📅 April 20–24, 2026 · Second Edition

National Research Week 2026

The second edition of the National Research Week, held from April 20 to 24, 2026, served as a platform for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and aligning research outcomes with national socio-economic imperatives. It was organized by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research and coordinated by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC), it saw the participation of both public and private Higher Education Institutions.

Deliberations on Future Society and Human Development

The Friday, April 24, 2026 session focused on the theme "Future Society, Education, and Human Development". The morning session began with opening addresses by Assoc. Prof. Ravhee Bholah and Mrs. Mila Devi Seeruttun-Dosieah, both representing the Mauritius Institute of Education.

🎤 Keynote Address & Research Impact

Assoc. Prof. Nico Pizzolato of Middlesex University, London, delivered a keynote address titled, "Research futures: Designing tomorrow's sociotechnical imaginaries". This exploration of social theory and labor dynamics provided a theoretical grounding for the subsequent session, in which Prof. Romeela Mohee, Commissioner of the Higher Education Commission, examined the significance of carrying out Impactful Research.

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on AI and Higher Education

The morning concluded with a panel discussion titled, "To what extent is higher education and research shaping future-ready societies in the age of AI?". Moderated by Assoc. Prof. Anwar Rumjaun, the panel synthesized diverse perspectives from a distinguished group of academics:

Prof. Romeela Mohee · Higher Education Commission

Prof. M. Santally · University of Mauritius

Prof. H. Mariaye · Mauritius Institute of Education

Prof. Michael Anthony Samuel · University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

This dialogue underscored the urgent need for higher education institutions to evolve into proactive architects of societal change, particularly regarding the integration of artificial intelligence.

📌 A summary of the discussions for the morning session is provided in the following posts.

Significance of Impacful Research Role of AI in higher education

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