Marking a historic milestone, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday inaugurated the first academic session of the Shillong Government College of Engineering at Mawlai — Meghalaya’s first state-run engineering institution. The event was attended by Dy CM Prestone Tynsong, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil Ahammed, and other dignitaries.
Calling the day “truly historic,” Sangma said the launch symbolised Meghalaya’s leap forward in technical education. He lauded the Education Department and faculty for realising the long-pending project, adding, “Starting late doesn’t mean being left behind — technology allows us to leapfrog.”
He cited the example of a Khasi engineer from Shillong who developed cutting-edge software for global S/4HANA migration using Nvidia’s Speed of Light concept — a ₹83,000 crore ($10B) market innovation. Nvidia officials have since visited Shillong, and training for 50 local youths in AI and computing has begun, with plans to expand to 300.
The CM also announced that the second phase of Shillong IT Park with 3,000 seats will open by December, and Shillong will host the National AI Conference for the Eastern Region on December 3–4, 2025.
Addressing students, Sangma encouraged them to “dream boldly and set high standards,” assuring that student scholarships will now be released in advance, with the CM’s Scholarship arriving before Christmas.
Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said that before 2018, Meghalaya had only five government colleges; now there are new ones in Mawkyrwat, Rongjeng, Patharkhmah, and Shillong, with scholarship beneficiaries rising from 6,000 to 45,000.
The CM also laid the foundation stone for a new RCC block at Shillong Polytechnic, funded by the North Eastern Council.
The launch of the Shillong Government College of Engineering marks a defining step toward empowering Meghalaya’s youth and building a future-ready, innovation-driven education ecosystem.
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