Dear APAN Community,

I’m writing to share my reflections on a truly transformative experience as an APAN59 Fellow in Yokohama. The opportunity to immerse myself in the vibrant world of advanced networking, cybersecurity, and digital transformation alongside leading experts from across the Asia-Pacific region was invaluable. I gained not just knowledge, but also a renewed sense of purpose and a network of passionate collaborators.

One of the most profound takeaways from APAN59 was a deeper understanding of the power of Eduroam. Before the meeting, I knew of Eduroam but didn’t truly grasp its potential to revolutionize access to network resources for the research and education community. Seeing firsthand how NRENs across the region leveraged Eduroam to provide seamless and secure roaming access for their students and researchers ignited a desire to bring this transformative service to my institution, National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU).

My Commitment to Eduroam at NFSU

Currently, our students and researchers face significant hurdles when accessing network resources while visiting other academic institutions. They often rely on guest networks with limited bandwidth and security, hindering their ability to collaborate effectively and access essential research materials. Implementing Eduroam would eliminate these barriers, providing our community with a secure and reliable connection wherever they go.

My immediate goal is to initiate a comprehensive assessment of the technical and administrative requirements for Eduroam implementation at NFSU. This will involve working closely with our IT department to:

• Evaluate our existing network infrastructure: Assessing compatibility with Eduroam standards and identifying any necessary upgrades or modifications.
• Develop a detailed implementation plan: Outlining the steps involved in configuring our network, establishing authentication protocols, and ensuring seamless integration with the global Eduroam network.
• Address security considerations: Implementing robust security measures to protect user data and network integrity.
• Seek institutional buy-in: Presenting a compelling case to university leadership, highlighting the benefits of Eduroam for our students, researchers, and faculty.
• Establish partnerships: Connecting with experienced Eduroam implementers at other universities in India and the region to learn from their successes and avoid common pitfalls.

I plan to present a proposal for Eduroam implementation to our university’s IT steering committee by Q3 2025, with the aim of launching the service by the start of the 2026 academic year.

Elevating NFSU’s Role within ERNET India

Beyond Eduroam, APAN59 underscored the vital role of NRENs in driving innovation and supporting research and education on a national scale. Witnessing the impactful initiatives undertaken by other NRENs, such as facilitating open science practices, enabling data sharing, and providing cybersecurity training, inspired me to advocate for a stronger presence of NFSU within our national research and education network, ERNET India.

I envision NFSU actively contributing to ERNET India’s efforts to:

• Enhance cybersecurity posture: Sharing our expertise in network security and collaborating on joint cybersecurity training programs for students and faculty.
• Promote open science practices: Developing and implementing data sharing policies and infrastructure to facilitate open access to research findings.
• Support high-performance computing: Leveraging our HPC resources to contribute to ERNET India’s shared computing infrastructure, enabling researchers across the nation to access cutting-edge computing power.
• Develop a national research data repository: Working to establish this national data repository, making more resources available to all users and encouraging the distribution and retention of knowledge for years to come.

I believe that by actively engaging with ERNET India, NFSU can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of research and education in India and contribute to the broader goals of APAN in fostering connectivity and innovation across the Asia-Pacific region.

A Call to Action

I’m eager to connect with members of the APAN community who have experience in Eduroam implementation or NREN collaboration within India. Your insights and guidance would be invaluable as I embark on this journey to transform connectivity and foster a more vibrant research and education environment at NFSU.

Thank you again to APAN for this life-changing experience. I look forward to collaborating with all of you to build a brighter future for research and education in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

#APAN59 #Eduroam #ERNETIndia #Connectivity #Research #Education #GlobalCollaboration #India #NFSU #HigherEd #Innovation #Networking