THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Dhanbad, February 27: The Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, will host the prestigious HERITAGE Network General Assembly 2026 from March 1 to March 4, 2026, bringing together leading academic institutions from India and Europe on a common platform for research and educational collaboration.
The four-day international gathering is being organised by the Office of the Dean (International Relations & Alumni Affairs) in association with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
Director to Inaugurate; Global Academic Leaders to Participate
The formal opening ceremony will be graced by Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, along with distinguished members of the HERITAGE Network.
The ceremony will feature welcome addresses by the President of the HERITAGE Network, Prof. Teresa Zielinska, and the Vice-President of the HERITAGE Network, Prof. Vimal Chandra Srivastava, along with institute authorities.
Strengthening Internationalisation and Strategic Partnerships
Prof. Rajni Singh, Dean (Corporate Communications), said, “Hosting the HERITAGE Network General Assembly 2026 is a matter of great pride for IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. It reflects the Institute’s strategic emphasis on internationalisation, collaborative research, and meaningful global partnerships.”
She added that by bringing together academicians, researchers and policymakers from India and Europe, the Assembly would strengthen institutional linkages and contribute to innovative and sustainable solutions to emerging global challenges.
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Prof. Tanmoy Maity, Associate Dean (IRAA) and Convenor of the Assembly, said the General Assembly would serve as a dynamic platform to deepen India–Europe collaboration and promote joint research initiatives.
Prof. Alok Das, Dean (IIE) and Co-convenor, remarked that the Assembly would facilitate meaningful academic dialogue and innovation-driven cooperation, aligning with the Institute’s vision of global academic integration.
Workshops, Thematic Conferences and Future Roadmap Discussions
Prof. Somnath Chattopadhyay, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Co-convenor, noted that thematic conferences and parallel workshops would encourage collaborative research, knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary engagement among faculty and researchers.
Prof. Saurabh Datta Gupta, PIC (IRAA) and Member of the Organising Committee, said deliberations on future initiatives, new memberships and the Network’s roadmap would help shape sustained international cooperation in higher education.
Prof. Shibayan Sarkar, Associate Professor (Mechanical Engineering) and Member of the Organising Committee, added that structured workshops, poster presentations and faculty interactions would foster academic synergy and open avenues for long-term collaborative projects.
The Organising Committee also includes Shri Ashish Kumar, Technical Officer (Mechanical Engineering), as Member, and Shri Mritunjay Sharma, AR (IRAA), as Secretary.
Parallel Workshop on March 3; 2027 Host Institution to Be Selected
A key highlight of the programme will be the Parallel Workshop on March 3 (Day 2), conducted under the guidance of Prof. Arun Dayal Uday, Prof. Zafar Alam, Prof. Deepak K. Mandal and Prof. Omkar Mypati of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, along with Prof. Vibek Dutta of WUT, fostering collaborative group work and poster presentations.
The General Assembly will include thematic conferences, networking sessions, management meetings, strategic discussions on the future roadmap of the Network, and the selection of the 2027 host institution.
The concluding day will feature cultural engagements, campus visits, laboratory tours and faculty interactions.