Kolkata: Sister Nivedita University (SNU) welcomed Benedikt Höskuldsson, Ambassador of Iceland to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, to its campus on Wednesday. The visit highlighted opportunities for international academic cooperation, sustainability initiatives, innovation, and cultural exchange between India and Iceland.
The Ambassador was received by Satyam Roychowdhury, Chancellor of SNU, along with Vice-Chancellor Anupam Basu, Pro-Chancellor Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay, senior university officials, faculty members and students.
During his interaction with the university community, Ambassador Höskuldsson explored the institution’s academic, research, innovation and internationalisation initiatives. Discussions focused on strengthening global partnerships, promoting interdisciplinary learning and encouraging research that addresses societal challenges.
A former Special Envoy for Climate of Iceland, the Ambassador emphasized the urgency of tackling climate change and called upon students and young people to play an active role in advancing sustainability and environmental responsibility. His remarks gained added significance as the visit took place just ahead of World Environment Day on June 5.
The visit also opened discussions on potential collaboration between the Embassy of Iceland and SNU through 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. Both sides expressed interest in working together on sustainability, climate awareness, innovation and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Welcoming the distinguished guest, Chancellor Satyam Roychowdhury reaffirmed the university’s commitment to global academic engagement and innovation-driven education. He expressed hope that the visit would further strengthen educational and cultural ties between India and Iceland.
Ambassador Höskuldsson praised SNU’s academic achievements, dynamic student community and international outlook. He also shared insights into Iceland’s higher education system, renewable energy leadership, sustainability practices and technological innovations. The discussions explored future cooperation in student and faculty exchanges, joint research projects, innovation, renewable energy studies and cultural exchange programmes.
A key highlight of the visit was an interactive session with students, where the Ambassador answered questions on diplomacy, international relations, environmental sustainability, innovation and Iceland’s role in global development. The engagement provided students with a unique opportunity to interact directly with a senior diplomat and gain insights into global challenges and opportunities.
The programme concluded with an exchange of mementoes and a vote of thanks, marking the beginning of what both sides described as a promising dialogue aimed at expanding academic and cultural cooperation between Sister Nivedita University and institutions in Iceland.
According to official Icelandic government records, Benedikt Höskuldsson has been serving as Iceland’s Ambassador to India, as well as Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, since 2024 and previously served as Iceland’s Special Envoy for Climate.
