RGIPT Orientation Programme 2026 – Institutional Update
On 10 August 2026, the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT), an Institution of National Importance established under an Act of Parliament, held its Orientation Programme 2026 at the Jais campus. Director Prof. Harish Hirani opened the event by stressing that contemporary technical education must move beyond conventional classroom teaching, examinations and grades, especially as information and Artificial Intelligence tools become readily accessible. He highlighted the need for students to develop creativity, curiosity, independent thinking, problem‑solving skills and the ability to apply knowledge to real‑world challenges.
The institute is placing strong emphasis on experiential learning and industry exposure. Students are encouraged to complement classroom education with internships, industrial training and practical problem‑solving, while dedicated Training and Placement Officers have been engaged to facilitate stronger interaction between students and industry. A major initiative highlighted was the strengthened mentorship ecosystem: faculty members have been assigned groups of students as mentors and local guardians to ensure regular academic and personal interaction, and industry mentorship is being introduced by connecting students with experienced professionals from leading organisations and public sector undertakings (PSUs).
Innovation and entrepreneurship form another pillar of RGIPT’s academic transformation. Students are urged to identify real‑life problems and develop solutions through Design and Innovation projects. Promising ideas receive institutional financial support and may progress through pre‑incubation and incubation, creating a pathway from student ideas to prototypes, patents and start‑ups. Undergraduate students are also encouraged and supported to undertake research, publish quality research work and pursue patents.
Prof. Hirani also outlined RGIPT’s expanding focus beyond conventional petroleum studies toward the broader energy‑transition ecosystem, encompassing green hydrogen, biogas, renewable energy, waste‑to‑energy, biorefineries, carbon management, Artificial Intelligence and sustainable technologies. The institute’s campus itself is being developed as a “Living Lab”, enabling students to learn from operational systems involving biogas, waste management, water treatment and reuse, renewable energy and sustainability. The campus biogas initiative has achieved significant improvement through research and process optimisation, with gas generated from campus waste now utilised for cooking in the institute mess.
Interdisciplinary learning is being promoted, allowing students to explore areas beyond traditional departmental boundaries and combine engineering, computing, electronics, energy and sustainability to address real‑world problems. Prof. Hirani concluded by encouraging the new batch to remain open‑minded, question established approaches and make full use of the institute’s faculty expertise, industry linkages, research facilities and innovation ecosystem. The orientation programme reflects RGIPT’s vision of preparing students not merely for existing jobs but for a rapidly changing future by integrating knowledge with experience, education with industry, research with application, and ideas with innovation.
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