SRM University-AP, on the 24th of August, 2026, welcomed its newest cohort of students at its Freshers’ Orientation, marking the tenth batch to join the university since its founding. The programme brought together the university’s leadership, deans and directors to introduce the incoming batch to the academic offerings, campus community and university life that await them.
The proceedings opened with Ms Revathi Balakrishnan, Director of Student Affairs, who set the tone for the day, urging students to look beyond what they stood to gain from the university and consider, instead, what they would make of their time here.
In his address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Ch Satish Kumar welcomed the new students, speaking of the university’s founder and the Pro Chancellor before tracing the university’s own journey since its founding. He introduced the leadership team and campus infrastructure to the gathering, spoke of the outcomes an SRM AP education is designed to deliver, and of the community and campus life that awaits students beyond the classroom, extending a warm welcome to the parents present as well. He closed proceedings with a short interactive question and answer session, giving students and parents the opportunity to raise questions directly.
Dr Vinayak Kalluri, Registrar, described a place at SRM University-AP as a choice worth being proud of, and reminded students that the freedom they now had came with responsibility, before introducing the Deans and Directors of the university’s schools, institutes and directorates to the gathering.
The Deans of the university’s three schools took turns introducing their respective faculties to the incoming students. Prof. C V Tomy, Dean, School of Engineering and Sciences, outlined the school’s departments and specialisations, alongside the importance of students’ mental and physical well-being. Prof. Vishnupad, Dean, Easwari School of Liberal Arts, introduced the school’s infrastructure and the idea of a liberal arts education itself, describing it as a discipline that gives students the freedom to choose once they know themselves better, and one rooted, fundamentally, in thought.
The Directors of the university’s research and technology institutes followed. Prof. Ranjit Thapa, Dean of Research, spoke of the need for invention and research at this stage of a student’s life, describing SRM AP’s structured research environment, the importance of documentation, and the schemes available to fund research on a national platform. Prof. Saraju P Mohanty, Dean, AI Technology Institute, spoke of artificial intelligence as a defining force in future employment, touching every field from finance to research, with new models emerging at an ever-faster pace, and outlined the university’s own AI institute and the centres of excellence built around it. Prof. Somnath Bhattacharyya, Dean, Quantum Technology Institute, introduced students to the university’s first-of-its-kind Quantum Reference Facility, making the case for why quantum technology matters even beyond the sciences, and described the multidisciplinary programme that draws its core team from across departments.
Dr Prabhakar Subrahmanyam, Professor of Practice at the Centre of Excellence for Electronic Cooling, SRM University-AP, and Senior Staff Scientist at Dell Technologies, spoke on the role internships play in a student’s career. Drawing on his own industry background, he urged students to seek out internship exposure early rather than waiting until their final year, calling it a vital step in translating classroom learning into real-world readiness.
For SRM University-AP‘s newest students, the orientation marked a beginning, one built on the freedom to explore, the responsibility to grow, and the promise of a university life yet to be written.
