GD Goenka University conducts fourth convocation

NEW DELHI, MARCH 1: The Fourth Convocation of the GD Goenka University was venerated by all present, marking a new chapter in students’ life. 421 graduands of Doctorate Degree, Masters, Bachelors and PG Diploma Programmes from 9 different schools namely School of Architecture & Planning, School of Communication, School of Education, School of Engineering, School of Fashion & Design, School of Hospitality, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Law and School of Management were awarded their degrees and diplomas.

The ceremony started with an academic procession led by the Registrar, Dr. Nitesh Bansal and members of Academic Council and Dignitaries. This was followed by the National Anthem and Invocation. The ceremony was graced by Pranab Mukherjee, Former President of India, Ghanshyam Tiwari, National Spokesperson, Samajwadi Party, Mrs. Renu Goenka Honorable Chancellor, GD Goenka University and Vice Chairperson GD Goenka Group, Mr. Nipun Goenka, Managing Director, GD Goenka Group and Mr. Rohit Gujral, Director, GD Goenka Group. Also present were Prof. (Dr.) Suku Bhaskaran, President, Prof. (Dr.) S. Shantha Kumar, Pro Vice Chancellor, Dr. Nitesh Bansal, Registrar of the University, Deans of respective Schools, University officials and Faculty members. After an adorning floral welcome of the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour, Mrs. Renu Goenka declared the convocation open.

Prof. (Dr.) Suku Bhaskaran, President of the University addressed and presented the annual report of the University. He started his address by extending a warm welcome to all the graduands, their family members and his academic and administrative colleagues to the fourth convocation of the University. He stated that the young University has lived by its byline - Foundation to Flight, apt, for in short span of five years it is ranked the number one private University in North India by ASSOCHAM and the best University for Pharmacy education by ABP news. He shared that the University started in 2013 with 500 students and now has 3000 students across 11 Schools and 72 programmes and has become the first-choice destination for students and staff members. Highlighting about the great impetus on robust research programmes of the University, he shared that in 2017-18 more than 200 scholarly outputs in the form of conference papers, journal articles and books were published and reviewed by the esteemed faculty members of the University and two faculty members from School of Engineering - Dr. Shashikant Gupta and Dr. Abhinav Gupta have successfully got a grant of Rs. 23 lakhs for multinational competitive research from Department of Science and Technology. Further reiterating the importance of both knowledge creation and dissemination, he drew attention on knowledge sharing being an important part of the University culture through enriching platforms and conferences, having earned repute in pertinent academic circles.

He further shared that in the present academic session 132 deserving students were provided partial and full waiver in fee. He took pride in sharing that the University had more than 300 companies from various industries in campus making GD Goenka a preferred hub for talent acquisition and registering a record of 89% placement for eligible and interested graduands.

He shared that the University’s major thrust is to build a student centric university for holistic growth and education which is provided to the students by means of diverse curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. In order to increase peer to peer learning, the University has come up with a newly designed compulsory Inter-Disciplinary project to be undertaken by every student. He added that in order to create a culturally and experientially diverse cohort, the University has students and staff from across India and overseas. To Internationalize the teaching, learning and research ecosystem, the University has a range of collaborative engagements with more than 70 Universities world-wide and has established linkages with more than twenty senior academicians and academic leaders from different countries and different disciplinary areas. He shared that the University is also a member of International Association of Universities and Association of Common wealth Universities.

He congratulated the graduands and appealed them to bring laurels to the University through their professional success.

The event proceeded with the Chief Guest Pranab Mukherjee adorning meritorious graduates with Shri Gopinath Goenka award. In total there were 24 medals awarded - 12 gold, 10 silver and 2 bronze medals were given to graduates for their exceptional academic excellence.