Delhi University's Hindu College Concludes Landmark STFAS-2026 Sustainability Conference
The International Conference on Sustainability through Fundamental and Applied Sciences (STFAS–2026), hosted at Hindu College within the University of Delhi, successfully concluded after three days of intensive academic engagement. This significant event brought together eminent academicians, industry leaders, and policy experts for interdisciplinary deliberations that addressed critical aspects of sustainable development through scientific advancement.
Panel Discussion on Fourth-Year Undergraduate Program Implementation
A major highlight of the conference's final day was the comprehensive panel discussion titled “Fourth Year Undergraduate Programme – Early Experiences, Challenges and Way Forward.” This session brought together leading academic administrators from prominent Delhi University colleges to share valuable insights about implementing the extended undergraduate curriculum.
The distinguished panelists included:
- Prof. K. Ratnabali, Dean (Academic Affairs), University of Delhi
- Prof. Bijayalakshmi, Principal, Miranda House
- Prof. Ajay Arora, Principal, Ramjas College
- Prof. Rama, Principal, Hansraj College
- Prof. Simrit Kaur, Principal, Shri Ram College of Commerce
- Prof. Anju Srivastava, Principal, Hindu College
Curated by Prof. Shalini Suryanarayan, Director of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell at Hindu College, the discussion provided a platform for institutional leaders to examine early implementation experiences, identify emerging challenges, and develop strategies for strengthening academic structures to enhance student learning outcomes.
Prof. Anju Srivastava, Principal of Hindu College, emphasized the critical importance of such dialogues for refining higher education frameworks in alignment with evolving academic and societal needs. She noted that the collective experiences shared by institutional leaders would significantly contribute to shaping a more robust and student-centric undergraduate system that better prepares graduates for contemporary challenges.
Addressing Industry-Academia Skill Development Gap
Another engaging panel discussion focused on “Bridging the Skill Gap: Universities on the Road of Preparing Industry-Ready Graduates,” exploring the dynamic interface between academia and industry requirements. This session featured distinguished speakers from diverse professional backgrounds who examined how educational institutions can better prepare students for the rapidly evolving global workforce.
The panel included:
- Prof. Anjan Ray, Investment Partner at Navam Capital and former Director of CSIR–Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun
- Dr. Mukul Das, Director, Shriram Institute, Delhi
- Dr. S. S. V. Ramakumar, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, AM Green, Noida
- Dr. Prashant Singh, CEO, Odisha Hydrogen Valley Foundation, IIT Bhubaneswar
- Dr. Rimika Kapoor, Founder, Green Loop Clean Technologies, Delhi
- Dr. Suraj Tandon, Head (ESG), EverEnviro Resource Management Pvt. Ltd., Gurugram
- Dr. S. K. Bose, CEO, Hydrocarbon Sector Skill Council, Noida
- Prof. Reena Jain, Vice Principal, Hindu College
- Prof. Rajdeep Singh Rawat, Head, Natural Sciences and Science Education, NIE, NTU, Singapore
The discussion underscored the paramount importance of skill development initiatives, strategic industry collaborations, and innovation-driven educational approaches in creating graduates who possess both theoretical knowledge and practical competencies demanded by contemporary employers.
Cutting-Edge Research and Conference Conclusion
The conference also featured an intellectually stimulating lecture titled “Plasma Nanotechnology: A Novel, Sustainable and Green Synthesis and Processing Tool for High-Performance Energy Storage and Conversion Electrode Materials.” This presentation highlighted cutting-edge advancements in sustainable materials science and energy technologies, perfectly aligning with the conference's core theme of leveraging scientific innovation for environmental sustainability.
The three-day international conference concluded with a formal valedictory ceremony addressed by Prof. Rajeev Gupta, Head of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Delhi. In his address, he lauded the conference for fostering meaningful academic exchange and emphasized the critical importance of interdisciplinary research and sustainable innovation in addressing pressing global challenges.
During the valedictory session, 17 participants received awards along with cash prizes for their outstanding oral and paper presentations, recognizing excellence in research and academic communication. The conference witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 300 delegates representing diverse academic and research institutions, making STFAS–2026 a resounding success that advanced the discourse on sustainability through scientific inquiry and educational innovation.
