Adani University in Ahmedabad marked a significant milestone with its second convocation ceremony on Saturday, where it not only conferred degrees on 87 postgraduate students but also unveiled ambitious plans for a new campus. The highlight of the announcement is the proposed establishment of what the institution claims will be Gujarat's first large-scale research park within a private university.
Blueprint for a Future-Ready Campus
During the event, Provost Dhaval Pujara detailed the vision for the university's planned expansion. The new campus is designed to be a hub for innovation, featuring advanced laboratories and four dedicated centres of excellence. These centres will focus on cutting-edge fields: Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Energy, Infrastructure, and Smart Manufacturing.
Pujara emphasised that the planning for the research park is currently in progress. The core objective is to significantly strengthen research output in critical areas including high-impact publications, patent filings, and practical product development, thereby contributing to the state's and nation's knowledge economy.
Leadership Calls for Human-Centric Progress
Presiding over the ceremony, the university's president, Priti Adani, addressed the graduating class with a powerful message. She urged the new graduates to reconsider how they view infrastructure and progress. Adani advocated for a shift in perspective, focusing on infrastructure's tangible impact on daily life and citizen well-being rather than merely its speed or scale of construction.
"Progress will no longer be measured only by speed or efficiency, but by how well our citizens live," she stated, framing a more holistic and human-centric definition of development for the future leaders.
AI as a Demographic Equaliser: Insights from Industry
The convocation address was delivered by Savi Soin, President of Qualcomm India, who highlighted India's unique position in the global landscape. He pointed out the nation's demographic weight, noting that approximately 377 million Indians belong to Generation Z – a number almost equivalent to the entire population of the United States.
Soin described Artificial Intelligence as a potential "equaliser" in technology adoption and asserted that India is exceptionally well-placed to harness its benefits. In a conversation with TOI after the event, he addressed common concerns about AI and employment. Soin explained that while some entry-level roles may evolve, new categories of jobs will emerge driven by productivity gains from AI.
"It's not as linear as jobs simply going away. There are many more jobs that will exist as a result of using AI," he clarified. He added that the growing development of large language models in Indian languages will further democratise access, meaning "AI is going to open up a world of opportunity" for a vast section of the population.
The ceremony, blending academic celebration with forward-looking announcements, positioned Adani University as an emerging institution aiming to bridge education, research, and industry-ready innovation in Gujarat.
