March 2026
International Women’s Day Celebration: Honouring Strength, Grace, and Leadership
On 6th March, 2026, St. Vincent College, Pune, commemorated International Women’s Day with a vibrant celebration themed “Celebrating Strength • Grace • Leadership.” The event, which commenced at 9:15 a.m., brought together faculty, students in traditional Indian attire, and distinguished guests from civic, academic, and media sectors. The programme was graced by Chief Guest Dr. Saleena Vaidya, alongside Guests of Honour including Municipal Corporators Mrs. Kavita Vairage, Ms. Mrunmayee Kamble and Mrs. Archana Patil, educationist Mrs. Purnima Kulkarni Shetye, Mrs. Anuradha Mascarenhas (Senior Editor, The Indian Express), and Mrs. Prerana Mhankale (Director, PRAVAS FOUNDATION). The session opened with a formal felicitation of the dignitaries, recognizing their sustained contributions to public service, education, journalism, and women’s empowerment. This was followed by a concise cultural programme that showcased student talent through graceful dance performances, instrumental renditions on guitar and violin, and soulful vocal presentations. The distinguished guests then delivered inspiring speeches, sharing their personal journeys, professional insights, and perspectives on women’s empowerment, leadership, and social change. Their addresses resonated deeply with the audience, offering both motivation and practical guidance to the students. The celebration concluded by reinforcing the college’s commitment to gender equality, leadership development, and the recognition of women’s multifaceted roles in shaping a progressive society.
Community Engagement Program: Economics and English Students Visit Isha Prem Niketan
In alignment with the experiential learning objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP), S.Y.B.A. students specializing in English and Economics from St. Vincent College undertook a community engagement field visit to Isha Prem Niketan—an old age home and orphanage—on 7th March, 2026. Led by faculty coordinators Dr. Junaid S. and Mrs. Salma Shaikh, the visit provided students with a meaningful opportunity to interact with elderly residents and children, fostering intergenerational dialogue and empathetic understanding.
During the session, students administered structured questionnaires to collect primary data on discipline-relevant themes, including social welfare frameworks, economic support systems, and communication dynamics across age groups. This hands-on activity enabled learners to connect classroom theories with ground-level community realities, strengthening their research competencies while nurturing a deeper sense of social responsibility.
The visit concluded with expressions of gratitude to the management and staff of Isha Prem Niketan for their warm reception and cooperation. Students reflected on the experience as a valuable component of their academic journey, with insights gathered set to inform upcoming projects, presentations, and reflective assignments in both Economics and English.
Community Engagement Visit: Psychology Students Explore Psychosocial Well-being at Prem Niwas
In fulfillment of the experiential learning components of the National Education Policy (NEP), S.Y.B.A. students specializing in Psychology from St. Vincent College conducted a field visit to Prem Niwas, an old age home, on 9th March, 2026. Under the guidance of faculty coordinators Dr. Junaid S. and Mrs. Rupali Nawale, the visit offered students a meaningful opportunity to engage with elderly residents through empathetic, person-centered interactions.
During the session, students observed psychosocial dynamics and emotional well-being in a community setting, while administering structured questionnaires to gather primary data on themes such as mental health, social isolation, coping mechanisms, and intergenerational relationships. This hands-on activity enabled learners to apply core psychological theories—such as attachment, resilience, and life-span development—to real-world contexts, strengthening their observational, communication, and research competencies.
The visit concluded with a reflective debriefing, where students discussed key insights and ethical considerations in community-based research.
Empowering Minds: National Seminar on Emotional Intelligence at St. Vincent College
St. Vincent College, Pune, in association with Savitribai Phule Pune University under the Quality Improvement Program, successfully convened a Two-Day National Seminar on Emotional Intelligence from 13th-14th March, 2026. Centered on the theme “Integrating EI Across Academic, Industrial, Creative, and Administrative Disciplines,” the event gathered academicians, researchers, industry professionals, and students to explore the transformative power of emotional awareness. The inaugural session featured insightful addresses by Chief Guest Dr. Sadanand Bhosale and Guest of Honour Fr. Dr. Kenneth Misquitta, who underscored EI’s role in holistic education and leadership excellence. Expert sessions delved into mindfulness and well-being (Dr. Sanil Mathew Mayilkunnel), relationship building (Dr. Job Padayattil), EI in the AI era (Mr. Clifford Mohan Pai), and sustainable living (Mr. Hector Andrade). Interactive workshops led by counseling psychologist Ms. Nishita Vaswani offered hands-on practice in empathy, self-regulation, and conflict resolution. Research paper presentations promoted academic dialogue on mental health, communication, and student development. The seminar concluded with a valedictory address by Prof. Dr. Prashant Sathe and certificate distribution, reinforcing EI as a vital competency for personal growth, professional resilience, and socially responsible leadership in today’s complex world.
Guest Lecture on Financial Literacy Delivered by Dr. Gilbi John at Spicer Memorial College
On 17th March, 2026, Dr. Gilbi John, faculty member of St. Vincent College, delivered a guest lecture on “Financial Literacy: E-KYC and Steps Towards Savings and Investment” at Spicer Memorial College, Pune. The session aimed to equip students and staff with practical knowledge of digital financial systems, regulatory frameworks, and foundational investment strategies.
Dr. John provided a clear overview of the E-KYC process, emphasizing data security and its role in streamlining banking services. He then discussed core principles of personal finance, including disciplined savings, risk-aware investing, asset diversification, and behavioral aspects of long-term financial planning. The interactive session, enriched with real-world examples and a Q&A segment, enabled participants to critically evaluate financial products and align them with personal goals.
In recognition of his insightful presentation, Dr. John was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by Spicer Memorial College. The lecture was well-received for its academic rigor and practical relevance, reinforcing the importance of financial literacy in contemporary education. St. Vincent College commends Dr. John for representing the institution with distinction and contributing to cross-institutional knowledge exchange.
Sports Prize Distribution Ceremony – St. Vincent College
St. Vincent College celebrated the culmination of its Annual Sports Week (10th-20th January, 2026) with a vibrant Prize Distribution Ceremony on 18th March, 2026. The event honored outstanding student-athletes across sixteen sporting disciplines, recognizing excellence in team sports, racquet games, athletic events, and traditional Indian games.
Students from Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow Houses competed with remarkable spirit and sportsmanship. Standout performers included Nick Tyson Swamy (Green House), who excelled in Carrom, Badminton, Football, Tug of War, and Athletics; Gopal Chavan (Green House), a multi-sport achiever in Table Tennis, Chess, Football, and Track events; and Sharon Mari (Green House), who dominated Girls’ Athletics with wins in the 100m, 200m, and Shotput. Team championships saw Blue House triumph in Boys’ Football, Basketball, Cricket, and Volleyball, while Yellow House led in Girls’ Football, Throwball, Kho-Kho, and Relay events.
The ceremony was led by the Principal and sports coordinators, who presented certificates and prizes to the winners. Special thanks were extended to the participating students, house captains, coaches, and volunteer staff whose efforts made Sports Week 2026 a success. The event concluded on a high note, with students and faculty celebrating the achievements of their peers and looking forward to next year’s competitions.
Faculty Achievement: Dr. Radhakrushna Thange Honoured by SPPU’s Innovation & Incubation Centre
On 18th March 2026, Dr. Radhakrushna Thange of St. Vincent College was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by the Innovation and Incubation Centre (IIC), Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). The award recognises his dedicated service as a trainer for the university’s startup bootcamps.
Dr. Thange’s hands-on mentorship and structured training sessions have played a pivotal role in guiding aspiring student entrepreneurs through ideation, business model validation, pitch development, and early-stage startup planning. His ability to bridge academic knowledge with real-world entrepreneurial challenges has been widely appreciated by participants and faculty coordinators alike.
“Empowering young minds to transform ideas into viable ventures has always been at the core of my work. I am grateful to SPPU’s IIC for this honour and look forward to continuing our mission of nurturing the next generation of innovators,” said Dr. Thange.
The St. Vincent College community extends its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Thange on this well-deserved recognition.
Skill Development Workshop for Women Students: Vipla Foundation and Link Women’s Project Collaborate with St. Vincent College
On 18th March, 2026, St. Vincent College organized a skill-development workshop for female students in collaboration with two Pune-based organizations: Vipla Foundation and Link Women’s Project. Represented by Mr. Sachin Kamble and Ms. Radhika Mandlik from Vipla Foundation, and Ms. Savita Shivsharan from Link Women’s Project, the session focused on three key themes: placement opportunities for women, vocational training in beauty and wellness, and practical instruction on Tally accounting software. The interactive workshop equipped participants with actionable insights into employability, entrepreneurship, and digital financial skills, aligning with the college’s commitment to holistic, career-oriented education. St. Vincent College thanks both partner institutions for their valuable contribution to empowering women students through practical, industry-relevant learning.
Teachmint app and Smartboard demo workshop
On 20th March, 2026, St. Vincent College hosted a demonstration session on the Teachmint X Interactive Smartboard, facilitated by Mr. Tejas Kamble, certified product specialist from Teachmint. The session was conducted for teaching faculty and academic staff as part of the college’s ongoing infrastructure upgradation initiative, which includes the installation of four new Teachmint X smartboards across key academic spaces. The objective was to familiarize educators with the board’s AI-powered features and demonstrate practical strategies for enhancing classroom instruction through technology.
Mr. Kamble provided a hands-on walkthrough of the Teachmint X’s core capabilities, including its 4K Ultra HD multi-touch display, EduAI lesson-generation tools, real-time equation solver, multilingual translation support, and cloud-based recording and sharing functions. He emphasized efficiency-enhancing practices such as using split-screen mode for live annotation, leveraging voice commands for seamless navigation, and utilizing offline functionality to ensure uninterrupted teaching. Faculty engagement was high, with particular interest from Science, Mathematics, and Humanities departments, and approximately 85% of attendees rated the session as highly relevant to contemporary pedagogical needs.
Based on the demonstration and faculty feedback, the college will be proceeding with department-wise hands-on training, establishing a feedback loop for the pilot deployment of the four installed units, and orienting students to interactive features such as polls, QR access, and recorded revision materials.
St. Vincent College Faculty Leads Session at Baramati Seminar
On 23rd & 24th March 2026, Dr. Gilbi John, faculty member of St. Vincent College, Pune, served as Resource Person and Session Moderator at the interdisciplinary seminar “Synergizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emotional Intelligence (EI) in Social Sciences, Sciences and Languages: Opportunities, Challenges and Future Directions,” hosted by Mugutrao Sahebrao Kakade College, Baramati.
Dr. John delivered a specialized address on “Artificial Intelligence and Emotional Intelligence in Commerce Management,” exploring how AI-driven tools—such as predictive analytics, automated reporting, and customer insights platforms—can be effectively balanced with emotional intelligence competencies like empathy, ethical judgment, and adaptive leadership. He emphasized that future-ready commerce education must integrate AI literacy with deliberate EI skill-building to prepare students for dynamic, human-centered workplaces.
The session sparked engaged discussions on curriculum innovation, ethical AI use, and faculty development, with participants from diverse disciplines appreciating the practical, cross-sector relevance of the AI-EI synergy framework.
St. Vincent College Strengthens Academic Infrastructure through Strategic CSR Partnerships
St. Vincent College is pleased to share significant progress in its resource mobilization efforts through two key Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) collaborations. In partnership with Piaggio, the college received a grant of ₹12,97,500, with the final disbursement completed on 31st March, 2026. This initiative, initiated in October 2024 under the leadership of former Director Fr. Kenneth Misquitta SJ and advanced by current Director Fr. Anish K. SJ, reflects a sustained institutional commitment to student development.
Concurrently, the college has secured CSR support from Revanca, comprising ₹6,00,000 for Human Resources enhancement and ₹5,75,000 for IT infrastructure development. This partnership, launched in November 2024 and continued under Fr. Anish K. SJ, has also paved the way for a further proposal of ₹25,00,000 currently under review.
These achievements are the result of coordinated efforts by the College Management, including the Directors, Principal Dr. Anil Adsule, Fr. Vijay, administrative staff, faculty coordinators, and external partners including representatives from Alpha and Omega Company and Piaggio. The college extends its sincere gratitude to all stakeholders whose trust and collaboration enable meaningful investment in academic excellence, infrastructure, and student empowerment. These resources will be deployed transparently to advance St. Vincent College’s mission of holistic, value-based education.