Pune university's lifelong learning wing pushes skills and community links beyond the classroom

Pune, November 5, 2026: The Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has a major role in putting the National Education Policy (NEP) into practice, Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Parag Kalkar said. He said the department promotes practical and skill-based learning and connects students with society.

Dr Kalkar was speaking at a meeting and seminar of programme coordinators organised by the department. Programme coordinators from affiliated colleges in Pune, Ahilyanagar and Nashik districts took part.

Dr Kalkar was chief guest at the inaugural session. It was presided over by Dr Vilas Adhav, director of the department. The programme began with the university song, followed by Dr Adhav's introductory address.

Dr Adhav said the department's main aim is that the knowledge created at the university should not remain confined to classrooms but reach every section of society. He also spoke about initiatives run through affiliated colleges over the year, including health camps, cleanliness drives, environmental awareness campaigns, skill development activities and women's empowerment programmes. He stressed that the university's initiatives must be taken to the grassroots and students encouraged to contribute to society's development.

Addressing the coordinators, Dr Kalkar said the realm of knowledge keeps expanding, so classroom and textbook learning alone is no longer enough. According to him, education outside the four walls of the classroom is becoming more important for the new generation by the day.

He said the NEP stresses practical, skill-based and employment-linked learning, which makes the department's role especially important. He praised the department's efforts to connect students with society and instil a sense of social responsibility in them.

At the session, Prof. Dr Navnath Tupe spoke about the department's activities. Prof. Dr Geeta Shinde, head of the education and extension department, shared her views on the relationship between education and society.

In the second session, programme coordinators from Pune, Ahilyanagar and Nashik districts presented plans for activities at their colleges in the current academic year. The proposed initiatives, ways of implementing them and the difficulties coordinators face were discussed. Participants also shared suggestions with one another on how to overcome those difficulties.

Dr P. V. Gupta, coordinator of the seminar, interacted with the participants and outlined the department's broader objectives. He said giving every person in society the chance to keep learning throughout life is central to the department's thinking.

Dr Minal Bhosale conducted the programme and Prof. Dr Sangeeta Salve proposed the vote of thanks. The department's teachers and coordinators also contributed to organising the seminar.