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Shoolini University celebrated its 18th Foundation Day on Friday, outlining its ‘Shoolini 2.0’ vision for stronger research, campus development and a place among the world’s leading universities.
The celebrations traced its growth from a small-town institution in Himachal Pradesh to a globally ranked university. The plans focused on academic quality, research, sustainability and service to society.
Chief guest Vinod Sultanpuri, Member of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Kasauli, inaugurated several new and upgraded campus facilities. These included the BioTech Gallery and Food and Nutrition Lab in E Block, a faculty room in D Block, the renovated Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Complex, Shoolini Village Hostel in B Block, Shoolini Residence Girls Hostel and the renovated Aryan Girls Hostel. A solar-wind hybrid power plant and an organic waste composter were also inaugurated as part of campus sustainability initiatives. Earlier in the day, the new School of Psychology and renovated laboratories in A and B Blocks were also inaugurated.
Addressing the gathering, MLA Sultanpuri stressed the importance of rational thinking and a positive academic environment. He urged universities to look beyond buildings and academic results and give equal attention to faculty well-being, creativity and the freedom to test new ideas.
Prof Ashish Khosla, President, AI and Innovations, spoke about ‘Shoolini 2.0’ and the university’s next stage of growth.
Pro Chancellor Prof Vishal Anand said Shoolini had built a strong research culture despite limited resources. He said the goal is to enter the world’s top 100 universities and called for faster growth in quality and scale, with more learning beyond the classroom. He also shared plans for an Olympic-standard multi-sport complex, an Auditorium, a museum hub and a community space for cultural exchange, theatre, music and the arts.
Vice Chancellor Prof Atul Khosla said Shoolini aimed to become a role model for universities worldwide. He described research quality, student success, creativity, well-being and contribution to society as essential measures of a great university. “Over the next 10 years, our vision is to make Shoolini one of the happiest and most beautiful universities in the world, beautiful in its surroundings, its thinking and its spirit,” he said.
Prof Khosla also spoke about the role of universities in economic growth, community development and regional progress. He said Shoolini contributed to the economy of Himachal Pradesh and Solan district through research, innovation and work with local communities.
An exhibition during the celebrations showed how the university’s research addressed practical problems in laboratories, food production and local communities.
Dr Ritesh Banerjee of the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences presented a Photovoltaic Electric Herbarium Machine. It uses solar energy and controlled heating to dry and preserve plant specimens faster than the traditional process, which can take seven to 20 days. CYTOAURA presented an image-based system for tracking bacterial growth. A camera photographs samples, while software measures changes in the liquid’s cloudiness to estimate how quickly the bacteria are growing.
Other exhibits focused on air quality and ethanol production. The Green Algal Air Purifier uses living algae to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen to improve indoor air quality. An electro-fermentation prototype uses electricity and nanoparticles to speed up ethanol production, aiming to reduce production time from about 15 days to three days.
The School of Bioengineering and Food Technology displayed products made from underused Himalayan resources. These included rhododendron chutney, kachnar and garlic pickle, sand pear jam, plum candy, dehydrated apple products, fruit- and vegetable-based wines and Himgrain Rice Puffs.
The exhibition also featured a biochar-based vertical constructed wetland for treating household wastewater. The system filters water through sand, gravel, pine-needle biochar and soil, while plant roots support microbes that break down contaminants. The treated water can be reused for farming, horticulture, toilet flushing, construction and car washing.
The prototype is now being put to use in Sultanpur village through a community development project sanctioned by the Ministry of Education under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan 2.0. Supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals 6, 7, 12 and 13, the project takes the university’s research beyond the laboratory to help a local community treat and reuse its wastewater.
16 October 2026