for a new RCC building at Shillong Polytechnic. The project, funded by the North Eastern Council under the Ministry of DoNER, includes workshops, laboratories, a smart classroom, examination centre, and faculty rooms.
