A significant transformation in higher education strategy has been outlined at the University of Mumbai, as the institution prepares to adopt the concept of a meta-university in collaboration with other state universities across Maharashtra. The announcement was made during the annual convocation ceremony, marking a forward-looking approach as the university moves toward celebrating its 170th year of establishment in July.
Founded in 1857, Mumbai University has been positioned as an institution entering a phase of renewal and realignment with national development goals. It was stated by Vice Chancellor Dr Ravindra Kulkarni that the journey toward the 170th anniversary would be guided by a shift from broad access to academic excellence. Emphasis was placed on moving away from rigid disciplinary structures toward interdisciplinary learning models and research-driven innovation ecosystems.
As part of this broader academic roadmap, steps have been initiated toward the establishment of specialised technology-focused schools. These institutions are expected to concentrate on research and development in areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, advanced materials, cloud and quantum computing, sustainable sciences, and clean energy. It was highlighted that research outcomes would increasingly be supported through structured frameworks for commercialisation, intellectual property management, and institutional revenue generation, ensuring that academic research contributes to real-world impact.
The proposed meta-university framework has been described as a collaborative model that enables universities to share academic resources, faculty expertise, and digital learning platforms. Originally introduced by the Union government more than a decade ago, the concept envisions joint degree programmes and cross-institutional learning opportunities that allow students to benefit from a wider academic ecosystem. While the intention to implement this model has been confirmed, specific operational details have not yet been disclosed by the university.
Academic achievements were also showcased during the convocation ceremony, where more than 1.7 lakh degrees were awarded. These included 1,49,982 undergraduate and 22,540 postgraduate degrees. A notable trend was observed in gender representation, with female students outnumbering male students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. This pattern was reflected consistently across academic programmes.
Research output was highlighted as a growing strength of the institution. A total of 609 doctoral degrees were conferred, representing nearly a 50 percent increase compared to the previous year. According to Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Ajay Bhamare, this marked the highest number of PhDs awarded by the university in the past nine years, with the Faculty of Science and Technology contributing the largest share.
The convocation ceremony was attended by Dr Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, who addressed graduates on national research priorities. Reference was made to the recently launched ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation fund, which has been designed to provide long-term, low-interest financing to strengthen private-sector research and support the commercialisation of deep-technology innovations.