Ahmedabad, March 07, 2024: Some 1,860 students of Swarrnim Startup and Innovation University received their educational degrees at the Convocation 2024 held at the university’s campus on Wednesday. Swarrnim Startup and Innovation University is the country’s first startup university which was established in 2017.
Shri Punit Lalbhai, vice chairman and executive director of Arvind Limited, remained present as the chief guest of the ceremony. Along with him, noted actor, Shri Gulshan Grover was also present as the guest of honour at the event.
Delivering the keynote address, Shri Punit Lalbhai said, “People who move ahead in life with a positive attitude are always resilient. From birth to death, we live life with a set of standards and values. Through my young days I recall how I practiced meditation with my father. Heartfulness comes with pausing stress levels, getting in touch with your feelings and shifting your focus for well-being from outside to inside. My real education began when I joined Heartfulness and not when I graduated.”
Shri Punit Lalbhai also conducted five minutes of Heartfulness meditation method during the convocation ceremony.
Students Akshay Arora in BCA – DS; Nidhi Parekh in BHMS; Chintan Patel in Master of Planning (Urban Planning); Parikshit Kher in BTech – Computer Engineering; Ayushi Bhavsar in BSc – Nursing; Keshavi Padaliya in Bachelor of Physiotherapy; and Chirag Patel in MSc in Chemistry were awarded Gold Medals for academic discipline. The university also felicitated Student & faculty startups and budding entrepreneurs with Gold medals.
OPS Enterprises, Wet Coal, GreenEvon Bio Private Limited and JetWheelz were among the startups which were awarded Gold Medal as part of the ceremony.
Interestingly, student-degrees were conferred through DigiLocker. Student degrees were given through DigiLocker for the first time in the history of a private university. DigiLocker is a central government depository which is managed by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Telecommunications.
Delivering the keynote address, Shri Gulshan Grover, said, “As I look back I remember the hardships I faced during my stint with Lady Shri Ram College of Commerce. I secured distinction results in seven subjects in BCom and MCom and later tried my luck at acting. Study is the only key to success. The real meaning of education is to develop skills that help one tackle the problems mindfully and wisely”. When I got invitation from the university and was trying to understand why this university is so special with name, now I got to know here in this convocation itself through briefed by the university management and ab to dil garden, garden ho gaya swarrnim me aake”.
During the academic year 2023-24, Swarrnim Startup and Innovation University implemented the National Education Policy (NEP) for enhanced learning and entrepreneurial opportunities. Moreover, some 70 plus Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed by the various constituent institutes with several companies and institutions.
Students, faculty members and research scholars from different spheres like Engineering, Design, Business, Science, Homeopathy, Nursing, Physiotherapy and Agriculture, among others published research papers and books and also filed for patents.
Shri Rishabh Jain, president, Swarrnim Startup and Innovation University, said, “Our University has come a long way. Our academic journey began in 2005 with the Aarihant Pharmacy College. During the course, we were inspired by the Union Government campaign project on Startup India and Standup India schemes campaign. Later in 2017, the Swarrnim Startup and Innovation University was launched. This university is blessed by 108 Acharaya Maharaja Vidyasagar Jain spiritual Sant”.
Shri Jain also announced a new skill training centre named Acharya Vidyasagar Skill and Training Institute which offers various vocational and allied programmes. He further added, that by adding new wings of offering 360 degree complete education, Swarrnim Group is embarking with Swarrnim Global School and once children enter in Swarrnim School, he/she will take School board certificate to PhD Degree, means Child can complete Nursery to PhD degree with us. Shri Jain also urged students that as they graduate and ready to face the world, they should practice touching parents’ feet daily to get good energy and positive vibes.