Orientation 2025 at CU-UP: A Visionary Beginning

The atmosphere at Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh (CU-UP) was electric as the 2025 orientation marked the first step in hundreds of students’ academic journeys. As India’s first AI-augmented multidisciplinary university, CU-UP has never been about tradition—it was built to be a catalyst for change, where artificial intelligence isn’t an add-on but the foundation of education, driving sustainability, transforming healthcare, and fuelling innovation.

Students from the Schools of Applied Science, Legal Studies, Media Studies, and Pharmacy filled the halls, each carrying a spark of curiosity. This was no ordinary introduction—it was a powerful glimpse into the possibilities that emerge when education is driven by the will to change the world.

Dr. Thipendra P. Singh, Pro Vice Chancellor, Uttar Pradesh, opened the session with a welcome that went far beyond formality. Addressing students, parents, and guests, he encouraged the new batch to pursue academic excellence with determination and to embrace innovation as a mindset, not just a task. He outlined CU-UP’s outcome-based academic model, where every curriculum choice is purposeful and every lecture is a step toward mastery.

Voices of Guidance & Inspiration

• Mr. Manish Nigam, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority (Unnao), spoke on the importance of legal awareness and civic responsibility in building stronger communities.

• Dr. Naseem Ahmed Siddiqui, Senior Principal Scientist (Scientist F), highlighted patents, innovation, and research as the engines of nation-building.

• Dr. Amit Shukla, media professional and academician, explored the power of mass communication and digital media—not just as information channels, but as forces that shape public consciousness—while also discussing the opportunities and challenges AI brings to the field.

University Leadership Insights

• Dr. Ajay Kumar Yadav, Registrar, delivered “University at a Glance,” outlining CU-UP’s global collaborations, achievements, and growing network of excellence.

• Dr. Atul Kumar, Head of EGov, demonstrated how technology is seamlessly integrated into CU-UP’s academics, governance, and student services.

• Dr. Gurminder Kaur, Associate Dean, Student Welfare & Engagement, spoke about life beyond the classroom, from extracurricular initiatives to student support systems that promote personal and social well-being.

• Prof. Om Prakash Dwivedi, Director of Humanities and Liberal Arts, inspired students to start research immediately, urging them to take on interdisciplinary projects aligned with both national and global priorities.

Faculty leaders, including Dr. Rajesh Sinha (Sciences), Dr. Brijendra Kumar Yadav (Legal Studies), and Prof. Dwivedi (Journalism and Mass Communication), also shared academic insights from their respective disciplines.

The takeaway was clear: Orientation 2025 at CU-UP was more than a welcome—it was a launchpad for success. Students left with direction, motivation, and a sense of belonging, setting the stage not only for the year ahead but for the careers that await them.