The session at IT-01 began on an energetic and collaborative note as participants from groups 1 to 8, assembled in their designated workspace and quickly settled into group-based teamwork. After brief introductions, each group identified a facilitator and engaged in initial conversations to build trust, rapport and a shared working rhythm before moving into focused discussions.
On day one, the first phase of the programme focused on problem identification, encouraging groups to reflect critically on systemic challenges within the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) and into its broader administrative, academic and governing ecosystem. Teams brainstormed on multiple ideas and prioritized challenges at the university, before converging their ideas to identify a common area for innovation.
The second day of the programme marked a transition from diagnosing problems to designing solutions. Groups translated their chosen challenges into structured proposals, clarifying the purpose, expected benefits and impact, feasible implementation steps, and possible risks. A World Cafe-style exchange supported cross-learning across groups, enabling participants to test assumptions, gather feedback, and polish their concepts. The session concluded with groups finalizing their abstracts and presentation slides for the final showcase.
The third day of the programme was dedicated to idea pitching, during which groups presented their proposals, outlining their problem statements, conceptual frameworks, and anticipated institutional impact to fellow participants from groups 1 to 25. Eight groups from IT-01 presented diverse proposals addressing critical dimensions of university transformation:
- Group 1 proposed an AI-powered hybrid career guidance ecosystem to bridge the gap between secondary and tertiary education by integrating performance tracking and reflective journaling from students, parents, and teachers.
- Group 2 introduced the “RUB Life Skills & Values Development Programme”, advocating a “Character Meets Competence” framework to systematically embed ethics, wellbeing, and life skills into higher education.
- Group 3 presented a strategic roadmap for RUB’s financial autonomy through diversified revenue streams, partnerships, innovation, commercialisation, and improved financial governance.
- Group 4 emphasised promoting an informed “choice over chance framework” in selecting RUB programmes for aspiring class 12 graduates, proposing early exposure, career orientation, and pathway awareness initiatives involving students, parents, and teachers.
- Group 5 outlined “Digital RUB – One University, One Digital Experience”, a phased digital transformation strategy targeting paper-based workflows and inefficiencies, aimed at creating a modular, cloud-based, unified, and data-driven institutional ecosystem, spanning across governance, learning, research and administration.
- Group 6 proposed a peer-led academic support model that transforms learners into co-educators, enhancing engagement, confidence, and academic adjustment through structured peer mentoring.
- Group 7, titled RUB ResearchVision26, proposed a phased partnership with an international publishing platform to elevate RUB journals into globally competitive Open Access publications, strengthening research visibility, sustainability, and impact.
- Group 8 introduced RAB Phandey, a university-wide welfare scheme designed to promote solidarity and provide timely financial support to employees and their families during bereavement.
In the first round of pitching, Group 7 from IT-01 was selected from the pitching hall to advance to the Grand Finale. Overall, the three-day programme concluded with a reflective spirit of collaboration, innovation, and the collective commitment to strengthening RUB’s future.