H.E. Benedikt Höskuldsson, Ambassador of Iceland, Visits Sister Nivedita University…

Kolkata, June 03, 2026* : Sister Nivedita University (SNU) had the distinct honour of welcoming His Excellency Mr. Benedikt Höskuldsson, Ambassador of Iceland to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, to its campus on June 03, 2026The Ambassador Mr. Benedikt Höskuldsson was warmly received by Hon’ble Chancellor Shri Satyam Roychowdhury, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Dr. Anupam Basu, Hon’ble Pro-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay, along with senior university officials, faculty members, and students. During his visit, His Excellency Mr. Benedikt Höskuldsson engaged with members of the university community and gained valuable insights into the diverse academic, research, innovation, and internationalisation initiatives undertaken by Sister Nivedita University. The interaction provided an opportunity to showcase the University’s commitment to fostering global partnerships, interdisciplinary learning, and socially relevant research.Having previously served as Special Envoy for Climate, Mr. Höskuldsson shared his perspectives on the pressing environmental and climate challenges confronting the world today. He emphasised the collective responsibility of society, particularly that of young people and students, in addressing the adverse impacts of climate change, promoting sustainable practices, and contributing towards a more resilient future.

Significantly, his visit, held just days ahead of World Environment Day on 5 June, sparked meaningful discussions on potential avenues of collaboration between the Embassy and Sister Nivedita University. These conversations centred around initiatives led by the Nivedita Centre of Excellence for Environmental Sustainability (NCEES), the School for Lifelong Learning (SLL), the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), and other interdisciplinary research centres of the University. The dialogue reflected a shared commitment to advancing sustainability, climate awareness, innovation, and knowledge exchange through collaborative academic and research engagements. Welcoming the distinguished guest, the Hon’ble Chancellor highlighted the University’s commitment to fostering global academic partnerships, promoting innovation-driven education, and preparing students to become responsible global citizens. He expressed hope that the visit would further strengthen educational and cultural ties between Iceland and India.His Excellency Mr. Höskuldsson appreciated the University’s academic achievements, vibrant student community, and its vision for international engagement. He shared perspectives on Iceland’s higher education ecosystem, sustainability initiatives, technological advancements, and opportunities for academic and research collaboration between institutions of the two countries. The visit featured discussions on potential avenues of cooperation in areas including higher education, student and faculty exchanges, research collaborations, innovation, sustainability studies, renewable energy, and cultural exchange programmes. Students had the opportunity to engage with the Ambassador through an interactive session, where he addressed questions on diplomacy, international relations, innovation, environmental sustainability, and Iceland’s unique contributions to global development. The visit concluded with an exchange of mementoes and a vote of thanks, marking the beginning of a promising dialogue aimed at strengthening academic and cultural cooperation between Sister Nivedita University and institutions in Iceland.Sister Nivedita University expresses its sincere gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Benedikt Höskuldsson for his visit and looks forward to exploring future collaborations that will enrich learning, research, and global engagement opportunities for its students and faculty.