NEW DELHI — In an era where higher education is increasingly defined by cross-border collaborations and global mobility, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) continues to stand as a pioneering force in international student integration and cultural diplomacy. Marking five decades of academic evolution, Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, Chancellor of the institution, addressed a distinguished gathering of ambassadors, diplomats, and international stakeholders during an annual dinner hosted in New Delhi.
The evening served as both a celebration of the university’s rich history and a reaffirmation of its core philosophy: that education possesses the unique and transformative power to transcend geographical borders, build enduring bilateral relationships, and bring disparate nations closer together. Held on October 9, 2026, the high-profile gathering underscored the vital intersection between academia and international relations, drawing praise from numerous members of the global diplomatic corps stationed in the Indian capital.
Addressing the audience, Dr. Yeravdekar reflected upon the visionary principles that guided the establishment of Symbiosis back in 1971. Long before "internationalisation" became a ubiquitous buzzword in contemporary higher education boardrooms, the institution was founded with a singular, inclusive purpose. The university traces its roots back to Professor Dr. S.B. Mujumdar, who at the time was serving as a dedicated faculty member at Fergusson College in Pune. Observing the unique challenges and social isolation faced by international students arriving in India for their studies, Professor Mujumdar recognized an urgent need to provide a supportive, welcoming ecosystem.
His vision materialized as Symbiosis—an environment meticulously designed to allow students from diverse nationalities, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds to study, live, and learn collectively. The foundational hope was that these scholars would not only acquire rigorous academic degrees but would also form deep, positive impressions of India, ultimately carrying those fond memories back to their respective homelands upon graduation.
As Dr. Yeravdekar eloquently explained during her address, these international scholars were envisioned from the very beginning as "unofficial ambassadors." Through their personal lived experiences, day-to-day interactions, and lasting professional networks, these students act as powerful conduits, quietly strengthening diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties between India and their home countries.
This founding philosophy remains deeply embedded in the institution’s DNA today. The very name "Symbiosis" was deliberately chosen to reflect a mutually beneficial, harmonious relationship between different living entities, while the university’s guiding motto—Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning "the world is one family"—encapsulates its overarching commitment to fostering global understanding and universal fraternity.
"Students should carry good memories, not just of the education that they went through, but also of the country they studied in," Dr. Yeravdekar emphasized to the assembled diplomats, underscoring the philosophy that holistic cultural exchange must run parallel to rigorous academic instruction.
From an Indian Institution to a Global Community
Over the course of the past five decades, Symbiosis has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a localized initiative into a sprawling, multidisciplinary university network. Today, the institution boasts state-of-the-art campuses spanning six major Indian cities, alongside a strategically positioned international campus located in Dubai. The university proudly welcomes a vibrant student body hailing from more than 85 countries, creating a dynamic microcosm of the world where young people from vastly contrasting backgrounds interact, debate, and learn from one another daily.
During her remarks, Dr. Yeravdekar drew special attention to the city of Pune, the historical birthplace of the university. Pune has long held a reputation as a premier educational, cultural, and industrial powerhouse in western India. The city’s thriving manufacturing sector, advanced services industry, and rapidly expanding start-up ecosystem provide international students with invaluable opportunities to experience contemporary India far beyond the traditional confines of the classroom. Through structured short-term academic programmes, corporate site visits, and professional internships, students are able to anchor their theoretical knowledge in real-world applications.
The university’s ongoing international expansion reached a significant operational milestone with the launch of its dedicated Dubai campus in 2024. Elaborating on the strategic rationale behind selecting the United Arab Emirates as the site for its first major overseas venture, Dr. Yeravdekar described Dubai as a preeminent global gateway—a bustling, cosmopolitan meeting point where diverse nationalities, cultures, and economies converge.
She expressed profound satisfaction with the early progress and trajectory of the Dubai campus, noting that it has already successfully attracted a diverse cohort of students from multiple nations, thereby substantially extending the academic reach and global visibility of the Symbiosis brand.
Addressing the diplomats, high commissioners, and embassy representatives in attendance, Dr. Yeravdekar acknowledged their invaluable contributions to the university’s ongoing journey. She credited the diplomatic missions with playing an indispensable role in encouraging educational exchanges, facilitating student mobility, and bridging institutional gaps between India and the international community.
"The success that Symbiosis has achieved today is possible because of the blessings and support of each one of you," she remarked, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the international representatives for their continuous partnership and collaboration.
Expanding Horizons: Healthcare, Research, and Entrepreneurship
While international education and cross-cultural dialogue remain the beating heart of Symbiosis’s institutional identity, Dr. Yeravdekar used the platform to outline the university’s rapidly expanding strategic priorities, focusing heavily on healthcare, advanced medical education, and cutting-edge technology.
She shed light on the institution’s robust footprint in medical and health sciences, which encompasses comprehensive training in nursing, allied health sciences, and specialized medical technology. These academic and professional programmes hold immense practical relevance, particularly for developing nations across Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, where cultivating a highly skilled, competent healthcare workforce remains a critical national priority. By offering world-class training in these vital sectors, Symbiosis is actively contributing to healthcare capacity-building across the Global South.
This evolving academic portfolio mirrors a broader institutional ambition: to remain agile and responsive to rapidly changing societal needs while empowering nations to address their most pressing developmental challenges.
In addition to healthcare, Dr. Yeravdekar pointed toward an increasingly aggressive institutional emphasis on fostering entrepreneurship and driving impactful research. Propelled by a dynamic incubation ecosystem that currently supports and nurtures more than 80 innovative start-ups, the university is actively encouraging its students to look beyond conventional employment pathways. Instead, scholars are being equipped to develop independent, technology-driven ventures that can disrupt traditional markets and create new economic value.
Significantly, Dr. Yeravdekar noted that international students have increasingly collaborated with their Indian peers to co-found and launch successful start-ups within the university’s incubation cells, demonstrating the universal appeal of entrepreneurial ambition.
Describing this strategic transition, she noted that the institution is actively shifting away from being primarily an employment-oriented university toward a modern, entrepreneurship-led model, all while significantly strengthening its foundational focus on rigorous academic research. For Symbiosis, this evolutionary step represents a deliberate effort to equip young professionals with the specialized skills, self-confidence, and sophisticated international outlook required to successfully navigate an increasingly volatile and rapidly changing global economy.
Education as a Bridge to Global Understanding
Throughout the course of her address, Dr. Yeravdekar returned repeatedly to the fundamental premise that the true worth of the university’s achievements cannot be measured by academic metrics alone; rather, they must be understood within the context of its founding humanitarian purpose. For Symbiosis, international education has never been merely a commercial exercise in attracting students from overseas. Instead, it represents a deeply held commitment to cultivating an institutional ecosystem where cultural differences are transformed into fertile opportunities for mutual learning, empathy, and deep-seated respect.
She also spoke with evident pride regarding the university’s extensive and influential global alumni network. Over the past five decades, thousands of graduates have progressed into prominent professional roles across diverse sectors—including governance, diplomacy, corporate leadership, healthcare, and academia—spread across numerous countries worldwide. Their professional achievements and continued engagement, she suggested, remain a profound source of satisfaction for the university community because they reflect the enduring, life-altering impact of an educational journey that extends far beyond the acquisition of a formal degree parchment.
In her concluding remarks, Dr. Yeravdekar extended a warm, personal invitation to the diplomats and foreign dignitaries who had not yet visited the university’s facilities, encouraging them to tour the sprawling campuses in Pune and witness firsthand the vibrant, multicultural environment that has come to define the Symbiosis experience.
