The Sangam University, Bhilwara, Rajasthan, organised the 3rd International Conference on Analytical and Inter-disciplinary Research (ICAIR 2025) from 10-12 March 2025. The Conference attracted participation from several countries across the globe. In total, 217 research papers were presented and 10 keynote addresses were delivered by reputed scholars from the USA, India, Australia and Saudi Arabia on inter-disciplinary research.

In his address as the Chief Guest on this occasion, Dr B. Shadrach, Director, Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia, outlined the importance of analytical and interdisciplinary research, emphasising Sangam University’s multidisciplinary nature, research focus, and industry interactions. According to him, the key preconditions for fostering interdisciplinary research include institutional facilitation (breaking silos, funding, administrative support), cultural and attitudinal stimuli (avoiding disciplinary jargon, incentivising collaboration), logistical support (time allocation, data management, training), and addressing societal factors (local language research, resource access).

Professor (Dr) A. B. M. Obaidul Islam, Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Open University (BOU), is currently on an educational tour of India, organised by the Commonwealth of Learning’s Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA). The purpose of this visit is to gain a deeper understanding of India’s Open and Distance Learning (ODL) systems and to foster collaboration between COL-CEMCA and BOU.

As part of his tour, Professor Islam is visiting leading Indian institutions including Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). These visits are aimed at exploring India's innovative educational models, particularly in the context of open and distance learning, which caters to a wide range of learners at both the school and tertiary levels.

On 3 March 2025, Professor Islam visited IGNOU, a trailblazer in ODL in India. He engaged with faculty and staff to discuss strategies for enhancing access to quality education through distance learning. The visit highlighted the increasing importance of ODL in addressing educational challenges across South Asia.