Participants of the Inter-College Students’ Exchange Programme entitled SYNERGY 2025 at Don Bosco College, Tura.
Inter-College Students’ Exchange Programme entitled SYNERGY 2025 was organized by Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Don Bosco College, Tura, Meghalaya from 1st to 3rd May, 2025. Select students numbering up to twenty each from five colleges of Tura and forty students the host institution participated in this programme. The objectives of this maiden venture in Garo Hills was students’ self-discovery, learning from each other, enhancing academic and personal growth through exposure to different learning environments.
The program saw a grand opening by Shri Vibhor Aggarwal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills; while the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour of the Valedictory Function was Shri Rakkam A. Sangma, Minister of Education, Government of Meghalaya and Shri Himalaya M, Shangpliang (Retd IAS) Advisor to Minister of Education, Government of Meghalaya. All the dignitaries present at the Inaugural and the Valedictory Programmes exhorted the student-participants to work hard and to believe in themselves and realize true synergy by realizing their individual capabilities and giving their best to the society. The resource persons for the three-day programme was Shri Beryl B. Sangma, former AGM of Reserve Bank of India and Prof. Nikme Salse C. Momin from Department of Education, North-Eastern Hill University, Tura Campus, Tura. The programme also enjoyed the unstinting support of Fr. Januarius Sangma, the Principal of the College and Fr. John Paul Tirkey, the Vice Principal.
The five colleges that participated in SYNERGY 2025 are Tura Government College, Tura Christian College, Durama College, Miriam Russel Women’s College, PASF-Abong Noga Collge and Don Bosco College, Tura. The participants from these colleges feasted on the intellectual banquet of sessions on life-skills, career; and participated in debate and open-mike, quiz, role-play, group discussion, and cultural expression. A unique thing about SYNERGY 2025 was that it allowed adequate time for the students to express themselves in English, Garo or Hindi. The program was structured keeping in mind the young people’s need to express themselves.
Participants’ feedback was collected both collectively and individually. The overwhelming response was that this Programme accorded fresh avenues of learning and meeting and interacting with students from other colleges; and that more and more of this kind of programmes should be conducted bringing in all colleges of Garo Hills.
SYNERGY 2025 proved to be a highly productive and inspiring experience. Despite coming together for a short period, students from different colleges showcased remarkable talent, enthusiasm, teamwork, and creativity. The event also brought to the fore the potential of collaboration among young minds from across institutions. As this was the very first SYNERGY, it can be the beginning of a meaningful tradition that can grow stronger each year.
At the end of the programme, a plan of action was chalked out to take this initiative forward and make it even better in the years to come. Accordingly, the following action plan was adopted by the organizers: A wider participation involving all colleges of Garo Hills; programme with longer duration and wider range of events and activities; earmarking this SYNERGY 2025 as a foundation to build strong bonds among the institutions in Garo Hills. (This collaboration can pave the way for joint initiatives such as NSS activities, tackling local issues, inter-college meets, and fostering leadership and community engagement among students.)
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