Manipur University has entered into a second Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi, to further deepen collaboration in academic and policy research. The agreement was formally signed on June 3, 2025, during the International Conference on Triangular Cooperation and South-South Cooperation organized by RIS.

With this new agreement, Manipur University joins a select group of 21 Indian universities under RIS’s “University Connect Hub” initiative, which aims to foster collaborative research, information exchange, and joint academic publications across areas of mutual interest.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Naorem Lokendra Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University, and Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General of RIS. The partnership is expected to elevate the university’s research footprint, especially in the Southeast Asian region.

Prof. Lokendra Singh underscored the strategic role of Manipur University in advancing academic engagement with Southeast Asia, particularly Myanmar, through the efforts of the Centre for Myanmar Studies. He described the renewed collaboration as a significant step toward expanding academic and policy-driven research, expressing optimism that the partnership would facilitate the meaningful exchange of ideas and strengthen regional understanding.

This latest MoU builds upon a previous agreement signed in January 2025, which focused on cooperation in Indo-Pacific affairs. The Centre for Myanmar Studies also played a central role in that earlier initiative.

University officials noted that Prof. M.C. Arun is coordinating the RIS University Connect Hub at Manipur University and continues to facilitate academic engagement with national policy platforms.