THE CHRONICLES
(Monthly Newsletter of NICMAR University Pune)
Nurturing Ideas and Shaping the Built Environment of Tomorrow!!
February 2024
Volume 2, Issue 2
February 2024
Leadership Speak 
NICMAR University, Pune takes pride in being a unique, specialized university in the country dedicated to provide education in construction, real estate, infrastructure, and project management. There is a well-developed internal organization structure for regular administration and management of the university. NICMAR University, Pune has a dedicated department for managing student affairs. Department of Student Affairs is actively involved in student welfare and student development ensuring that all student activities and initiatives are well aligned with the vision, mission, and objectives of the university.
Leadership in student affairs involves fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that nurtures the holistic development of students. At NICMAR University, the Department of Student Affairs is actively involved in inspiring the personal growth and academic success of the students through a supportive environment.
Effective leadership in student affairs requires active collaboration with faculty, staff, and students to create and execute initiatives that address the evolving challenges and opportunities within higher education. At NICMAR University, Pune, we have excellent faculty, staff, and student collaboration. The academic mentoring program at the university could be one of the best examples of the same.
Maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion is a top priority for Student Affairs, which makes sure that our university is a welcome place for everyone. Celebration of various commemorative days, events, and festivals on campus could be the best example of diversity, equity, and inclusion that we have always maintained at NICMAR University, Pune.
In our leadership journey, it is crucial to be transparent and approachable, actively listening to the concerns and aspirations of students. By fostering open and approachable communication, we have built trust and created a campus community that values dialogue and collaboration.
Strategic planning and adaptability are key components of successful leadership in student affairs. Ultimately, leadership in student affairs is about cultivating a culture that empowers students to thrive academically, personally, and socially. Department of Student Affairs is committed to fostering a positive and inclusive campus community through strategic planning. We contribute to the holistic development of each student and prepare them for success beyond the classroom.
Warm Best Wishes,
Dr. Darshan A. Mahajan
Dean – Student Affairs, NICMAR University, Pune
February 2024
Latest Updates
Memorandum of Understanding Signed
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NICMAR University, Pune, and Mcon Rasayan India Ltd., on January 10, 2024. The scope of the MOU is to provide paid summer internship and placement for eligible students from the university in Mcon Rasayan India Ltd, and delivery of guest lectures by key managerial persons of Mcon Rasayan India Ltd to NICMAR students.
Further, the company will sponsor award(s) for academic excellence to the students of the School of Construction (SOC) and School of Energy and Environment (SOEE) of NICMAR University, Pune.
February 2024
Happenings @ NICMAR
75th REPUBLIC DAY Celebrations
In commemoration of the glorious 75th Republic Day, NICMAR University, Pune witnessed a magnificent blend of tradition, patriotism, and cultural richness. The parade of guards executed a traditional drill raising the spirits high.
Dr. Anil Agarwal, Dean of Academics, unfurled the National Flag as faculty members, staff and students stood with unwavering pride. His impactful speech resonated through the celebration. Following this, the event unfolded with an assortment of cultural performances presented by the Music, Dance and Drama clubs. The celebration concluded on a patriotic note, encapsulating the essence of Republic Day!
International Faculty Visits
NICMAR University, Pune hosted Prof. Naseem Ali and Ms. Puja Mallik from Massey University, New Zealand along with dignitaries form RBS Intellect Mr. Bharat Chawla and Mr. Ajit Joshi to discuss collaboration opportunities for student education, faculty co-teaching and research on the 15th and 16th of January 2024.
Prof. Naseem addressed the students of MBA ACM on “12 Qs for the Built Environment Professional of the Future” and students of PGP QSCM on “Career Opportunities in Quantity Surveying”.
Dr. Mark Forehand, Dr. Sanjeev Adhikari, Dr. Sumit Chakravarty from Kennesaw State University, Georgia, US, visited NICMAR University, Pune to discuss collaboration opportunities for student education and faculty co-teaching, research on the 29th of January. Dr. Adhikari and Dr. Chakravarty also addressed UG and PG students on “Current practice and future prospects of technology to address Building, Construction and Infrastructure” and “Information technology practices in the US”.
Academic Visit
Er. Punnoose Georg, Chief Executive and Secretary of the Governing Board of Mar Gregorios Educational Society and founder of SAINTGITS Group of Professional Institutions, Kerala, recently visited NICMAR University, Pune. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss aspects of collaboration such as joint research projects, faculty and student exchanges, joint degrees, shared access to research facilities, and collaborative publications.
A Follow-up workshop on “CO-PO Mapping
The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), NICMAR University, Pune organized a follow-up workshop on “CO-PO Mapping” on 18th January, 2024. Prof. Madhav B. Kumthekar, an expert of accreditation process joined online as the external experts for the workshop. The workshop highlighted the framing and mapping of CO-PO. All faculty members of NICMAR University, Pune were present in the workshop. Dr. Rahul Deshpande, Dean of Quality Assurance offered the vote of thanks.
Editor-Author Interaction Series
On January 10, 2024, NICMAR University, Pune, orchestrated a captivating Editor-Author Interaction Series, serving as a catalyst for interaction and knowledge dissemination among faculties and scholars. Dr. Sudhir Rana, the Editor of the FIIB Business Review, took the stage during this enlightening event, sharing profound editorial insights and expertise. His contribution provided invaluable perspectives to the attendees, enriching their understanding of the intricacies involved in the editorial process.
The event, chaired by Dr. Anil Agarwal, Dean-Academics NICMAR University, Pune, underscored the pivotal role of national and international journals in the field of education. Dr. Agarwal eloquently highlighted the significant contributions made by these journals, emphasizing their influence in shaping the landscape of educational discourse. The active participation of NICMAR University, Pune faculties, and research scholars infused the session with a vibrant exchange of ideas, fostering an atmosphere of intellectual engagement.
Orientation for Ph.D. Scholars - January 2024 Batch
NICMAR University, Pune organized an orientation program for the new batch of Ph.D scholars. The Dean Research and Development welcomed all scholars, Guests and participants and congratulated the new batch of scholars for this success. Guest of Honor Dr. Makarand Hastak from Purdue University, United States of America, shared his expertise and knowledge, emphasizing the importance of specialization and research in their respective fields. He stressed upon the importance of peer’s feedback in the research journey.
Dr. Anil Kashyap, President and Chancellor of NICMAR University, Pune, shared his valuable research experiences with the scholars. Dr. Mrs. Sushma S. Kulkarni, Vice-Chancellor of NICMAR University, Pune, motivated scholars and geared them towards fostering new and unique approaches in their research fields.
Invited Speaker Naseem Ameer Ali from Massey University, New Zealand, blessed the new Ph.D. research scholars with his impactful speech. His profound presentation offered valuable insights and encouraged scholars to think critically. Dr. Medha Joshi, Head of the Ph.D. program, provided an insightful overview and guided attendees through the beginning of a new academic journey.
Transformative Session for Faculty/Staff
On January 16, 2024, a transformative session was organised for the faculty/staff of NICMAR Pune university. Dr. Dileep C. Patwardhan, a renowned figure in the field of ophthalmology, shared invaluable insights on the theme "Enjoy Stress." The event, organized with the aim of fostering a healthier approach to stress, was well appreciated by the audience.
Training Session on Professional Ethics and Etiquette
On January 11, 2024, NICMAR University, Pune organized a Training Session on "Professional Ethics and Etiquette" by Dr. Prashant I. Dave, Registrar, who addressed the gathering on various important aspects of Professional Ethics and Etiquette.
The session commenced by emphasizing the paramount importance of professionalism in the workplace. Participants were guided through the multifaceted dimensions of cultivating a professional demeanour in day-to-day operations. These guidelines aimed at creating a positive work environment, minimizing the potential for conflicts and fostering healthy collaborations among colleagues.
Visit to The India Water Show
School of Energy and Environment arranged an educational exhibition tour for the students of the School of Energy and Environment at “The India Water Show (IWS) 2024” on January 12, 2024.
The theme of the exhibition was on Water and Waste-water & Renewable Energy. The event showcased cutting-edge advancements in Clean & Green Energy, offering a panoramic view of innovations shaping the future of sustainable energy solutions. The Expo visit increased the awareness among the students and proved to be an invaluable experience for the students of SOEE.
Corporate Connect Initiatives
As a part of its corporate connect initiative, a guest talk on Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) auditing was arranged by the School of Energy and Environment on January 11, 2024. The expert for this talk was Mr. Nitin Kumar Sharma, a Senior Environmental Expert at AECOM.
He discussed the fundamentals of EMS and ESG audits and its significance in modern corporate operations. He further discussed the concept of EMS and the difference between the EMS and other sustainability-related terms. The session was highly interactive and informative for the students and faculty members.
Another guest talk on Waste Water Treatment Plants by Dr. Ananth S. Kodavasal, Chairman and Director of ECOTECH (India) Pvt. Ltd., on January 17, 2024 was arranged by SoEE. Dr. Ananth, an expert in the field of water technology and sustainability discussed the company's accomplishments and stressed the importance of ethics as a means of achieving success. Later, covered a wide variety of problems with contemporary water management, including aging infrastructure, population growth, and climate change. The event was a great success, raising awareness about the need to address the water shortage issue by treating water and reusing it.
Guest Talk
Dr. Ratnadip R Joshi, Professor, MIT World Peace University, Pune delivered a guest lecture on the experiences and learnings of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) on 22nd December 2023. The talk focused on an important international gathering that tackled climate change and where the nations had to submit their emission inventories which were reviewed by other parties. He shared his knowledge and insights from COP 28.
Open forum
The Centre of Excellence for Academic Practices organised an Open forum discussion on the topic, “Chat-GPT and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Should academia and industry fear it or embrace it?” with Dr. Noushad Ali Naseem, from Massey University, New Zealand, on 16th Jan. 2024.
Prof. Naseem has over 30 years’ experience as a construction professional and is an esteemed academician. He has worked in the UK, Malaysia, and New Zealand and was a former director of the Malaysian branches of two international project management and construction contracts consultancies. Prof. Naseem deliberated on the constructive and innovative use of Chat GPT in teaching and student assessment. He also discussed about the misuse of this technology by students and how academics can control it and rather use it for developing their critical thinking skills. The faculty members participated enthusiastically in this open forum discussion.
Industry Connect Series
In the month of January, two industry connect series were organized for first-year MBA students of the university.
The first event was organised on 3rd January 2024. The talk was delivered by Mr. Abhik Duttagupta, Head of the Concrete Division at MYK Arment Pvt. Ltd. He shared valuable industry perspectives with students of NICMAR University, Pune. Ms. Sona Bajpai, Mr. Vaibhav Kulkarni, and Mr. Utkarsh Tokekar, all from MYK Arment Private Limited, also provided their insights to the students. Students engaged in a power-packed session that offered insights into the latest trends in the construction industry, along with exposure to various career opportunities.
The second event was conducted on 24th January 2024 for the students. Mr. Partha De, Vice President and Head (Oil, Gas and Hydrocarbons) at Tata Projects, delivered a captivating talk on 'Strategies and Challenges in Execution of Mega Projects’ at NICMAR University, Pune.
Session on Sustainable Transportation Project
The Pune Knowledge Cluster (PKC) conducted the session on the Sustainable Transportation Project at NICMAR University on January 5, 2024. The session was attended by the Master students of Environmental Sustainability from NICMAR University Pune and the Under Graduate students of Genba Sopanrao Moze College of Engineering, Balewadi, Pune.
Six students each from NICMAR University Pune and Genba Moze college actively participated in the interaction with the PKC members. The PKC Team explained how student volunteers need to spread awareness on sustainable transport among diverse groups of people, such as, corporates, senior citizens, students etc.) in Balewadi area to nudge them to use PMPML Bus No. 256 and benefit from the services.
Faculty and Staff Achievements/Awards
An article titled “Constructing Dreams into Reality” by Dr. (Mrs.) Sushma Kulkarni, Vice Chancellor, NICMAR University, Pune, was published in Times of India and Maharashtra Times on January 26, 2024.
Prof. Rajesh Goyal, was recently invited by the Wind Engineering Research Centre at Tokyo Polytechnic University (TPU), Japan, to collaborate on a research project focusing on Tornado Impact on Structures. Prof. Goyal, a subject matter expert in this field, undertook this visit to the Tornado Simulator laboratory from January 20 to January 29, 2024.
Dr. Rajni Kant Rajhans was invited as "Guest of Honour" to deliver a talk on "Mastering from Data to Knowledge with Research Methodology Tools and Power BI." organized by the School of Management, D.Y. Patil University, Ambi, Pune. Dr. Rajni Kant Rajhans was also invited as a Resource Person for Case Writing Workshop at SGT University, Gurugram.
Dr. Sagar Malsane was invited to participate as an Expert Speaker for a panel discussion on “How academia can support the development of required expertise in the government” in the event titled The National Workshop on Capacities for Building Information Modelling Adoption in Indian Infra for 2047: Future-Ready Government for Tomorrow's Infrastructure, organized by the British High Commission in collaboration with NITI Aayog on 11th and 12th January 2024.
February 2024
Alumni Corner
Mumbai Alumni Meet – ASPIRE 2024
Reflecting on the extraordinary moments of brilliance and camaraderie at the Annual Symposium for Professionals in Infrastructure and Real Estate (ASPIRE) 2024, organized by the Association of Global NICMARians (AGNI) in association with NICMAR, and NICMAR University, Pune, on 20th January 2024 in Mumbai at Hotel Sahara Star. “Inspirations and Aspirations” was the theme of this landmark annual alumni-industry conference of NICMAR Alumni.
The chief guest of the event was Mr. Pradeep Udhas, Independent Director, Ex-KPMG Senior Partner, Serial Investor, and Founder at Multiple Companies. Notable attendees included Dr. Prof. Anil Kashyap, Director General NICMAR, President and Chancellor NICMAR University, and Patron AGNI; Dr. Mrs. Sushma Kulkarni, Vice Chancellor, NICMAR University, Pune; Dr. Jonardan Koner, Dean, Career Services, International Affairs and Alumni Relations; Dr. Vandana Bhavsar, Head, Alumni Relations, along with Registrar and Deans of NICMAR University, Pune.
The event featured sessions on mega urban infrastructure projects, urban transportation projects, leadership perspectives of real estate, decarbonization, CHRO insights, leadership mantras, and case studies. Engaging panel discussions, insightful presentations, awards, and invaluable networking opportunities marked the unfolding of the evening.
The gathering included NICMAR alumni, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals from 100+ organizations, facilitating knowledge sharing and networking. The gala affair resonated with laughter, reminiscence, and shared dreams.
February 2024
Student Nook
SPARDHA 2024
NICMAR University, Pune organized its Annual Sports Fest, SPARDHA'24 spanning from 7th January to 14th January. Featuring a diverse mix of sports like Cricket, Basketball, Football, Volleyball, Badminton, Table Tennis and Chess, its participation was a celebration of athletic prowess and spirit.
A notable highlight of the event was NIC’MARATHON, a spirited 5 KM race that stood as a symbol of endurance and unity. Adding to the significance, the 5th edition of the Fit India Movement, launched by the Prime Minister, was observed and commemorated throughout SPARDHA'24. As the week unfolded with competitive spirit, Team Sheershak emerged as the overall winner!
SANKRANTHI 2024
To honour the hard work of farmers, the celebrations of Sankranthi, the harvest festival commenced on 4th January with an energetic flash mob. The campus transformed on 6th January, showcasing artistic rangolis while the sky echoed with the joyous sounds of kites soaring high. The cultural evening featured lively performances. Dr. Anil Kashyap, President and Chancellor along with Dr. Poonam Kashyap, Director of Strategy and External Partnerships for NICMAR Group of Institutions inaugurated NICMARAPURAM - a design installation artfully depicting a traditional village. The celebration concluded with a grand authentic feast.
PONGAL 2024
Expressing gratitude to the Sun God for a bountiful harvest, the celebrations for Pongal began on 18th January with a mesmerizing spectacle of “Thappu attam”, a dazzling flash mob. Adding a traditional touch, the students were involved in a spirited pot piñata game. On the morning of January 20th, the campus witnessed competitions encompassing Tug of War, Pot Painting and Rangoli. The highlight of the celebration was a musical procession that led participants into the cultural evening. Mr. Krishnamurthy Balaji, Vice President, SPCL, graced the event with his esteemed presence.
International Water Association – Induction Session
Induction of students of NICMAR University, Pune in International Water Association (IWA) was held online on January 17, 2024. This session was held by IWA’s South Asia Operations Manager Dr. Prasanna Jogdeo. He introduced the Indian IWA team as well as the international members.
Dr. Prasanna Jogdeo along with his team provided essential information about the IWA, its values, goals and resources. The IWA’s Indian office representative provided context-specific details regarding the international collaboration with other universities, research institutes, industries etc. The students inquired about the internship opportunities available for them. The session was well-informed, insightful, and fruitful for the students.
Students Visit
On the 6-7 January 2024, students from NICMAR University Pune embarked on an insightful visit to CONSTRO 24, an esteemed construction industry exhibition held at the Pune Exhibition Center Moshi PCMC Pune.
The visit aimed to provide students with practical exposure to the latest innovations, technologies, and trends within the construction sector. The students actively engaged with exhibitors, gaining first-hand knowledge about cutting-edge construction materials, sustainable practices, and state-of-the-art machinery. They eagerly participated in discussions, asking pertinent questions, and delving deeper into the intricacies of modern construction methodologies.
MBA ACM Senior Students Miss Doobari Bharadwaj and Mr. Manav Shah were felicitated by the organizers for hosting the knowledge series. The seminar series was jointly organized by PCERF CONSTR 24 and NICMAR University Pune on Sunday 07 January 2024. NICMAR students Miss. Manisha and Mr Uday Ram hosted the event on Defects in Waterproofing.
February 2024
Placement Spotlight
The Campus Placements for the season are in full swing with multiple companies visiting campus for NICMARIAN’S!!
We saw a pool of prominent recruiters visiting last month for Final Placements as well as Internships including Systra, FPA, SPCL EPC, Agami Realty, Cherry hill, Reliance Retails, Zamil Steels, Capricorn Group, Lakshmi Civil etc. As we continue to build bridges between academia and industry, we look forward to witnessing more such success stories.
Dr. Anil Kashyap
President and Chancellor
NICMAR University, Pune
Dr. Mrs. Sushma S. Kulkarni
Vice Chancellor,
NICMAR University, Pune
Dr. Rahul Deshpande
Dean QA,
NICMAR University, Pune
Dr. Vandana Bhavsar
Associate Professor,
NICMAR University, Pune
Dr. Soumi Rai
Associate Professor,
NICMAR University, Pune
25/1, N.I.A. Post Office,
Balewadi, Pune – 411 045,
Maharashtra, India