For a generation entering a world being transformed by artificial
intelligence (AI), robotics, biotechnology, climate change and cyber-security,
the distinction could hardly be more relevant.
In such a world, the Governor urged students to look beyond technical
competence. “I often say that AI without compassion and empathy is meaningless,”
he said, stressing that technological progress must be accompanied by ethics,
values, health and social responsibility.
The degree is a milestone, not a destination
Drawing on Robert Frost’s evocative lines about having “miles to go
before I sleep,” Governor Varma reminded the graduates that the road ahead
would bring new opportunities, challenges and responsibilities. But his message
went beyond careers. India needs not merely good professionals, he said, but
good citizens and leaders of society. Leadership is not restricted to political
office or formal positions of authority. Anyone who touches the lives of others
and transforms them can be a leader. A degree, therefore, may open a door. It
is character, continuous learning and the ability to contribute that determine
where the journey goes next.
The Governor also reminded students that some of the most important
lessons of University life are not found in textbooks: friendship, cooperation,
tolerance, mutual respect, compassion and empathy. These are qualities that are
experienced and lived and ultimately become part of the making of a leader.
Commending the University’s rapid growth, Governor Varma
observed that the pace and scale of its progress were a reflection of the
strength and vision of its leadership.
That journey, in many ways, mirrors the journey of HSNC University
itself. Reflecting on that journey in her address, Vice Chancellor Col. Dr.
Hemlata K. Bagla recalled how HSNC University was born in 2020 at an
extraordinary moment in history, when the world was closing its doors during
the pandemic, the University was opening the doors of a new institution. What
began with three constituent colleges, H.R. College, K.C. College and Bombay
Teachers’ Training College, has since grown into a vibrant, multidisciplinary
University with eight constituent Colleges and eight professional Schools,
spanning commerce, humanities, education, law, engineering, pharmacy, science,
technology, management, performing arts, yoga and wellness, and
interdisciplinary studies. But the expansion, she emphasised, is about far more
than scale: the University is deepening its academic and research ecosystem,
with new research centres in areas such as pharmacology, artificial
intelligence and data science, recognised research guides and supervisors,
research grants and travel support for faculty and students. Its innovation
ecosystem is turning ideas into solutions, with students applying for 12
patents in two years, while international research collaborations, including
work associated with the International Atomic Energy Agency, are strengthening
its research culture.
For Dr. Bagla, the larger purpose of the University's growth is
to create opportunities, build capability and ensure that education extends
beyond the classroom into society. But on this day, she emphasised that the
spotlight is on the graduating students, their achievements and their milestone. As they stepped forward to
begin their own journeys, she urged them to carry the spirit of HSNC University
with them: curiosity in their minds, compassion in their hearts, courage in
their decisions and Bharat in their consciousness. This, she said, was the DNA
of HSNC University, a combination of knowledge, compassion, courage and a deep
sense of responsibility that the graduates would now carry with them into the
world. They were no longer simply students of HSNC University, but its true
ambassadors, carrying its values, experiences and aspirations beyond its
campuses.
Provost Mr. Anil Harish urged the graduates to
keep climbing beyond the first peak, reminding them that careers can evolve,
new opportunities can emerge and learning can take many forms. Quoting Alvin
Toffler in “Future Shock”, he emphasised the importance of being able to
learn, unlearn and relearn throughout life.
Mr. Anil Harish encouraged the graduating class to keep
coming back to HSNC University, as learners, teachers, speakers, mentors and
engaged alumni who can guide the generations that follow. His message extended
the idea of lifelong learning into lifelong connection: the University's
relationship with its students should continue well beyond graduation, with
alumni returning not only to benefit from the institution but also to give back
to it. In this sense, the degree marks not a departure from the University, but
the beginning of a different relationship with it.
For Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, President, HSNC Board, the
University's next phase is about turning expansion into academic depth. From
three constituent colleges at its inception, HSNC University has grown to
eight, with new schools and disciplines widening its academic footprint.
Looking ahead, Dr. Hiranandani also outlined plans for a 20-acre
campus at Alibaug, envisioned as a world-class academic ecosystem with
contemporary learning spaces, advanced research facilities, technology-enabled
classrooms, opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship, sports
infrastructure and an environment designed to foster interdisciplinary
learning. The ambition, he said, is to create infrastructure that matches
the aspirations of the next generation and enables HSNC University to compete
with the finest institutions nationally and internationally. As Dr. Hiranandani
observed, the first phase was about establishing the University. The present
phase is about expanding and strengthening it. The next phase, he said, must be
about creating an institution of global standards and national importance.
As the graduates left the Convocation stage, they carried more than a
degree with them. They carried the experiences, friendships, values and lessons
that will shape the journeys ahead. And HSNC University, too, moves forward,
with a larger academic footprint, deeper ambitions and a growing generation of
students ready to take those ambitions into the world. The 5th
Convocation was a celebration of how far both have come and a reminder that the
most important chapters are still to be written.
Press Relations- Ms. Maya M
PR Head, HSNC University, Mumbai
Email: maya.m@hsncu.edu.in
Phone: +91- 8655962503/ 04
