As Bhutan embarks on sweeping national reforms, the country’s largest institution of higher learning is undertaking its own moment of reflection and renewal. The first-ever faculty meet of Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) opened yesterday at the College of Science and Technology in Phuentshogling, drawing nearly 500 academics from across the university’s network of colleges.
The gathering, described as a milestone in RUB’s history, is designed to bring together the collective insight, experience and creativity of its faculty members to chart a stronger and more responsive future for higher education in Bhutan.
Branded as the “A Hundred Ideas Summit,” the meet seeks to cultivate collaboration and inspire innovative, practical proposals that can enhance academic quality, strengthen research, improve operational systems, expand global engagement and sharpen institutional identity.
RUB Vice Chancellor Chewang Rinzin said the summit represents more than a routine academic conference.
“This is a call to action for leadership, excellence and ideas,” he said. “Our country is changing, and we must change with it. Through this summit, we aim to generate one hundred concrete ideas that can guide our transformation.”
He noted that RUB’s colleges are geographically dispersed, making such a gathering particularly significant. “This platform allows us to come together as one university, exchange perspectives and discuss innovations that can shape our collective future,” he said.
According to the vice chancellor, the university has a heightened responsibility at a time when Bhutan is undergoing far-reaching reforms under the leadership of Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
“With so many transformations taking place, we cannot remain passive,” he said. “We are the largest and oldest university in the country, and regardless of where our colleges are located, we are one institution. We must think, plan and move forward together.”
He emphasized that the knowledge, skills, ethical leadership and innovation demanded by national reforms cannot simply be imported, but must be cultivated within the country—placing higher education, and RUB in particular, at the heart of Bhutan’s development journey.
Organizers expect the outcomes of the faculty meet to inform strategic directions and policy decisions in the coming years, helping to shape a university that is agile, relevant and closely aligned with Bhutan’s evolving national priorities.
As faculty members engage in dialogue and idea-sharing over the course of the summit, RUB hopes the initiative will mark the beginning of a more unified and forward-looking approach to strengthening higher education across the nation.
