As part of its commitment to strengthening international academic collaborations and promoting excellence in teaching, research, and innovation, KISS Deemed to be University had the privilege of hosting Mr. Benjamin Abtan, Adjunct Professor at Sciences Po, Paris, from 27th July to 31st July 2026. The week-long academic engagement was coordinated by the Research and Development Cell (R&DC) in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC). The programme was designed to facilitate meaningful interactions among the University leadership, faculty members, research scholars, and students while fostering international academic collaboration and the exchange of ideas.
The visit focused on pedagogical innovation, policy-oriented writing, strategy management, international business, faculty development, and academic exchange. Through a series of lectures, workshops, interactive discussions, and training sessions, participants gained valuable exposure to international academic practices, innovative teaching methodologies, and contemporary global perspectives.
Day 1: Pedagogical Immersion, Academic Exchange and Preparation
Date: 27th July 2026
Venue: Conference Hall-2, Campus-3
The inaugural programme commenced at 3:30 PM with a warm welcome to the distinguished guest. The programme began with the ceremonial reception of Mr. Benjamin Abtan, followed by a video presentation showcasing the remarkable achievements of KISS Deemed to be University and the philosophy of the Art of Giving movement. The presentation highlighted the University’s outstanding contributions towards inclusive education, tribal empowerment, sustainable development, and community transformation.
The guest was formally welcomed and introduced by Dr. Snigdharani Panda, Director, IQAC and Joint Registrar, who highlighted Mr. Abtan’s distinguished academic career, his expertise in international public policy, and his association with Sciences Po, Paris.
Mr. Benjamin Abtan then delivered an insightful keynote address on “Pedagogical Immersion, Exchanges and Preparation.” He shared global perspectives on innovative teaching methodologies, learner-centred education, interdisciplinary research, and the growing importance of international academic collaboration. He emphasized the need to cultivate critical thinking, uphold research ethics, and promote policy-oriented research capable of addressing contemporary global challenges. His lecture encouraged participants to integrate international best practices into teaching, research, and institutional development.
An engaging question-and-answer session followed, during which faculty members, administrators, and research scholars actively interacted with the speaker. Discussions centred on international academic partnerships, collaborative research opportunities, policy-oriented writing, student mobility programmes, faculty exchange initiatives, and innovative classroom practices.
The programme concluded with the Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. Arpana Premi Lina Oraon, Director, Research and Development Cell, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Benjamin Abtan for his inspiring address and acknowledged the support of the University administration, IQAC, faculty members, and participants in making the programme a grand success. The inaugural session concluded with a group photograph commemorating the occasion.
Day 2: Policy-Oriented Writing Session for Indigenous Research Scholars
Date: 28th July 2026
The second day of the academic engagement featured an intensive session on Policy-Oriented Writing for the Ph.D. scholars of STRM and STCPE.
Mr. Abtan introduced the participants to the significance of evidence-based policy research and demonstrated how academic research can effectively contribute to policymaking and societal development. He explained the essential components of policy briefs, research reports, executive summaries, and policy recommendations, emphasizing clarity, analytical thinking, objectivity, and practical relevance.
Participants learned effective techniques for translating academic research into policy documents capable of influencing institutional and governmental decision-making. The session also highlighted the importance of ethical research practices, critical analysis, interdisciplinary approaches, stakeholder engagement, and effective communication while preparing policy documents.
The interactive discussions enabled scholars to present their research ideas and receive valuable suggestions on enhancing the policy relevance, social impact, and practical applicability of their doctoral research.
Day 3: Workshop on Strategy Management and International Business & Faculty Development Programme
Date: 29th July 2026
The third day comprised two significant academic engagements focusing on students and faculty members.
Workshop on Strategy Management and International Business
The morning session was attended by 50 final-year postgraduate students from the Department of Commerce and scholars from THTI and TLSTR.
Mr. Benjamin Abtan introduced participants to contemporary concepts of strategic management within the context of an increasingly globalized economy. The workshop covered strategic planning, organizational leadership, innovation management, global competitiveness, sustainable business practices, international market dynamics, risk management, and emerging business challenges.
Drawing upon international case studies and practical examples, he demonstrated how strategic decision-making influences organizational success in multinational environments. Students actively participated throughout the session and appreciated the opportunity to understand global business trends, leadership competencies, and international career prospects.
Faculty Development Programme – Batch I
The afternoon session was organized for 30 faculty members under the Faculty Development Programme.
Mr. Abtan discussed modern pedagogical practices, curriculum innovation, learner engagement strategies, interdisciplinary teaching, assessment reforms, and the integration of digital technologies in higher education. He encouraged faculty members to adopt outcome-based education, collaborative learning approaches, experiential teaching methods, and research-integrated pedagogy to enhance academic quality.
The session further explored international academic standards, faculty exchange programmes, collaborative research opportunities, institutional networking, and best practices adopted by globally reputed universities.
Day 4: Policy-Oriented Writing Session and Faculty Development Programme (Batch II)
Date: 30th July 2026
The morning session was conducted for 50 Ph.D. scholars from IKST and CIST.
Building upon the previous session, Mr. Abtan elaborated on advanced techniques of policy analysis, stakeholder mapping, evidence-based recommendations, and effective communication of research findings to policymakers, development agencies, and civil society organizations.
The discussions particularly focused on indigenous knowledge systems, tribal development, sustainable development goals, community-based participatory research, and strategies for transforming research findings into impactful public policies. Participants actively engaged in discussions and appreciated the practical orientation of the session.
During the afternoon, the Faculty Development Programme (Batch II) was conducted for 30 faculty members.
The session emphasized the internationalization of higher education, curriculum design, collaborative teaching models, academic leadership, digital pedagogy, research mentoring, publication ethics, and strategies for strengthening institutional research productivity. Faculty members found the programme highly informative and appreciated the practical insights shared by the resource person regarding future international collaborations.
Day 5: Workshop on Strategy Management and International Business (Batch II)
Date: 31st July 2026
The concluding day featured the second batch of the workshop on Strategy Management and International Business, attended by 50 participants, including students and Ph.D. scholars.
The workshop focused on strategic leadership, innovation ecosystems, entrepreneurship, international market expansion, organizational sustainability, global competitiveness, and leadership in a rapidly evolving world economy. Through interactive discussions and international case studies, participants explored practical approaches to addressing contemporary business challenges.
Mr. Abtan encouraged participants to become innovative leaders capable of addressing complex socio-economic issues through ethical decision-making, interdisciplinary collaboration, strategic thinking, and lifelong learning.
The programme concluded with an interactive feedback session during which participants shared their experiences, reflected on their learning outcomes, and expressed their appreciation for the enriching academic interactions throughout the week.
The visit of Mr. Benjamin Abtan proved to be a highly enriching and impactful academic initiative that significantly contributed to the University’s mission of promoting excellence in higher education, research, innovation, and international collaboration. The carefully designed week-long programme provided faculty members, research scholars, students, and academic leaders with valuable exposure to international academic practices, policy-oriented research, innovative teaching methodologies, strategic management, and global perspectives on higher education.
The academic interactions inspired participants to broaden their intellectual horizons, embrace interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthen policy-oriented research, and integrate international best practices into teaching, learning, and research activities. The visit also laid a strong foundation for future collaborations between KISS Deemed to be University and Sciences Po, Paris, thereby opening avenues for joint research, faculty exchange, student mobility, and international academic partnerships.
The successful coordination of the entire week-long programme was carried out by Dr. Arpana Premi Lina Oraon, Director, Research and Development Cell, KISS Deemed to be University, who meticulously planned and coordinated all academic engagements in close consultation with Mr. Benjamin Abtan, ensuring the smooth conduct and successful execution of every session throughout his visit. The programme concluded with a shared commitment to fostering sustained international academic cooperation and promoting excellence in research, innovation, and global engagement.
