On the final day of the Annual Faculty Meet, Groups 26 to 50 convened in Hall II for the first round of elevator pitching. Following morning preparation sessions in their respective classrooms, a total of twenty-five groups gathered to present their ideas. Each group was allotted five minutes to pitch its proposal, after which participants evaluated the presentations using rubrics provided by the Programme Committee. Members of the Programme Committee facilitated the session and oversaw the evaluation process.
Pitches were assessed live through a QR code-based voting system using predefined criteria that included innovation, feasibility, potential impact, and alignment with the Royal University of Bhutan’s mission and strategic priorities. The session progressed in a structured and time-bound manner, allowing all groups an equal opportunity to present while ensuring a smooth and orderly flow.
Based on the aggregate scores from the evaluation, four ideas from Hall II were shortlisted to advance to the afternoon Grand Finale Pitching Round. These were Group 28 RUB Innovation Hub, Group 30 TimberWall 2.0, Group 38 e WAMIS, and Group 40 DrukRigpa. These proposals stood out for their clear implementation pathways, strong institutional and national relevance, innovative use of technology or sustainable practices, and close alignment with RUB’s strategic pillars of efficiency, sustainability, and digital transformation. With four finalists selected from each hall, the total number of ideas advancing to the Grand Finale stood at sixteen.
The pitching session revealed several converging themes across proposals. Digital transformation emerged as a dominant focus, with multiple groups advocating for centralised platforms to integrate information, manage resources, and enhance coordination across colleges. Proposals also highlighted the need to increase the visibility and accessibility of the university’s research output through shared digital forums.
Mental health and well-being formed another prominent thematic area. Several ideas emphasised the importance of establishing integrated support systems that combine online and on-campus services, including counselling access, dedicated coordinators, and structured mental health programmes for students.
Academic coordination and curriculum flexibility were also strongly represented. Proposals such as Integration Hub and Flexible Pathways aimed to improve student mobility and academic adaptability by mapping faculty expertise, aligning curricula, and enabling credit portability across disciplines and colleges.
Other ideas focused on strengthening RUB’s global positioning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and contribution to national development. Initiatives such as NOVA promoted collective engagement across all colleges on nationally significant challenges, while proposals positioning RUB as a national think tank sought to bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice.
Overall, the Hall II elevator pitch session showcased a rich diversity of innovative and forward-looking ideas grounded in the values of Gross National Happiness and national self-reliance. The proposals reflected a shared commitment to enhancing academic excellence, institutional integration, digital innovation, and societal impact, contributing meaningfully to the objectives of the Hundred Ideas Summit.