Jalandhar, October 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Lovely Professional University (LPU) hosted the fifth edition of the Annual International Conference and Global Summit (AICGS 2026), welcoming more than 65 international delegates from over 20 countries to discuss global collaboration in higher education, research and cross-border academic opportunities.
Held over three days under the theme “Connected Futures: Where Global University Partnerships Deliver Real Impact,” the summit brought together university leaders and academic representatives to explore ways to transform international partnerships into meaningful, outcome-driven collaborations.
A major highlight of the event was the signing of eight new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with international institutions across seven countries: Switzerland, the United States, Estonia, Cyprus, Germany, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. The partner institutions include Swiss School of Management, Samuel Merritt University, Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences, University of Central Missouri, European University Cyprus, German Varsity, Saint Petersburg State University of Economics and City University Ajman.
The agreements are expected to create opportunities for joint research, academic exchanges and collaborative programmes, further strengthening connections between LPU’s students and faculty and the international academic community.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Col. Dr. Rashmi Mittal, Pro Chancellor of LPU; Dr. Aman Mittal, Vice President of LPU; Dr. Lovi Raj Gupta, Pro Vice Chancellor of LPU; and distinguished international delegates and representatives of partner universities.
The fifth edition of AICGS marked another milestone in the summit’s evolution as a platform for global academic dialogue, institutional engagement and the development of collaborative opportunities.
Addressing the gathering, Col. Dr. Rashmi Mittal emphasised the importance of building international partnerships that extend beyond formal agreements and create lasting opportunities for students and faculty. She said the true value of internationalisation lay in the people who brought partnerships to life through shared learning, academic exchange and sustained engagement.
She encouraged the visiting delegates to interact with LPU students, explore the university’s academic environment and experience India’s cultural diversity. Such interactions, she noted, could broaden perspectives and strengthen mutual understanding among academic communities.
Dr. Aman Mittal highlighted the expansion of LPU’s international network, stating that the university’s international MoUs had grown from 260 in 2022 to more than 600 MoUs and partnerships.
He emphasised that the success of internationalisation should be measured not by the number of agreements signed but by the opportunities and outcomes they generate. Student exchanges, faculty mobility, joint research, co-authored publications, doctoral co-supervision and collaborative academic programmes remain central to LPU’s strategy for developing meaningful global partnerships, he added.
The summit also addressed a key challenge facing international higher education: ensuring that global partnerships translate into tangible results. A panel discussion titled “Beyond the MoU: Measuring What University Partnerships Actually Deliver”, held under the subtheme “MoUs Don’t Change Universities. People Do”, examined the need to move beyond formal commitments towards active collaboration.
The discussion highlighted the importance of meaningful academic engagement, participation by students and faculty, and measurable institutional outcomes in determining the success of international partnerships.
As LPU marks 25 years of its journey, its Division of International Affairs has continued to expand the university’s global academic network, which now comprises more than 600 MoUs and partnerships. The AICGS 2026 summit further reinforced the university’s focus on strengthening international engagement and developing collaborations aimed at delivering practical academic and research outcomes.
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