Sikkim teams up with Google to bring AI into higher education

GANGTOK, :  State Education minister Raju Basnet on Tuesday chaired a meeting between officials of the Education department and representatives of Google in his chamber at Tashiling Secretariat, Gangtok, to discuss strengthening the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies in the higher education sector of the State.

The meeting focused on exploring avenues for collaboration between the Education department and Google to enhance the digital capabilities of higher education institutions and equip faculty members with relevant AI-enabled tools and skills, informs a press release issued by the minister’s office.

The meeting was attended by Education principal secretary Dr. Sandeep Tambe, special secretary -cum-director (Higher Education) Ujjwal Rai, joint director (IT) Tshering Yangchen Bhutia along with representatives from Google.

As part of the collaboration, the Education department, Government of Sikkim, and Google signed and exchanged a Statement of Intent (SOI), formally marking the beginning of their cooperation in the area of digital and AI-enabled education. The SOI was signed by the authorised representatives of the Education department and Google and exchanged in the presence of the minister and officials.

According to the release, the collaboration will pave the way for the implementation of the Google AI Educator Series in Sikkim. The programme is a specialised, hands-on initiative aimed at helping higher education faculty members understand and effectively use contemporary AI tools and technologies in teaching and academic practices.

Under the programme, faculty members from 15 higher and technical government colleges as well as Khangchendzonga State University (KSU) will be provided exposure to Google’s AI tools and practical applications. The initiative will focus on enabling educators to integrate AI into classroom teaching, enhance lesson planning and teaching practices, develop more engaging learning experiences, and strengthen their digital capabilities.

The programme is also expected to support faculty members in adapting to emerging technologies and developing teaching methodologies suited to the evolving needs of students in a technology-driven educational environment. Through practical learning and hands-on engagement, educators will be encouraged to explore responsible and effective applications of AI in academic settings.

Speaking on the occasion, minister Raju Basnet welcomed the collaboration and emphasised the importance of embracing emerging technologies to further strengthen the education ecosystem in Sikkim. He highlighted the need to ensure that educators and educational institutions remain equipped to respond to the rapidly changing technological landscape and provide students with future-ready learning opportunities.

The collaboration between the Education department and Google marks a significant step towards strengthening digital transformation in higher education in Sikkim and creating greater opportunities for faculty and students to benefit from the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in education, the release adds.