Pune University’s (SPPU) Nashik Sub-Campus Inaugurated by CM; He Calls For Globally Employable Graduates

Nashik/Pune, 28th August 2026: The new administrative building of Savitribai Phule Pune University’s (SPPU) Nashik sub-campus at Shivnai in Dindori taluka was inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday, marking a key step towards decentralising higher education and expanding industry-oriented academic opportunities in the region.

The Nashik sub-campus is linked to around 196 colleges and 32 research centres, with nearly three lakh students set to benefit from the facility. The university plans to develop the campus as a full-fledged higher education and innovation hub rather than merely an extension centre of its Pune campus.

Inaugurating the facility, Fadnavis said Nashik would become Maharashtra’s major “growth engine” after Mumbai and Pune over the next five years. He urged SPPU to develop skilled and employment-ready manpower to meet the requirements of the region’s expanding industrial and economic base.

He said the university should focus on making students “globally employable” instead of merely increasing the number of graduates. With artificial intelligence (AI) and data science rapidly changing the nature of jobs, students need to continuously acquire new skills and be prepared to “Learn and Re-learn”, he said.

Fadnavis also called for courses tailored to Nashik’s emerging industries, including horticulture, food processing, aeronautics, pharmaceuticals and automobiles. He suggested greater focus on data science, clinical data management and technology-driven programmes.

The chief minister said universities should evolve into innovation and incubation centres, while asking the Nashik sub-campus to make a significant contribution at the social and administrative levels during the upcoming Kumbh Mela.

SPPU vice-chancellor Prof Dr Suresh Gosavi said the sub-campus would be developed as a distinctive educational centre catering to the needs of Nashik and surrounding areas. He said courses in foreign languages, wine technology, agri-tourism, AI and data science were being introduced to make students self-reliant and globally competitive.

“The Nashik sub-campus will not remain merely an extension centre of Pune University but will develop its own distinctive identity as a capable educational centre,” Gosavi said.

He said the university had a long-term vision of developing the sub-campus to a level where it could eventually have the potential to become an independent university. He also proposed a strong educational corridor connecting Pune, Ahilyanagar and Nashik as part of the vision for “Developed Maharashtra” and “Developed India” by 2047.

Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil said the state government would provide all necessary support to implement the university’s vision for the Nashik sub-campus. He said the facility would provide students in the rapidly developing region with access to quality higher education, research and industry-oriented courses closer to home.

Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Chhagan Bhujbal thanked farmers from Shivnai for making their land available for the sub-campus. He said the facility would reduce the need for Nashik students to travel to Pune for university-related work.

Bhujbal also stressed that the sub-campus should continue to carry the name of Savitribai Phule, noting the struggle involved in naming the university after the social reformer.

Guardian minister Girish Mahajan, School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse, SPPU pro-vice-chancellor Prof Dr Parag Kalkar, registrar Prof Dr Prafull Pawar, finance and accounts officer CMA Dr Charushila Gaikwad, MPs Shobha Bachhav and Bhaskar Bhagre, MLA Gokul Gite, district collector Ayush Prasad, university management council and senate members, faculty members and students attended the inauguration.