Nagpur: Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University (MAFSU) vice-chancellor Dr Niteen Patil on Tuesday said Nagpur University (NU) has played a pivotal role in shaping the academic landscape of Vidarbha and Central India.Addressing the university’s 103rd Foundation Day celebrations, Dr Patil said the challenges confronting higher education have changed dramatically since NU’s establishment more than a century ago. He said universities must now prepare students for emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, climate science, the automobile sector and digital technologies.Calling for higher education and research to align with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, he urged universities to adopt a mission-mode approach to realise the goal of a developed India. Foundation Day, he said, should serve not only as an occasion to celebrate achievements but also to define institutional priorities for the year ahead.He emphasised that universities must equip students with industry-relevant skills and encourage research that addresses local challenges. Dr Patil also proposed collaborative research between NU and MAFSU to accelerate Vidarbha’s development.Presiding over the function, NU vice-chancellor Dr Manali Kshirsagar said the university has consistently adopted student-centric initiatives to keep its graduates globally competitive. Alongside conventional programmes, the university has introduced National Education Policy (NEP)-aligned skill-based courses and is expanding apprenticeship-linked programmes to provide practical industry exposure.Pro-vice-chancellor Dr Akhilesh Peshwe said Foundation Day should inspire the university community to embrace innovation while preparing students with knowledge and employable skills.The university also conferred the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Jeevan Sadhana Award on veteran social worker Dr Bhausaheb Lahanuji Bhoge. Accepting the honour on his behalf, MLA Dr Ashish Deshmukh said Dr Bhoge’s lifelong contribution to rural education and healthcare continues to inspire generations and described the award as a tribute to the people of Vidarbha.
