The seventh convocation ceremony of TERI University held recently awarded honorary doctorates to four eminent dignitaries Dr Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta, Former President, East Timor, Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever, Hiroaki Nakanishi, Chairman and CEO, Hitachi, and test cricketer VVS Laxman.
Total of eight doctoral degrees and 178 master degrees were awarded to the TERI University students at the ceremony. Dr R.K. Pachauri, Chancellor, TERI University, and Director General, The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) said, “Growth cannot happen in a vacuum, we need to create an enabling environment. TERI University has been built with an objective to achieve environmental sustainability. More importantly, we need to bring about a transformation in resource efficiency. Our country’s population is growing rapidly and we need to create engines of change.”
M. Venkaiah Naidu, Minister of Urban Development, said, “I am happy to be here at the convocation and I want students to never stop learning. TERI University students have a challenge to achieve both environmental and social sustainability. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have a chance to transform India and make the country development oriented. Skill development and management is one of the critical areas to transform India. For this, we need to change our mindsets. Given the state of unplanned development, we need to build capacity, especially for our urban bodies. We cannot build Smart Cities overnight, but we need appropriate technologies to realize this dream. We need to be proud of our nation and its heritage.”
Dr Leena Srivastava, Vice Chancellor, TERI University and Honorary Executive Director, TERI, said, “It has been 15 years since we were recognized as a deemed university by the Government of India. The TERI University is proud to see how its students are already making a mark in society. From helping integrate sustainability reporting, including the publication of the Economic Survey, to setting up social enterprises, from contributing to the efforts of international development organizations to working with corporates, and bringing change from within, our students are everywhere. We have been constantly experimenting, and successfully, with different innovations.”
Set up in 1998, the TERI University was conceived to cater to the need of disseminating the vast reservoir of knowledge created by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) – a not for profit, independent research institute recognized globally for its contribution to scientific and policy research in the realms of energy, environment, and sustainable development. The TERI University was granted deemed-to-be-university status by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 1999. Today, the University offers not just world-class education, but also an environment that enables its students to develop fresh perspectives on their subjects of study. This includes regular interactions with researchers, scientists, practitioners and academicians.
