Room IT 04 brought together eight groups, Groups 25 to 32, comprising faculty members from diverse colleges and disciplinary backgrounds. Through an intensive ideation and refinement process, hundreds of initial ideas were generated, debated, and consolidated. From these, eight proposals were shortlisted for the elevator pitch session. Following the pitching and evaluation process, two proposals, presented by Group 28 and Group 30, were selected for advancement to the final round.
The ideas presented reflected strong alignment with the Royal University of Bhutan’s strategic priorities, particularly in the areas of innovation, sustainability, academic reform, and institutional integration.
Group 25 proposed Lifelong Learning as the DNA of the RUB Fraternity: Mission in Action, an initiative aimed at embedding lifelong learning into the university’s academic culture. The proposal emphasised a shift from content focused teaching to self directed learning through passion based assignments, faculty development, and curricular reform to produce adaptable graduates.
Group 26 presented an Integrated Marketing Strategy to Attract International Students, advocating formal partnerships with international educational consultancy firms to enhance RUB’s global visibility, attract a diverse student population, and protect institutional reputation.
Group 27 proposed Flexible Pathways in Higher Education, a model allowing lateral movement between related disciplines through a structured credit transfer system. The initiative aims to reduce academic stagnation, improve retention, and align graduate skills with national workforce needs and strategic projects such as the Gelephu Mindfulness City.
Group 28, whose proposal advanced to the final round, introduced the RUB Innovation Hub. The initiative proposes a central platform to bridge the gap between academic research and real world application by curating promising student and faculty projects and connecting them with external stakeholders for piloting and scaling.
Group 29 focused on Translating Research into Actionable Communication Products, proposing the conversion of academic research into accessible and visually engaging formats through a central digital platform. The initiative aims to strengthen the research to practice pipeline and position RUB as a credible advisory institution.
Group 30, also selected for the final round, presented TimberWall 2.0 Pioneering Sustainable Construction Innovation in Bhutan. The proposal advocates a locally engineered prefabricated timber infill system to replace carbon intensive masonry, supporting sustainable construction, local industry development, and Bhutan’s environmental commitments.
Group 31 proposed An Integration Hub to enhance coordination of academic resources across RUB’s eleven colleges. By mapping faculty expertise and curricular overlaps, the hub would facilitate collaboration, reduce duplication, and improve teaching quality.
Group 32 concluded with Academic Excellence in the Age of AI The Cognitive Fortification, a framework for ethically integrating artificial intelligence into higher education while safeguarding critical thinking, originality, and academic integrity.
Overall, the IT 04 hall demonstrated strong intellectual engagement, practical innovation, and alignment with national and institutional priorities. The diversity and quality of proposals reflected a mature understanding of both systemic challenges and forward looking solutions within the RUB ecosystem.