Shillong, Oct 31: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday inaugurated the first academic session of the Shillong Government College of Engineering at Mawlai, Shillong. The event marks a significant milestone in Meghalaya’s higher and technical education sector.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Chief Secretary Shakil Ahammed, Commissioner and Secretary (Education) Vijay Kumar Mantri, and Arts and Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai attended the inaugural ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister described the launch as a “historic moment” for the state and expressed gratitude to all departments, officials, and faculty members who played a role in establishing the college. He stated that despite starting late, Meghalaya has the potential to make rapid progress in the field of technology and innovation.
Sangma cited the example of a young engineer from Shillong who developed advanced software used globally in S/4HANA system migration, integrating Nvidia’s “Speed of Light” concept that reduced testing time significantly. He added that Nvidia officials had already visited Shillong to explore collaboration opportunities.
The Chief Minister informed that training for 50 youths has already started under this initiative, with plans to train an additional 200–300 in the next phase. He also announced that the second phase of the Shillong IT Park, accommodating about 3,000 seats, will be inaugurated by December, with a UK-based company expressing interest in starting operations prior to its formal opening.
Highlighting Meghalaya’s growing role in the tech sector, Sangma announced that the National Artificial Intelligence Conference for the Eastern Region will be held in Shillong on December 3–4, 2025.
Addressing scholarship concerns, the Chief Minister said the state government will now release student scholarships in advance, even before funds are disbursed by the Government of India. The Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme will be released before Christmas.
Reiterating the government’s focus on human capital, Sangma said that while roads and buildings are essential, the strength of the state lies in the quality of its people. He also mentioned that the Shillong Medical College is ready for inauguration and is awaiting confirmation from the Prime Minister or Home Minister for its formal launch.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong congratulated the principal, faculty, and the first batch of 50 students, encouraging them to strive toward making the college one of the best in the country. Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said that Meghalaya has seen rapid growth in higher education since 2018, with new government colleges established in Mawkyrwat, Rongjeng, Patharkhmah, and now Shillong.
He added that more than 650 posts have been sanctioned for different colleges and that the number of scholarship beneficiaries has increased from about 6,000 before 2018 to nearly 45,000 students today.
During the programme, the Chief Minister unveiled a plaque marking the commencement of the 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, will include workshops, laboratories, a smart classroom, an examination centre, and teachers’ rooms.
