HNLU signs global MoU with 20 universities at AUAP-WURI summit in Bangkok

Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur, has expanded its international academic engagement by signing a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Global University Innovation and Cooperation at the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP)-World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) Impact Summit 2026 in Bangkok.

The agreement was signed during the two-day summit held at the ICONSIAM Convention Centre on July 9 and 10. University officials said the partnership would strengthen global collaboration in higher education, research and innovation.

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The MoU was signed by 20 universities from South Asia, Southeast Asia and the United Arab Emirates. The agreement seeks to establish a long-term framework for institutional cooperation, with participating universities collaborating on academic programmes, research, innovation and sustainable development initiatives.

Representing HNLU at the summit, Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) VC Vivekanandan presented a case study on the university’s Research Hub and Spoke (R-HaS) model during the Innovation Case Study session. The presentation highlighted HNLU’s interdisciplinary research ecosystem, externally funded research projects and its emphasis on producing research with measurable societal impact.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Prof. Vivekanandan described the agreement as an important step in strengthening the university’s international academic presence. He said HNLU was actively showcasing its research initiatives through meaningful engagement with regional and global university associations.

He added that the multilateral MoU would help expand international academic partnerships and revealed that discussions had also been held with AUAP Secretary General Prof. Dr. Anoop Swarup and Executive Secretary Dr. Supaporn Chuangchid on organising collaborative conferences, joint research projects, faculty exchanges and other academic programmes in the near future.

The summit brought together university leaders, policymakers, academicians and innovators from different countries under the theme, “University Innovation in Partnership with Government: Policy, Mechanism, and Impact.” The conference served as a global platform for universities to exchange innovative institutional practices and explore new avenues for international cooperation in higher education.

Under Article 3 of the agreement, the participating institutions agreed to collaborate in several key areas. These include joint research and innovation projects, development of academic programmes, innovation case studies, conferences, workshops, faculty and student mobility, institutional policy innovation, entrepreneurship, start-up collaboration and the development of innovation ecosystems.

The Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) is among the region’s oldest higher education networks, promoting academic cooperation, quality assurance, leadership development and internationalisation across member institutions.

The World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), meanwhile, evaluates universities on innovation, entrepreneurship, industrial engagement, social responsibility and ethical leadership rather than relying solely on conventional research indicators.

HNLU noted that it has consistently secured international recognition in the WURI rankings for its institutional innovations, particularly in visionary leadership and impactful research.

Established in 2003, HNLU has emerged as one of India’s leading National Law Universities with a strong focus on legal education, interdisciplinary research, innovation and public policy. The university said its expanding global collaborations, policy-oriented research and growing international recognition reflect its long-term vision of becoming a globally respected institution in legal education and public service.