Eternal University: Tapping the Unexplored Potentials of Rural Youth
Dr. Harcharan S. Dhaliwal, Vice Chancellor Eternal University
Holding the pride of being the first Women's University of North India, the Eternal University is on a noble journey of educating the nation's new generation of women and empowering them in the right sense. Situated in a remote area of Sirmour district, about 110 km from Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, the campus of the Eternal University is perfectly placed in the lap of the Himalayas at Baru Sahib, the valley of divine peace. The University, which was initially established as a co-educational institution, today hosts seven constituent colleges. Initiated by the visionary Baba Iqbal Singh Ji, Retired Director of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh, the University is always set to achieve newer heights by enhancing and broadening the knowledge base of its learners and educators.
Holding the pride of being the first Women's University of North India, the Eternal University is on a noble journey of educating the nation's new generation of women and empowering them in the right sense. Situated in a remote area of Sirmour district, about 110 km from Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, the campus of the Eternal University is perfectly placed in the lap of the Himalayas at Baru Sahib, the valley of divine peace. The University, which was initially established as a co-educational institution, today hosts seven constituent colleges. Initiated by the visionary Baba Iqbal Singh Ji, Retired Director of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh, the University is always set to achieve newer heights by enhancing and broadening the knowledge base of its learners and educators.
"As the Eternal University believes in fostering a Gurukul system, students are offered all the conveniences under one roof without any need to travel far for their basic requirements, which in turn lets them invest more time in self-development and growth"
Dr. Harcharan S. Dhaliwal, Vice Chancellor, says: "We try to provide the best support and assistance to our students throughout their academic tenure at the Eternal University. With the sound training and life-long learning that we offer to our students, we build in them a self-confidence that makes them beacons that stand out from the crowd once they leave our campus." Sponsored by the Kalgidhar Trust, the University is being widely recognized in the education domain of the country for extending highly subsidized and free education to girl students and ensuring their placement in the network of Akal Academies spread over six states of Northern India. Since its establishment, the University has been the driving engine for helping the youth in occupying eminent and enviable position in the workforce and adding evident value to their respective organizations.
Despite being a young establishment, the Eternal University with its diverse programmes, priorities, commitments, values, and efforts strives to emerge as a world-class women's University with its centers of excellence in science, technology, arts, and management. Currently, the University is attracting students from all over the country to pursue education in varied disciplines such as Engineering & Technology, Renewable Energy, Economics, Commerce, Management, Nursing, Public Health, Agriculture, Food Technology, and many other subjects at undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D. levels. "All the programmes that we conduct at the Eternal University are duly recognized by UGC, AICTE, INC, NCTE, ICAR, and DSIR and have been recently accredited by NAAC. It has also been declared as a Minority Education Institution by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, Government of India. From 2019, moreover, the university will facilitate courses in conjunction with the Akal Skill Centre for Higher Education Abroad, in Australia" announces Dr Dhaliwal.
Marching Towards Wholesome Growth
A paradise on earth for true knowledge seekers, the holy land of Baru Sahib, where the campus of Eternal University is nestled, nurtures an ideal atmosphere for students, dedicated to fulfilling their career goals and taking home an unmatched campus experience. The students get access to all the necessary academic as well as non-academic infrastructural facilities, including the Akal Rojgar Yojna (ARY) Shopping Complex, a Post Office and Courier Service of DTDC, canteens, sports facilities, a botanical garden, NSS and NCC units, experimental farms (of over 24 hectares), an animal house, a modern dairy complex, banks with ATM, and many more facilities. As the University believes in fostering a Gurukul system, students are offered all the conveniences under one roof without any need to travel far for their basic requirements, which in turn lets them invest more time in self-development and growth. Being a residential campus, the management has taken all the steps to ensure that every safety factor is in place, and parallelly promotes a strictly drug-free environment within the campus.
"At Eternal University, we greatly prioritize the safety of our students," Dr. Dhaliwal emphasizes, "as their parents send them to us with utmost trust, both in the aspect of building their careers and protecting them while they are on campus." Making sure that female students do not lag behind male students, the University strongly encourages them to participate in various sports, extra and co-curricular activities. Dr. Dhaliwal adds: "We aspire to gift the country educated female citizens who are equally competent as their male counterparts and can contribute positively to the betterment of the society and nation at large." Accordingly, various NSS and NCC camps and activities are organized annually by the University where students participate with much enthusiasm. Such relentless efforts made by the University enable the students to stay ahead of time and confront the contemporary competitive world with a high morale and strong determination.
Enhancing Lives
The presence of the University in the region opens limitless opportunities for the youngsters residing in its vicinities. Notably, the Akal College of Agriculture under the University is serving the multitude by educating those interested in the latest research and technological advancements. "Taking up responsibility and initiative, we have set up a Soil and Plant Health Clinic in the college where farmers can get expert advice extended throughout the year. Additionally, we have adopted 5 Gram Panchayats and communities for their inclusive development," Dr. Dhaliwal remarks. Furthermore, the Akal College of Nursing, which was established as the first Nursing College of Himachal Pradesh plays a significant role in providing employment opportunities to aspirant nurses of the region. Dr. Dhaliwal adds: "For assuring that all the students have proper access to quality education, we offer a wide range of scholarships, fellowships and Earn-While-You-Learn opportunities. This encourages the underprivileged students considerably to complete their education and obtain their degrees."
Given the University's dedication to undertake cutting-edge research and academic activities, it has collaborated with several national and international organizations, such as Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI, USA; Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, India; Drexel University College of Nursing and Applied Sciences, Philadelphia, USA; Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA; and so on. "Till date, our faculty members and students have completed a large number of research projects which have been widely appreciated by the different stakeholders. At present, there are a number of research projects that are being currently undertaken, which we also look forward to carry out successfully over the coming period," observes Dr. Dhaliwal. These undertakings not only assist in promoting a research culture, but they also allow the University to design the curriculum for each course as per the emerging demands of the concerned industry. Simultaneously, the highly experienced and extremely talented faculty members of the University also prioritize in delivering education using state-of-the-art and digital teaching methodologies for enriching the modern teaching and learning processes.
Students are motivated to engage in a learning experience, while also undergoing hands-on training through internships and industrial visits. The grooming of job seekers goes hand-in-hand with guiding and counseling those students who desire to start their own businesses. A matching set of entrepreneurship skills are being instilled in the students by the University. Dr. Dhaliwal mentions: "This exposes the students to the business world by letting them participate in entrepreneurial workshops." Enabling the students to interact with distinguished guest faculty members from reputed organizations and enriching their resumes by encouraging them to pursue add-on courses coupled with the regular curriculum, the University invariably utilizes its excellent placement networks to accommodate students in eminent companies. "Our vision is to continually groom graduates who are engrossed with substantial human values, professional ethics, and lifelong skills, so that they may in the future serve humankind with love and devotion for an inclusive and sustainable development," concludes Dr. Dhaliwal.
Dr. Harcharan S. Dhaliwal, Vice Chancellor
Dr. Dhaliwal holds a Ph. D. in Genetics from the University of California, Riverside and has immense academic and industrial experience. Before joining the Eternal University he has held many respective positions: he served as Professor of Biotechnology in Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee; Director of Biotechnology Centre, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; and Director-Cum-Senior Scientist at the Regional Research Station, Punjab Agricultural University. He has worked as Research Fellow and Visiting Professor for more than ten years, conducting advanced research in state-of-the-art laboratories, in countries including the USA, Switzerland, Mexico, Japan, Israel, and Australia. He has published more than 200 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, and has participated in numerous conferences and seminars. He has been very actively associated with various Task Forces of DBT and ICAR for mentoring and monitoring research on crop improvement.
Holding the pride of being the first Women's University of North India, the Eternal University is on a noble journey of educating the nation's new generation of women and empowering them in the right sense. Situated in a remote area of Sirmour district, about 110 km from Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, the campus of the Eternal University is perfectly placed in the lap of the Himalayas at Baru Sahib, the valley of divine peace. The University, which was initially established as a co-educational institution, today hosts seven constituent colleges. Initiated by the visionary Baba Iqbal Singh Ji, Retired Director of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh, the University is always set to achieve newer heights by enhancing and broadening the knowledge base of its learners and educators.
"As the Eternal University believes in fostering a Gurukul system, students are offered all the conveniences under one roof without any need to travel far for their basic requirements, which in turn lets them invest more time in self-development and growth"
Dr. Harcharan S. Dhaliwal, Vice Chancellor, says: "We try to provide the best support and assistance to our students throughout their academic tenure at the Eternal University. With the sound training and life-long learning that we offer to our students, we build in them a self-confidence that makes them beacons that stand out from the crowd once they leave our campus." Sponsored by the Kalgidhar Trust, the University is being widely recognized in the education domain of the country for extending highly subsidized and free education to girl students and ensuring their placement in the network of Akal Academies spread over six states of Northern India. Since its establishment, the University has been the driving engine for helping the youth in occupying eminent and enviable position in the workforce and adding evident value to their respective organizations.
Despite being a young establishment, the Eternal University with its diverse programmes, priorities, commitments, values, and efforts strives to emerge as a world-class women's University with its centers of excellence in science, technology, arts, and management. Currently, the University is attracting students from all over the country to pursue education in varied disciplines such as Engineering & Technology, Renewable Energy, Economics, Commerce, Management, Nursing, Public Health, Agriculture, Food Technology, and many other subjects at undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D. levels. "All the programmes that we conduct at the Eternal University are duly recognized by UGC, AICTE, INC, NCTE, ICAR, and DSIR and have been recently accredited by NAAC. It has also been declared as a Minority Education Institution by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, Government of India. From 2019, moreover, the university will facilitate courses in conjunction with the Akal Skill Centre for Higher Education Abroad, in Australia" announces Dr Dhaliwal.
Marching Towards Wholesome Growth
A paradise on earth for true knowledge seekers, the holy land of Baru Sahib, where the campus of Eternal University is nestled, nurtures an ideal atmosphere for students, dedicated to fulfilling their career goals and taking home an unmatched campus experience. The students get access to all the necessary academic as well as non-academic infrastructural facilities, including the Akal Rojgar Yojna (ARY) Shopping Complex, a Post Office and Courier Service of DTDC, canteens, sports facilities, a botanical garden, NSS and NCC units, experimental farms (of over 24 hectares), an animal house, a modern dairy complex, banks with ATM, and many more facilities. As the University believes in fostering a Gurukul system, students are offered all the conveniences under one roof without any need to travel far for their basic requirements, which in turn lets them invest more time in self-development and growth. Being a residential campus, the management has taken all the steps to ensure that every safety factor is in place, and parallelly promotes a strictly drug-free environment within the campus.
"At Eternal University, we greatly prioritize the safety of our students," Dr. Dhaliwal emphasizes, "as their parents send them to us with utmost trust, both in the aspect of building their careers and protecting them while they are on campus." Making sure that female students do not lag behind male students, the University strongly encourages them to participate in various sports, extra and co-curricular activities. Dr. Dhaliwal adds: "We aspire to gift the country educated female citizens who are equally competent as their male counterparts and can contribute positively to the betterment of the society and nation at large." Accordingly, various NSS and NCC camps and activities are organized annually by the University where students participate with much enthusiasm. Such relentless efforts made by the University enable the students to stay ahead of time and confront the contemporary competitive world with a high morale and strong determination.
Enhancing Lives
The presence of the University in the region opens limitless opportunities for the youngsters residing in its vicinities. Notably, the Akal College of Agriculture under the University is serving the multitude by educating those interested in the latest research and technological advancements. "Taking up responsibility and initiative, we have set up a Soil and Plant Health Clinic in the college where farmers can get expert advice extended throughout the year. Additionally, we have adopted 5 Gram Panchayats and communities for their inclusive development," Dr. Dhaliwal remarks. Furthermore, the Akal College of Nursing, which was established as the first Nursing College of Himachal Pradesh plays a significant role in providing employment opportunities to aspirant nurses of the region. Dr. Dhaliwal adds: "For assuring that all the students have proper access to quality education, we offer a wide range of scholarships, fellowships and Earn-While-You-Learn opportunities. This encourages the underprivileged students considerably to complete their education and obtain their degrees."
Given the University's dedication to undertake cutting-edge research and academic activities, it has collaborated with several national and international organizations, such as Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI, USA; Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, India; Drexel University College of Nursing and Applied Sciences, Philadelphia, USA; Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA; and so on. "Till date, our faculty members and students have completed a large number of research projects which have been widely appreciated by the different stakeholders. At present, there are a number of research projects that are being currently undertaken, which we also look forward to carry out successfully over the coming period," observes Dr. Dhaliwal. These undertakings not only assist in promoting a research culture, but they also allow the University to design the curriculum for each course as per the emerging demands of the concerned industry. Simultaneously, the highly experienced and extremely talented faculty members of the University also prioritize in delivering education using state-of-the-art and digital teaching methodologies for enriching the modern teaching and learning processes.
Students are motivated to engage in a learning experience, while also undergoing hands-on training through internships and industrial visits. The grooming of job seekers goes hand-in-hand with guiding and counseling those students who desire to start their own businesses. A matching set of entrepreneurship skills are being instilled in the students by the University. Dr. Dhaliwal mentions: "This exposes the students to the business world by letting them participate in entrepreneurial workshops." Enabling the students to interact with distinguished guest faculty members from reputed organizations and enriching their resumes by encouraging them to pursue add-on courses coupled with the regular curriculum, the University invariably utilizes its excellent placement networks to accommodate students in eminent companies. "Our vision is to continually groom graduates who are engrossed with substantial human values, professional ethics, and lifelong skills, so that they may in the future serve humankind with love and devotion for an inclusive and sustainable development," concludes Dr. Dhaliwal.
Dr. Harcharan S. Dhaliwal, Vice Chancellor
Dr. Dhaliwal holds a Ph. D. in Genetics from the University of California, Riverside and has immense academic and industrial experience. Before joining the Eternal University he has held many respective positions: he served as Professor of Biotechnology in Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee; Director of Biotechnology Centre, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; and Director-Cum-Senior Scientist at the Regional Research Station, Punjab Agricultural University. He has worked as Research Fellow and Visiting Professor for more than ten years, conducting advanced research in state-of-the-art laboratories, in countries including the USA, Switzerland, Mexico, Japan, Israel, and Australia. He has published more than 200 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, and has participated in numerous conferences and seminars. He has been very actively associated with various Task Forces of DBT and ICAR for mentoring and monitoring research on crop improvement.
