There is a growing buzz across campus. Walk across Shoolini University these days, and you’ll find someone, somewhere, preparing for the new batch: seniors planning how to welcome their juniors, buddies getting ready to meet freshers, student clubs putting ideas together, and students breaking into impromptu practice sessions. Teams are finalising arrangements, and the campus is counting down to the arrival of the Batch of 2026.
Scheduled for 18-22 August, WOW Week 2026, or the Week of Welcome, is Shoolini University’s official induction programme for new students. If the preparations are anything to go by, freshers have a lot to look forward to.
The week will include academic orientation, face-to-face interactions with university leaders, and startup opportunities. Nearly 100 student buddies will help the new batch settle in, while 25–30 student clubs will introduce them to activities beyond the classroom. Campus challenges, cultural performances, Zumba Night, and Meet & Greet sessions will offer the incoming batch its first real taste of life at Shoolini.
WOW Week will begin by introducing freshers to the people, ideas, and culture that shape Shoolini. University leaders will speak about the Shoolini ethos, the Shoolini Story, and the role of entrepreneurship, giving students an early understanding of what the university stands for and what it offers.
Academic sessions will cover examinations, registration, teaching and learning, digital systems, student welfare, research, and quality processes. Department inductions will help students meet their faculty and understand what lies ahead in their chosen programmes. Alumni and industry speakers will share experiences from beyond the classroom, with dedicated sessions also planned for Biotechnology students.
Entrepreneurship will be part of the conversation right from the start. Students will be encouraged to think about problems they want to solve, question existing ideas, and see how an early thought can be tested and developed during their time at Shoolini.
For freshers, this is only the beginning. An idea could become a startup. A new interest could become a career. And one unexpected experience could change the direction of the next few years.
Nearly 100 Buddies Are Ready to Welcome Freshers
One of the first connections waiting for new students will be the Shoolini Buddy Program.
Now in its fifth year, the initiative connects incoming students with seniors who can help them settle into campus life. Around 20 Senior Buddies, supported by connecting buddies, will form a network of nearly 100 student mentors.
Whether it is finding a department, understanding a university process, or simply knowing whom to ask when something feels unfamiliar, freshers will have someone they can turn to from their first few days.
WOW Week will move beyond academic sessions with campus tours, an aptitude test, tug of war, games, and Nukkad Natak, along with discussions on road safety and drug and alcohol awareness.
As the formal sessions wind down, Zumba Night, Face Off, Meet & Greet sessions, and cultural performances will bring seniors and freshers together. New students will also get their chance to perform, making the week as much about participating as watching from the audience.
25–30 Clubs: Which One Has Your Name on It?
Then comes the Club Mela, with around 25–30 student clubs and communities ready to meet the new batch.
Film enthusiasts can head to Cinedicate, photographers can meet the team behind Drishyam Photography Club, dancers can check out Saksham Dance Club, and music lovers can discover Raag Rang.
There is HackHound for cybersecurity, Ventureanium for entrepreneurship, Genomage for genetics, and Sanchay for mathematics. Students can also find the Weeb Club, Skateboarding Club, Peddals Cycling Club, Mountain Rangers Club, Shoolini Cuisine Club, Animal Lovers Club, Satrangi Strokes, Young Communicators Club, and Shoolini Creative Studio, among others.
Platforms such as TEDxShooliniUniversity add another dimension to student participation, while Campus Connect will help freshers find and interact with like-minded people across the university.
You might enter the Club Mela looking for something familiar and leave curious about something you had never considered before.
A Musical Finale with Harmony of the Pines
On the final day (August 22), Harmony of the Pines, the Himachal Pradesh Police Orchestra Band, will perform on campus. Performing together since 1996, the band has built its own identity in Himachal’s music scene.
After days of introductions, activities, performances, and discovering campus life, the concert will bring the Batch of 2026 together to mark the beginning of their time at Shoolini.
Until then, the preparations continue. Buddies are getting ready, clubs are working on their showcases, and students are squeezing in practice sessions as the campus counts down.
Batch of 2026, pack your questions, bring your energy, and leave room for surprises. Your Shoolini story starts here—with WOW.
For more information and updates, visit Shoolini University’s official website or follow @ShooliniUniversity on Instagram.
—Muskan Dua