Mangaluru: Santhosh Notagar, senior faculty member and Head of the Department of Computer Animation at St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), has been awarded a prestigious scholarship to attend the Asia Pacific Conference 2026 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, scheduled from May 15 to 17, 2026.
He will also deliver a talk at the conference on the “St Aloysius University Model for Open Knowledge Integration.”
Recognition at international level
Santhosh Notagar’s selection marks a significant achievement for both the institution and the region, as he is the only recipient of the Asia Pacific Conference scholarship from India and the South Asian region.
The recognition highlights his contributions to open knowledge initiatives and the global Wikipedia community.
Long-standing contribution to academia and open knowledge
With over 16 years of service in the Department of Computer Animation, Santhosh currently serves as the Head of the Department at St Aloysius University.
He also holds the responsibility of Co-Chair of the International & Domestic Relations Cell.
Over the years, he has actively contributed to several initiatives in the open knowledge ecosystem, particularly through Wikimedia and Wikipedia-related projects.
Contributions to Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects
Santhosh currently serves as the South Asian Ambassador for the Wikipedia Asian Month campaign.
Under his guidance, more than 2,000 Wikipedia articles in various languages have been created across South Asia.
As part of a Wikimedia Foundation-supported project in the United States, he has documented over 50 Karnataka folk culture videos and contributed them to Wikimedia Commons, helping preserve regional cultural heritage on global platforms.
National and international recognitions
His contributions have earned him several national and international scholarships and opportunities, including participation in:
- Wikisource Conference, Bali, Indonesia (2025)
- Train the Trainer Scholarship, Cochin (2023)
- Advanced Train the Trainer Programme, IIIT Hyderabad (2025)
- Wiki Technology Summit (2024)
- Oral Indic Culture Scholarship programmes in Delhi and Bengaluru (2024 & 2025)
These recognitions underline his active engagement in digital knowledge-sharing and cultural documentation initiatives.
Academic pride for St Aloysius University
The university community expressed pride in Santhosh’s achievement, noting that his selection for the Asia Pacific Conference reflects the institution’s growing contribution to global academic and knowledge-sharing platforms.
His upcoming presentation in Taiwan is expected to showcase innovative academic practices and open knowledge integration models developed at St Aloysius University.
Conclusion
Santhosh Notagar’s scholarship and participation in the Asia Pacific Conference 2026 stand as a remarkable achievement for St Aloysius University and highlight the increasing global recognition of academic and open knowledge initiatives emerging from the region.