Pics: Jeevan D'Costa
Media Release
Udupi, Nov 26: Manipal Academy of Higher Education’s (MAHE) 31st convocation concluded on November 26. It marked the end of an emotional and joyous four days during which distinguished leaders and guests joined the MAHE fraternity to wish the most recent class of graduates well as they set forth to pursue fulfilling professions. The chief guest for the final day was Vinod Easwaran, MD and CEO of Jio Payments Bank, Mumbai.
Addressing the audience at the convocation, Vinod Easwaran, recalled his early careers days and said, “As you stand at the threshold of a new chapter in your life, you will have numerous opportunities that will knock on your door and help you fulfil your dreams. Grab those that come your way even if you think you're not ready for it. I recollect a time when I was a young marketing executive in BPL Telecom, an early player in the deregulated Telecom industry, and I was faced with an opportunity to join ICICI Bank, a leading financial institution which at that time was primarily into project and industry finance, to help them build their retail banking division. Having no prior experience in building a retail lending business coupled with my dreading finance as a subject during my PGDM days, were reasons enough for me to reconsider. Retail banking seemed like an idea whose time had come for India and having ICICI's leadership's view on their aggressive ambition of being a market leader, I grabbed this opportunity and dived headlong. the 12 years that followed thereafter in various capacities have helped bolster my further progression in the world of banking and financial services to today leading a bank.”
“To all the graduates present here, I challenge you to be ambassadors of positive change, to lead with integrity, and to approach challenges with the same tenacity that brought you to this moment. Congratulations, graduates. The world awaits the mark you will make, and I have full confidence that each of you will contribute to a brighter, more compassionate future”, he said.
The convocation address was followed by the conferring of degrees and the awards ceremony. Shonika Sohael Amin (Manipal Institute of Management), Poorvika Agarwal (Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences), Vibha Ramachandran (Manipal Institute of Communication), Aprajita Karmakar (Prasanna School Of Public Health), and Aaryan Agarwal (Manipal Institute of Technology) were felicitated with Dr T M A Pai gold medal 2023 for the best outgoing student of respective institutes on the day 4.
Among the university delegates were Dr H S Ballal, pro chancellor, MAHE, Lt Gen (Dr) M D Venkatesh, VSM (retd.), vice chancellor, MAHE, Vasanti R Pai, trustee, MAHE trust and Dr P Giridhar Kini, registrar, MAHE.
Speaking at the press conference, Dr H S Ballal, pro chancellor, MAHE, said, “Today, we gather here in a spirit of celebration, achievement, and, most importantly, transformation. As the pro chancellor of this illustrious institution, it is an honour and a privilege to stand before you on this momentous occasion — our convocation ceremony. Our world is evolving at an unprecedented pace. The challenges we face are complex, and the solutions demand innovative thinking. Each one of you has the potential to contribute to the betterment of society, to be a catalyst for positive change, and to leave an indelible mark on the canvas of humanity. In closing, let me express my profound pride in each one of you. This institution has been your academic home, and as you leave, you carry a piece of its legacy with you. Strive for excellence, be agents of positive change, and uphold the values that define MAHE.”
Lt Gen (Dr) M D Venkatesh, VSM (retd), vice chancellor, MAHE, commented, “To the graduates, let me begin by extending my heartfelt congratulations. Each one of you has demonstrated exceptional dedication, perseverance, and intellectual rigor to reach this pivotal milestone. Your journey through the halls of academia has been one of growth, exploration, and, undoubtedly, challenges overcome.”
“Today, we celebrate not just the completion of your academic pursuits but the commencement of a journey into a world filled with possibilities. As you stand at the threshold of a new chapter, I encourage you to reflect not only on what you have learned but on how you have grown. The true measure of education lies not just in the facts and figures you have acquired but in the character, you have built, the values you hold dear, and the relationships you have cultivated,” he said.
"As we envision the trajectory of our institutions, we are committed to fostering an environment of continuous innovation and dynamic solutions for the evolving challenges in academia," said Dr P Giridhar Kini, registrar, MAHE, in reference to the impending changes in academia. He further said, “The nature of education is changing dramatically, and at MAHE, we are fully on board with this development. Our teaching strategies are evolving to meet the needs of the contemporary world, placing more emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning than on conventional classroom ideas.”
About Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) - Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is recognized as a leading quality academic and education service provider and has significantly contributed to continuously improving the standards and penetration of higher education in India. MAHE, as its genesis, an enthralling story of a genius, the late Dr T M A Pai who had the vision of making society rid of the three major ills of illiteracy, ill health, and poverty.
MAHE provides a great variety of graduate and postgraduate skill enhancement educational courses covering several important disciplines like medicine, engineering, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, allied health, management, communication, life sciences, hotel administration, through its 25 professional higher education institutions. It has also taught and research departments in statistics, commerce, geopolitics and international relations, European studies, philosophy and humanities, atomic and molecular physics. Over 35,000 students from all over the world pursue undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in diverse subjects. The finest of infrastructure facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, well-equipped laboratories, and dedicated and competent faculty have enabled MAHE to be reckoned as one of the best-deemed universities, attracting students from all over India and more than 60 countries of the world. MAHE currently has more than 3000 faculty and 10500 plus support and service staff. MAHE is a Wi-Fi-enabled campus and has excellent facilities for sports and games.
MAHE has been accredited by NAAC with an A++ grade and all of its institutions are well-ranked by various ranking agencies. MAHE’s quest for excellence is best exemplified in national and international recognitions. As per the National Institutional Rankings Framework (NIRF)-2023 of the Ministry of Education, Central Government, MAHE has ranked 6th in the ‘Universities’ category while in international rankings, MAHE has been ranked 4 in ‘Gender Equality’ and 25 for ‘Quality Education’ by Times Higher Education (THE) World University Impact Rankings for 2023.
MAHE has an off-campus, each at Mangaluru, Bengaluru, and Jamshedpur, and has two off-shore campuses, one in Dubai (UAE) and the other in Melaka (Malaysia). MAHE and its off-center campuses and off-shore campuses have world-class infrastructural facilities and follow pedagogy, which is constantly reviewed and upgraded to reflect the latest trends and developments in their respective disciplines.