Manipal, India – February 13, 2025: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) celebrated a landmark achievement in digital education by holding its first-ever convocation for online graduates on February 8th. 426 students from 22 countries, including South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda, received their postgraduate degrees in programs like MBA, MSc in Business Analytics and Data Science, and PGCP in Business Analytics and Logistics & Supply Chain Management. Many international students, including some from Africa supported by the e-Vidya Bharati Pan-African Scholarship Project in partnership with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, attended the ceremony in person.
This pioneering event underscores the growing recognition of online education, with UGC guidelines affirming the equivalence of online and on-campus degrees for employment and further studies. MAHE launched its online programs in September 2022, demonstrating its commitment to accessible, borderless education.
The convocation was inaugurated by Dr. H S Ballal, Pro-Chancellor of MAHE, and attended by university leadership including Vice-Chancellor Lt. Gen. (Dr) M D Venkatesh, Pro Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, and Dr. Manojkumar Nagasampige, Director of Online Education. Mr. Ambrish Sinha, CEO of Unext Learning, also graced the occasion as Guest of Honor.
Dr. Ballal emphasized the significance of the convocation in MAHE’s history and its positive impact on students and international relations. Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Venkatesh highlighted MAHE’s leadership in online education since 2022, in accordance with UGC guidelines, and its role in shaping the future of education for students worldwide. The event served as an inspiration, bringing together working professionals and industry leaders.
