Paro College of Education launched its Inaugural President’s Lecture Series on 22 September 2026 with a lecture by the College President, Dr Phuntsho Wangdi, titled “Transforming Education through Bhutanese Values for a SMART and Enlightened Citizenry.”
The lecture centred on the Royal Kasho on Education Reform, issued on the National Day of 17 December 2020, and His Majesty The King’s vision for a transformative Bhutan. Dr Wangdi described the Royal Kasho as a profound national call to shape education in response to a rapidly changing world while ensuring that Bhutan’s development remains anchored in its identity, values and aspirations.
He submitted five key areas of educational transformation inspired by the Royal vision: safeguarding national sovereignty and unity, strengthening Bhutanese values, shifting from content-based to skills-focused education, nurturing character, and integrating technology into teaching and learning. He emphasised that education must prepare young people to become creative, innovative, technologically capable and globally competitive while remaining compassionate, responsible and deeply rooted in Bhutanese values. Dr Wangdi further explained that the vision of a SMART citizenry, defined by Sincerity, Mindfulness, Astuteness, Resilience and Timelessness, calls for an education system that develops both competence and character. Such an education should nurture enlightened citizens who possess the knowledge, skills, values and motivation required to contribute meaningfully to national progress.
The lecture also reaffirmed the responsibility of Paro College of Education, as a premier teacher-education institution, to translate His Majesty’s vision into meaningful action. Proposed initiatives include student enrichment and community outreach programmes, conference/ seminar series, mindfulness and wellbeing education, strengthened research and innovation, technology-enabled learning, and the development of a green and sustainable campus.
The Lecture Series will become a special institutional feature of the College, providing a regular platform for intellectual engagement, professional learning and the exchange of transformative ideas. Guest, faculty and student lecture series are in the pipeline followed by podcasts and digital educational content, creating opportunities for distinguished speakers, academics and students to share their knowledge, experiences, research and innovative perspectives with the wider College community.