Gratitude, Trusteeship, and Excellence: The Guiding Principles as Ahmedabad University Turns Sixteen

The 16th Foundation Day celebrations of Ahmedabad University, coinciding with the six-century-long celebration of Ahmedabad city's own Foundation Day, served as a reminder to cultivate gratitude, embrace the trusteeship of the institution to ensure its betterment, and commit to giving back to the broader community.

These values form the foundation upon which to establish an institution of excellence. It can be likened to planting trees whose fruits would be enjoyed after one's departure. These values are something that young people must imbibe as they progress through their lives and build institutions. These values enable people to take the responsibility to move the institution forward, become trustees of the institution, and build and modify it as they proceed, ensuring that upon their departure, the place will be better than it was at present, thus giving back to the larger community.

As Ahmedabad University turned sixteen, let us revisit its roots, its emergence as an institute of prominence, and its future aspirations, each contributing to its quest for excellence.

Foundational Origins

From three programmes in 2009 to four schools and nine centres​​​​​, Ahmedabad University has made notable strides. However, the foundational origins of the University extend far beyond its formal establishment. Traces of its inception can be found in the vision of the Ahmedabad Education Society, dating back to the 1930s. Despite being a young institution having recently turned sixteen, Ahmedabad University remains its most ambitious project. It is a project that aims to achieve excellence in teaching and research, build the citizens of tomorrow, and contribute to society's greater good.

Pursuit of Excellence

Ahmedabad University finds itself at a critical moment, a juncture that offers both the power and the responsibility to create a unique institution. Armed with aspirations and enthusiasm, its efforts are focused on building an institution founded upon excellence in both teaching and research.

Central to this mission is a vision of education, which it believes should be disturbing, prompting critical reflection upon one's environment and encouraging the questioning of both self and surroundings. True education is a process of becoming more compassionate, courageous, introspective, reflective, and open.

A second guiding principle is the commitment to interdisciplinary research, breaking down traditional silos. Ahmedabad University has deliberately moved away from isolated departmental structures, viewing them as artifacts of the past. It prioritises the integration of diverse disciplines, leveraging the power of research to serve society and address complex challenges. Excellence in both teaching and research is indispensable, as they are seen as two sides of the same coin.

People are equally vital– both administration and faculty – in shaping its future. The University is actively developing its processes, finding beauty in the journey of building its foundations. This presents a unique opportunity for the community to play a role in building a new institution, assembling it in a manner distinct from established models.

Building a Legacy

Ahmedabad University's vision extends beyond its current boundaries, aiming for a future marked by growth and innovation. The University aspires to expand its faculty and student populations while establishing new schools and interdisciplinary clusters, creating an ecosystem of knowledge creation. This aspiration is exemplified by its recent achievement: the establishment of the GIFT International Fintech Institute. The creation of Innovatrix Foundation, a Section 8 not-for-profit company, which is a new physical facility with dedicated research and teaching resources operating at GIFT IFI, presents a unique opportunity for academics across domains and professionals, indeed anyone with a passion for this domain, to contribute to its growth.

The Foundation Day celebrations served as a reminder of the University's intent to become a hub for cutting-edge research and education, fostering a collaborative environment where diverse expertise converges to shape the future of education. It also honoured its stakeholders across the University – faculty, students, and staff for their exemplary service, innovative contributions, and unwavering commitment to institution-building.

List of Awardees

• Chairman's Award for Teaching Excellence: Professor Kunal Mankodi of the Amrut Mody School of Management
• Chairman's Award for Excellence in Research: Professor Shomen Mukherjee and Professor Aditya Vaishya of the School of Arts and Sciences
• Chairman's Award for Experiments to Advance Active Learning: Professor Guillaume Wadia of the School of Arts and Sciences
• Chairman's Award for Going Beyond the Call of Duty: Rahul Bhathiji (Information Technology), Namrata Dave (Finance and Accounts), Prem Bahadur Devkota (Guesthouse), Mihir Jhaveri (Finance and Accounts), Jaideep Patil (Campus Operations) and Hitanshu Vora (Information Technology)
• Chairman's Award for the Best Performing Student Clubs: Social Service Forum and Wealth Club
• Chairman's Student Award for Outstanding Performance and Impact on Community: Aditi Jain (BBA Hons), Bhavya Patodi (BA Hons), Nandini Rajesh (BBA Hons), Mustafa Rupawala (Integrated MBA), Aayushi Shah (BTech) and Prashansa Shah (BTech)
• Recognition on Completion of 10 years at Ahmedabad University: Rahul Bhathiji, Laxman Jadhav, Professor Aditi Singhal​​​​​, Mehul Rabari, Vishnu Thakor, Professor Dhaval Patel​​​​​, Aakashi Shah, Professor Sudhir Pandey​​​​​, Professor Souvik Sen Gupta​​​​​, Hardik Patel, Professor Gaurav Goswami​​​​​, Roopal Jadeja, Amar Gajjar, Professor Dharamashi Rabari​​​​​, Professor Snigdha Khuntia​​​​​, Professor Sridhar Dalai​​​​​, Professor Tana Trivedi and Girish Shah