Pune: SPPU To Open Second International Offshore Campus In Dubai After Doha Success
Pune, 10th September 2026: Maharashtra Governor and Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) Jishnu Dev Varma has urged students to remain lifelong learners and continuously acquire new skills amid rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), automation and digital technology.
Speaking at the 127th convocation ceremony of SPPU, Varma said earning a degree should not be considered the end of education, but an important stage in accepting greater social responsibility.
“Convocation is not the end of education,” Varma said, emphasising the need for students to combine knowledge with social responsibility.
He said universities should strengthen their links with industry and provide students with opportunities for internships, research, practical learning and entrepreneurship.
Students should dream big but complement their ambitions with hard work, discipline and action, he said. Varma also urged them to remain sensitive while becoming capable, responsible while being ambitious, and committed to ethical values while pursuing innovation.
Education Should Drive Social Change
Referring to the legacy of Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule, Varma said education should contribute to social transformation.
He also called for sports, physical health, de-addiction initiatives and social responsibility to be treated as integral components of education.
The Governor said the youth would play a decisive role in building ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ and urged universities to focus on ‘Affordability and Excellence’ to ensure access to quality education.
Knowledge Must Reach Society
SPPU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Suresh Gosavi, while presenting the university’s annual report, outlined its priorities for the coming years.
“Knowledge should not remain confined to laboratories or papers; it should reach farms, villages, industries and hospitals and help solve problems faced by society,” Gosavi said.
He said the university’s approach is based on two key pillars — appropriate technology and knowledge creation. Research should focus on developing affordable, cost-effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies that can benefit the most disadvantaged sections of society, he said.
Over 1 Lakh Degrees Awarded
A total of six gold medals, 1,07,357 degree certificates, 446 PhD degrees and two MPhil certificates were awarded during the 127th convocation ceremony.
SPPU has 859 affiliated colleges and more than 7.5 lakh students, according to the university.
Dubai Campus In The Works
Gosavi said that following the success of the MIE-SPPU offshore campus in Doha, the university was moving ahead with plans to establish its second international offshore campus in Dubai.
He also announced the introduction of the Chancellor’s Medal from this academic year to encourage overall student excellence. The initiative will have a fund of ₹10 lakh.
Research And Technology Initiatives
Gosavi highlighted several initiatives aimed at making the university’s research and education more socially relevant.
These include PROHEAL, an affordable probiotic-based dressing system developed to help diabetic patients’ wounds heal faster, and an MSc Virology programme launched in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV).
Digital examinations and on-screen evaluation were also cited as initiatives aimed at using technology to improve academic and examination processes.
Gosavi said the university was committed to implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, promoting skill-based and employment-oriented education, and strengthening socially relevant research to contribute to the development of Maharashtra and India.
Senior university officials, faculty members, non-teaching staff, graduating students and parents attended the ceremony.
