O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) concluded its 15th Convocation Ceremony on 25–26 July in Sonipat, Haryana, conferring degrees upon 5,604 students across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes. The two-day event drew Supreme Court judges, Harvard faculty, and international university leaders, underscoring JGU's positioning as one of India's most globally networked private universities.

Ceremony Highlights

Naveen Jindal, Founding Chancellor of JGU, opened the proceedings by congratulating the graduating cohort and urging them to anchor ambition in purpose. 'A degree may help you earn a livelihood, but purpose gives your life meaning,' Jindal said, adding that India's strength 'will always be its 1.5 billion people.' He recalled that the university was established as a tribute to his father, O.P. Jindal, who 'believed that the best gift you can give to anyone is a good-quality education.'

Prof (Dr) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor of JGU, presented the University Report, noting that JGU marks 17 years of its establishment in 2025. What began in 2009 as a single school has grown into a 12-school multidisciplinary institution with faculty drawn from 51 countries, students from 160+ countries, and partnerships with 600+ institutions across 80+ countries. Total enrolment now stands at over 16,000 students.

What the Chief Guests Said

Justice P.S. Narasimha, Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Chief Guest on Day 1, called on graduates to become custodians of institutions. 'Society will expect not just competence from you but judgment,' he said. 'Whatever profession you choose, the obligation remains the same: to strengthen the rule of law and create a fair and just society.'

Dr Tarun Khanna, Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor at Harvard Business School, delivered the afternoon convocation address on Day 1, counselling graduates to embrace failure as a feature, not a flaw. 'Accept that failure will come nine times out of ten, even 99 times out of a 100, and each time, pick yourself up, learn from the experience, and keep moving forward,' Khanna said.

On Day 2, Dr Abhishek M. Singhvi, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), served as Chief Guest. He drew a distinction between knowledge and wisdom: 'Knowledge tells us what is possible; wisdom reminds us what is desirable. Skills enable us to earn a livelihood, but values determine whether that livelihood serves society.'

International Perspective

Professor (Dr) Dawn Freshwater, Executive Director of the Worldwide Universities Network and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Auckland, New Zealand, was Special Guest of Honour. She urged graduates to resist the temptation to imitate artificial intelligence and instead cultivate distinctly human qualities. 'Your future lies not in trying to imitate AI but in cultivating the qualities that machines cannot and do not possess,' she said, calling on graduates to be 'fully present and fully intentional.'

JGU's Growing Global Footprint

The convocation comes as JGU continues to climb international rankings and expand its research output. The university's model — combining Indian legal and policy traditions with globally sourced faculty and cross-border academic partnerships — has drawn consistent attention from higher-education observers. Notably, the institution's emphasis on multidisciplinary education mirrors a broader shift in Indian higher education policy under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages universities to move beyond single-discipline silos.

With 5,604 graduates entering professional life this year, JGU's cumulative alumni network is set to grow significantly — a resource the university has increasingly leveraged for research collaboration and industry placement. The next convocation cycle will be watched for whether the university sustains its international faculty and student diversity benchmarks amid a competitive global recruitment environment.