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New Delhi, February 20: The Fourth Convocation of the GD Goenka University was venerated by all present, marking a new chapter in students’ life. The ceremony was held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi on February 20, 2019. The event marked an important milestone for the University, with the Convocation of its Class of 2018. 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.

GD Goenka University

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 Honorable Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Former President of India, Shri 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 is an important part of the University culture through enriching platforms and conferences, having earned repute in pertinent academic circles.

GD Goenka University

He further shared that in the present academic session 132 deserving students were provided a partial and full waiver in the 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 worldwide 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 the International Association of Universities and Association of Commonwealth 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 Honorable Former President of India, Shri 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.

This was followed by the convocation address delivered by Honorable Former President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. He applauded the University for its achievements. He congratulated all the graduating students, their family members, management and faculty members. Quoting Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s statement that “The end-product of education should be a free creative man, who can battle against historical circumstances and adversities of nature” he mentioned to the graduands that “This is just the end of a beginning which should be followed by another learning cycle as one should never cease to learn.” He suggested the graduands that as they complete their formal education and move forward they should not be anxious about their future and focus on their present as their future will be the result of their actions in present. He urged them not to be afraid of failures, trust themselves, be lifelong learners, adapts the change and become an agent of the change. He added that they must proceed with the attitude to learn, aptitude to learn new and have confidence in themselves.  

Highlighting the fact that India is the first developing nation making its mark on the global stage, he added that the need of the hour is to have an efficient industry-academia linkage and collaboration. As the real education does not lie merely in confinement in the classrooms, he stated that a greater connect with the outside world is what is required and the Universities should provide international exposure to its students by means of exchange programmes and dual degree programmes.

GD Goenka University

The convocation address by former President of India was followed by a keynote speech by Shri Ghanshyam Tiwari, National Spokesperson, Samajwadi Party. Shri Ghanshyam Tiwari started his keynote speech by expressing his gratitude towards the University for making him a part of this momentous occasion. Congratulating all the graduands, he mentioned to them that inspiration, values, and mission play a very important part in everyone’s life. He advised the graduands to imbibe a value system which comprises of the dignity of labour, love towards one’s nation, integrity, discipline, satisfaction and being grateful towards everyone.

He requested the graduands to move from “inspiration to a sense of mission.” Addressing all the graduands as “Powerful emerging leaders in their own might” he urged them to contribute towards the larger mission of the nation alongside building their respective careers. He appealed the graduands to focus on succeeding collectively in place of merely focusing on succeeding as individuals.   

After these addresses, Mrs. Renu Goenka, Honorable Chancellor felicitated the Chief Guest Honorable Former President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee and Keynote Speaker Sh. Ghanshyam Tiwari, National Spokesperson, Samajwadi Party expressing her gratitude for their august presence and invaluable direction and guidance.  

Further, the degrees were awarded to all the graduands by Sh. Ghanshyam Tiwari, National Spokesperson, Samajwadi Party, Prof. (Dr.) Suku Bhaskaran, President, GD Goenka University and the respective Deans of the School. This was followed by the pledge ceremony conferred by Dr. Nitesh Bansal, Registrar, GD Goenka University. The ceremony was declared close by Mrs. Renu Goenka, Chancellor GD Goenka University. The ceremony culminated precipitating glee and elation emanating brightness.