Shillong, Oct 8: Shillong Polytechnic on Thursday celebrated its Diamond Jubilee and the closing ceremony of its 60th anniversary celebrations at Mawlai Kyntonmassar, Shillong.
Addressing the gathering, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said Meghalaya currently has four polytechnics providing technical education, while three more are expected to come up soon as part of efforts to expand skill-based and technical education in the State.
Rymbui said Shillong Polytechnic has produced more than 10,000 graduates over the past six decades, many of whom have made significant contributions to the State and the country. He noted that several alumni have risen to senior positions, including Chief Engineers and Heads of Departments.
The Minister said the success of Shillong Polytechnic had also paved the way for the establishment of other institutions, including the Shillong Government College of Engineering and the College of Architecture and Urban Planning.
Speaking on the theme “Vocationalising the Future,” Rymbui said the rapidly changing technological landscape requires technical education institutions to continuously update their courses and training programmes.
He questioned whether automobile engineering graduates were adequately equipped to service electric vehicles and whether electrical engineering students had sufficient exposure to emerging areas such as solar and wind energy. He called upon polytechnics to establish stronger industry linkages to provide students with hands-on training and practical exposure.
Rymbui suggested tie-ups with automobile companies for practical training, agencies working in non-conventional energy for exposure to solar technologies, and cement factories in East Jaintia Hills for providing mechanical engineering students with industrial experience.
He also suggested that instead of limiting government support to sanctioning posts for new polytechnics, funds could be provided to institutions to engage faculty members and industry experts as required.
The Minister said the government alone could not meet all the requirements of technical education and stressed the need for out-of-the-box thinking to ensure that students acquire the skills required to remain employable in a changing job market.
MLA Mawlai Constituency Brightstarwell Marbaniang congratulated Shillong Polytechnic on completing 60 years of service and described the milestone as a reflection of the dedication and achievements of generations of students, teachers and staff.
He said alumni of the institution were serving across the State as engineers in various departments and that Meghalaya’s roads and public infrastructure stood as a testimony to their contribution.
Speaking on the theme “Vocationalising the Future,” Marbaniang recalled that during his school days in 1996-97, vocational education had very limited participation, with only one student opting for the stream at Government Boys’ Higher Secondary School.
He stressed that education must focus on three key pillars—practical learning, industrial collaboration and skill development—to equip students to meet the challenges of a changing economy and job market.
The Diamond Jubilee celebrations highlighted six decades of technical education, practical training and professional excellence at Shillong Polytechnic. A commemorative publication titled “Diamond Jubilee Celebration: Shillong Polytechnic 1965-2026” was also released during the concluding programme.
The celebration was attended by Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Director of Higher and Technical Education H.D.B. Sangma, MLA Mawlai Brightstarwell Marbaniang, H. Sangma, MCS, officials and other stakeholders.
Shillong Polytechnic was established in October 1965 under the erstwhile composite State of Assam and has since served as a cornerstone of diploma-level technical education in Meghalaya. Over the decades, its alumni have contributed to government departments, public sector undertakings, educational institutions, construction firms, power departments and private industries in the State, across the country and abroad.
The State’s technical education network expanded with the establishment of Jowai and Tura Polytechnics in 2001 with assistance from the World Bank under the Third Technician Education Project. The Meghalaya State Council for Technical Education was established in 1993 and oversees examinations, assessment, award of diplomas and academic matters relating to polytechnic courses in the State.
In recent years, Meghalaya has further expanded its technical education infrastructure with the establishment of the Shillong Government College of Engineering in 2022 and Williamnagar Polytechnic in 2026. The State also established the College of Architecture and Urban Planning in 2026, affiliated with Captain Williamson Sangma State University.
The expansion of technical and vocational education is aimed at strengthening practical learning, modernising laboratories and workshops, improving industry linkages and meeting the evolving skill requirements of the labour market.
