University tightens communication after robodog scandal
Galgotias University has rolled out a new communication framework and launched a search for a public relations head weeks after the institution faced criticism for presenting an imported robot dog as an indigenous innovation at an AI summit in February.
Vice Chancellor K. Mallikharjuna Babu released the framework to standardize how the university communicates internally and externally. The system sets guidelines for information flow across academic and administrative departments, with an emphasis on fact-checking and ethical disclosure.
The February incident
In February, Galgotias displayed a robot dog named Orion at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The device was an imported Unitree product, but the university presented it as an indigenous development. After the discrepancy became public, the government asked Galgotias to remove its stall and leave the summit. The university apologized the next day, attributing the error to an "ill-informed" representative.
New training and protocols
The university is conducting structured training sessions for students, faculty, and staff focused on professional communication practices. Topics include media engagement protocols, public speaking, presentation skills, and responsible participation in external events and digital platforms.
The university is bringing in industry practitioners and media professionals to lead some sessions. It has also posted a position for a dedicated public relations head, with plans to fill the role within two weeks.
Broader institutional shift
The communication framework is designed to strengthen alignment across academic and administrative units and ensure information remains consistent across platforms. Vice Chancellor Babu said the initiative will "ensure accurate, fact-checked, ethical and clear communication workflows both within the institution and externally."
The timing underscores a shift in how institutions view communication during crises. After reputational damage occurs, communication stops being a support function and becomes the central issue itself.
The university framed the effort as forward-looking, focused on strengthening collaboration and stakeholder engagement. But the sequence of events-crisis in February, communication overhaul in April-signals a direct response to institutional vulnerability.
For communications professionals, the case illustrates how quickly a single misrepresentation can expose gaps in organizational protocols. It also shows the scale of work required to rebuild credibility: training, structural changes, and leadership hires working in concert.
Learn more: AI for PR & Communications and explore the AI Learning Path for Public Relations Specialists for frameworks on managing institutional communication in complex environments.
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