Leh/Kolkata, Mar 06: The University of Ladakh and the National Library of India (NLI), Kolkata, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at expanding academic collaboration, strengthening library and information science training, and facilitating access to national knowledge resources for institutions in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The agreement was signed on March 2 at the historic premises of the National Library of India in Kolkata. The ceremony was presided over by University of Ladakh Vice-Chancellor Prof. Saket Kushwaha and NLI Director General Prof. Ajay Pratap Singh, with delegations from both institutions participating in formal discussions and the exchange of documents.
The partnership is part of the National Library’s broader initiative to develop institutional ties with universities across the country. Through such agreements, the library seeks to establish structured frameworks for cooperation involving research collaboration, curriculum development and training in library and information science.
For Ladakh, which became a Union Territory in 2019 following its separation from Jammu and Kashmir, the collaboration is expected to widen access to academic resources and strengthen higher education capacity in the high-altitude region. The University of Ladakh, the only university in the territory, operates from dual headquarters in Leh and Kargil and oversees six constituent degree colleges spread across remote and sparsely populated areas.
Prof. Kushwaha described the collaboration as an opportunity to connect Ladakh’s academic community with one of the country’s largest knowledge repositories.
“This partnership will unlock access to the National Library’s extensive collections, enabling students and researchers to explore specialised areas such as Himalayan ecology, climate resilience and Buddhist studies,” he said.
According to officials, the agreement outlines several areas of cooperation. These include joint research initiatives on subjects of mutual interest, including studies related to Himalayan history and culture and technology incubation in knowledge domains.
The MoU also provides for student and faculty exchange programmes. Undergraduate and postgraduate students from the University of Ladakh will have opportunities to conduct research at the National Library, while candidates pursuing Master of Library and Information Science will be able to undergo short-term training programmes of one to two months.
The institutions will further collaborate on the exchange of publications and academic data and organise seminars, workshops and symposia to encourage scholarly engagement. An advisory committee comprising representatives from both sides will meet annually to review progress and guide future activities.
Officials said the two institutions also plan to jointly submit proposals for government grants to support collaborative initiatives, without the need for additional infrastructure investment.
The agreement reflects a growing effort to connect remote academic centres with national research networks, while promoting studies related to the Himalayan region’s environment, history and cultural heritage.
