A university’s story is not written only through rankings, festivals, or ceremonies.
It is written through choices — how it leads, how it responds, and how it stands with its people.
Shoolini University’s story in 2025 saw many things come together. Set in the hills of Solan, the campus saw pride and recognition alongside creativity and celebration, responsibility and resilience. Some were visible and loud. Others were quiet but deeply meaningful. Together, they became the moments that defined the year at Shoolini.
This Shoolini year-in-review brings them together — not as a timeline, but as a collective experience. These highlights from 2025 show what campus life looked like when leadership, learning, culture, and community moved forward in harmony.
Shoolini University’s Leadership Story in 2025
One of the most defining moments of the year was the recognition of Founder-Chancellor Prof PK Khosla, who was awarded the Prerna Srot Samman 2025 by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. The honour acknowledged his long-standing contribution to education and his role in building Shoolini University into a research-driven institution with national and global relevance.
For the Shoolini community, this recognition held special significance. It reaffirmed the idea that leadership at Shoolini has always been closely tied to purpose, innovation, and long-term impact.
Standing With Himachal When It Mattered Most
The year also brought serious challenges to the state. Himachal Pradesh faced one of its harshest monsoon seasons, with floods and landslides affecting large parts of Mandi and Kullu. Roads were damaged, homes were lost, and daily life was disrupted for thousands.
During this period, Shoolini University stepped forward to support relief efforts. Faculty and staff collectively contributed 1 per cent of their salaries, which the university matched, enabling the preparation of hundreds of relief kits. Nearly 3,500 kilograms of essential supplies — including food, clothing, household items, and women’s essentials — were dispatched to affected regions. The distribution was supported by volunteers working directly on the ground.
This initiative became one of the most meaningful part of the Shoolini story in the year 2025.
When the Campus Came Alive With Celebration
Amid responsibility and reflection, the campus also found space to celebrate. The Spring Fest was one of the best moments in the Shoolini University’s story of 2025. It brought renewed energy to university life, transforming familiar spaces into places of music, performance, and shared joy.
At the heart of it was Moksh 2025, hosted at the Yuvraj Singh Stadium. Over multiple days, thousands of students from Shoolini and nearby institutions gathered to experience performances that blended regional talent with national popularity. Folk Singer AC Bhardwaj captivated the audience with his soulful music, while Sugandha Mishra brought humour and high-energy performances that kept the crowd engaged. Folk artist Kutle Khan added a powerful cultural dimension, and EDM artist Carnivore turned the stadium into a high-energy celebration.
Ideas, Stories, and Thoughtful Conversations
Parallel to the fest was the Shoolini Literature Festival, which created a completely different rhythm on campus. Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali spoke about the importance of following one’s instincts rather than chasing end goals. In a candid interaction, he shared stories from his early life and reflected on how storytelling shaped his journey. When asked about making a film set on the Shoolini campus, he responded with a smile, saying he would call it The Fifth Chapter — a moment that stayed with many students.
Veteran actor Kanwaljit Singh addressed the growing distance between young people and reading, urging students to step away from constant screen time and rediscover books as a source of depth and perspective. Ila Arun, drawing from her decades-long journey in theatre, music, and cinema, spoke about the power of storytelling and the life that exists behind the curtain. Her reflections resonated deeply with students interested in the performing arts.
Actor and VJ Shruti Seth, visiting the festival for the second time, led a session on mindfulness and self-awareness. Together, these sessions made the Literature Festival one of the most reflective Shoolini campus moments of the year.
Technology, Sustainability, and New-Age Learning
Innovation and sustainability also found strong expression on campus. Glitch Tech Fest transformed the AI and Futures Centre into a dynamic space for gaming, coding, and digital exploration. Students participated enthusiastically in esports competitions, coding challenges, and tech showcases, reflecting the growing interest in careers shaped by technology and digital culture.
At the same time, the 12th Flower Festival brought nature and sustainability to the forefront. With over 145 varieties of plants on display, the festival attracted visitors from Solan and surrounding regions. Rare plants like Gulabi Buransh, edible flowers known for their wellness benefits, Deodar trees, and a decade-old Bougainvillaea became major attractions. The festival reminded visitors that creativity, science, and environmental responsibility can coexist beautifully.
Academic Milestones and Institutional Growth
Academic progress remained central throughout the year. The 8th Convocation marked an important milestone for students completing their academic journeys. Over 1,300 undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees were conferred, celebrating years of hard work and learning. The Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shiv Pratap Shukla, urged graduates to become job creators and responsible citizens, while commending Shoolini’s commitment to holistic education and its early adoption of the National Education Policy.
The university also celebrated its NAAC A+ accreditation, marking the achievement with a campus-wide gathering led by music icon Usha Uthup. Her performance transformed institutional recognition into a moment of shared pride, with faculty, staff, and students coming together to celebrate academic growth and collective effort.
Research, Rankings, and Global Recognition
Shoolini Research story emerged as one of strongest pillars in 2025. The university achieved an h-index of over 150, the highest among Indian institutions established after 2008. This milestone reflected both the quantity and quality of research being produced, placing Shoolini ahead of several well-established institutions.
This research strength was echoed across major rankings. Shoolini retained its position as the No. 1 Private University in India in QS rankings, performed strongly in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia and World University Rankings, entered the Top 100 globally in THE Impact Rankings, and secured leading positions across multiple Sustainable Development Goals.
Creativity, Competition, and Student Expression
Student life at Shoolini in 2025 found powerful expression through events that placed creativity, confidence, and collaboration at the centre. Manchtantra 2025, the university’s much-awaited inter-departmental competition, turned the campus into a vibrant space of music, colour, and performance. Students from across faculties competed in events ranging from dance, singing, drama, situational mashups, and anchoring, bringing their personalities and talents to the stage.
Media and storytelling found a dedicated platform through the 3rd Marvel Media Fest 2025, organised by the School of Media and Communications. The two-day festival brought together students from Shoolini and other institutions across the region, creating a competitive yet collaborative environment. Participants showcased their skills across photography, short films, RJ-ing, news anchoring, declamation, caption writing, and social media content creation. For media students, the fest served as a real-world simulation of the creative industry — where ideas, deadlines, presentation, and audience engagement matter equally.
Theatre also played an important role in campus culture. The performance of ‘Ek Lamhaa Zindagi – A Love Story (1938–1979)’ by acclaimed theatre artist Juhi Babbar Soni left a deep emotional impact on the audience. Through poetry, patriotism, and personal memory, the play traced a timeless love story rooted in history and human connection.
Health, Sustainability, and Community Engagement
Beyond performance and creativity, Shoolini also created space for physical well-being and environmental awareness. The Annual Marathon, organised on the theme of climate change awareness, brought together over 550 students, faculty members, and participants from across the region.
Community engagement extended beyond campus boundaries through initiatives like Project Pragati, a Rural Women Entrepreneurs Development Program led by the Centre for Leadership Coaching in collaboration with Pehal Foundation.
Academic Autonomy, Collaboration, and Global Engagement
A major institutional milestone came when Shoolini University was granted Category-1 status by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the Graded Autonomy Regulations. This recognition placed Shoolini among India’s most autonomous and high-performing institutions.
Collaboration remained a strong theme throughout the year. The MoU with IIT Madras opened pathways for joint diploma and degree programmes, skill development initiatives, and access to IIT Madras’ digital learning ecosystem through on-campus CODE chapters. Similarly, the partnership with the University of Southampton, UK, strengthened academic and research collaboration. A high-level delegation visited the Shoolini campus, toured key research facilities, and inaugurated the Centre for Creative Technology, a space designed to bring together design, innovation, and emerging technologies.
Shoolini also hosted the 4th CEDSA Conclave on Direct Selling, a national-level event that brought together industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and academicians to discuss the future of direct selling in India. Such forums reinforced the university’s role as a space where academic knowledge and industry dialogue intersect.
Expanding Access and Recognising Individuals
The university also made important progress in expanding access to education. The first convocation of the Centre for Distance and Online Education (SCDOE) reflected the rapid growth of Shoolini’s online learning initiatives, making quality education accessible beyond physical campus boundaries.
Individual recognitions added further meaning to the year. Prof Atul Khosla, Founder, President, and Vice Chancellor, was named among the World’s Top 200 Voices in Education by LinkedIn, recognising his influence in shaping conversations around learning and leadership. Poonam Nanda, Director of Sustainability and Community Engagement, received the C-Positive Award for her work in cancer awareness and mental well-being.
Infrastructure growth also continued, with Mrs Saroj Khosla laying the foundation stone for a new hostel block, reflecting the university’s focus on improving student living facilities and campus community.
Looking Back at a Full Year
Taken together, the Shoolini University’s story in 2025 felt balanced and meaningful. Leadership was recognised. The campus stood with Himachal during difficult moments. Students found space to create, perform, question, and grow. Research, rankings, and collaborations moved steadily forward. Through it all, the sense of community stayed strong.
These Shoolini campus moments were not just memories from a calendar year. They were reminders of what Shoolini stands for — learning with purpose, action with empathy, and growth that includes everyone. As the campus turns the page to 2026, there is a quiet excitement in the air. If 2025 showed what is possible when people come together, the year ahead promises even more reasons to learn, celebrate, and look forward.
