Parul University celebrates its 8th Convocation, honoring 12,689 graduates and 91 gold medalists. Featuring guests like Smriti Irani, Saina Nehwal & Arnab Goswami, the event recognized academic excellence, innovation, and alumni success.
Parul University, one of India’s premier educational institutions, marked a monumental occasion today with the celebration of its 8th Convocation Ceremony. The event, held at the university's sprawling campus in Vadodara, Gujarat, saw an impressive assembly of 12,689 graduating students from a wide array of academic disciplines and over 18000 guests, including students, parents, friends, and family. The convocation was graced by several distinguished guests, including Former Union Minister Smriti Irani, ace athlete Saina Nehwal, dynamic journalist Arnab Goswami, and entrepreneur Srikanth Bolla, each of whom addressed the graduates, offering valuable insights and motivational words. The event not only honored academic excellence but also showcased the university’s commitment to innovation, leadership, and holistic development.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the recognition of the Gold Medalists, who were awarded for their outstanding academic performances. This year’s Gold Medalists epitomized the university’s ethos of excellence in education. Among the honorees were students from diverse fields, ranging from engineering and medical sciences to business, law, and the arts. A total of 91 students were awarded gold medals for their outstanding academic performance, while 35 students received Certificates of Merit. Several of these exceptional gold medalists have also begun their professional careers with prominent organizations such as Neha Chaudhari (Reliance Industries Ltd.), Riddi Birari (Seros Energy Pvt. Ltd.), Piyush Soni (Mahitech LLC), and Jaydeep Findoria (High Court of Gujarat), among others. Several other students are planning to pursue higher studies abroad, while others have successfully launched their startups.
Along with the graduating students, families, and the esteemed Chief Guests, university dignitaries, including President Dr. Devanshu Patel; Provost Dr. Amit Ganatra; Registrar, Prof.Manish Pandya; Vice Presidents Dr. Parul Patel and Dr. Komal Patel, and Governing Body, Board of Management and Academic Council members, graced the ceremony.
The graduating class showcased a vibrant mix of talent, with graduates shining from a wide range of disciplines including Management, Engineering, Pharmacy, Medicine, Commerce, Arts, Applied Science, Design, Architecture, Liberal Arts, and Law. These stellar graduates reflect the university's dedication to nurturing expertise across various fields, preparing students to thrive in different industries and contribute meaningfully to society.
The ceremony also highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit with the recognition of one of the most successful student startups with the President’s Gold Medal. Conferred to MedRef Healthbridge Solutions and its two founders, Emmanuel Ssekyanzi and Asiimwe Joshua Bigirwa, both students from the Department of Public Health Sciences, for its contributions to innovation and business development. This healthcare technology startup, spread across India and Africa, is revolutionizing healthcare with its Hospital Management System and majorly focuses on mother and child support. In collaboration with UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, and the Ministries of Health in Uganda and Sierra Leone, they aim to support over 3 million mothers in their journey ahead.
In addition, seven distinguished alumni, including Kuldeep Makwana (Microsoft), Parth Gabani (Tesla, Germany), Vipin Yadav (Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India), Dr. Vaishali Patgir (Woman and Child Development Department, Government of Gujarat), Dhruv Shah (US FDA), Darshan Trivedi (BeFree Ltd.), and Pinak Agrawal (Naira Hospitality LLP and Pattra Publication Pvt. Ltd.) were honored for their remarkable professional careers, further emphasizing Parul University’s role in shaping industry leaders and professionals.
The chief guests of the ceremony also provided invaluable guidance to the graduating students. In her keynote address, the Former Union Minister Smriti Irani addressed the graduates with an inspiring speech on the transformative power of education. During the interaction with the graduating students, Smt. Smriti Irani stated, “Shrikant Bola symbolizes fortitude, Ms. Saina Nehwal symbolizes focus, and Arnab Goswami signifies tenacity. Whether you fly solo or in a flock, believe in your dreams, as fortune favors the brave.” She recounted her journey, saying, “I once told my father, who sold books on a Delhi footpath, that one day I would live in a palatial bungalow through sheer hard work and vision.” She encouraged students to embrace challenges, persevere, and carry the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation back to their homes.
Badminton ace and a World Champion, Saina Nehwal, shared her experiences of resilience and determination, encouraging the graduates to pursue their dreams relentlessly. “Hard work holds the key to success. I practiced 10–12 hours daily to improve my skills. My mother had immense faith in my capabilities and strongly believed I could become a world champion in badminton. When I started, I didn’t have a role model to look up to, but today, many have accomplished a lot,” she stated. Saina’s words resonated with the graduates, urging them to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and to never give up on their ambitions, no matter the obstacles in their path.
Srikanth Bolla, an entrepreneur and advocate for inclusivity, also delivered an impactful message, emphasizing the importance of innovation and resilience in overcoming life’s challenges. Further, he said, “Thirty-three years ago, people told me I could not succeed because I lacked eyesight. But my parents believed in me, and I told the naysayers that I might not have eyesight, but I have vision and was born to change the world. He urged the graduating candidates to march forward with a clear vision and create their destiny. His words of wisdom inspired students to view failure not as an endpoint, but as a stepping stone to greater achievements and encouraged them to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit in their professional journeys.
The convocation also featured ace journalist Arnab Goswami, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. His words reinforced the importance of perseverance, continuous learning, and contributing to the betterment of the community. During his address, he said, “Never compromise on the fundamentals that shape your life—your family, your career, and your ethics. Starting from scratch should never be a source of shame. When I completed my XIIth grade, my father gave me ₹1,000 and told me to create my destiny. I also learned the importance of staying rooted from my grandfather during our fishing trips in Assam.” Reflecting on his journey, he said, “When I quit the job at the previous channel and faced struggles to launch Republic TV, I overcame many hurdles and eventually succeeded, creating a channel twice the size. This was possible because I never feared losing everything for what I believed in. He urged graduates to prioritize the nation and contribute towards making India a superpower.
In his keynote address, Dr. Devanshu Patel, President of Parul University, motivated students by saying, “Do not fear starting on the path to success because of the possibility of failure. Ships are not meant to remain at the harbor; those who brave the storms are the ones likely to succeed” He added, “In life, one does not always meet with success and may face failures periodically. In trying circumstances, belief in oneself matters most. One should neither let success go to their head nor allow failure to deter their efforts” He advised students to choose more, choose right, and choose wisely, stressing that while one cannot control where they are born, one can always ensure how they live—with their head held high and spirit unbroken.
As the Vadodara-based Parul University bids farewell to this exceptional batch of graduates, it is clear that the future is bright for these young leaders. The 8th Convocation Ceremony was not just a celebration of academic milestones but also a launchpad for the next generation of innovators, thinkers, and change-makers. It did not just celebrate academic excellence but also highlighted the values of perseverance, leadership, and innovation that the university instills in its students. With a strong focus on shaping well-rounded, socially responsible leaders, the event was a reminder of the transformative power of education as Parul University continues to foster an environment of learning and innovation, preparing students to make a positive impact in their respective fields.
