Milestone Achievement
VELS University announced that more than 14,000 students have completed the UNICEF Passport to Earning (P2E) initiative, a digital learning‑to‑earning programme that provides free, job‑relevant skills and recognised certifications. The accomplishment was formally acknowledged by the UNICEF team during a programme and educational leadership partnership meeting held on the VELS campus, underscoring the scale of participation – one of the largest institutional‑level student skill‑development milestones in Tamil Nadu.
Event Highlights
A gathering of the 14,000 graduates took place on the VELS campus, where students displayed their P2E completion certificates. Aerial drone footage captured the mass of students holding certificates, visually emphasizing the breadth of the achievement and VELS’ commitment to large‑scale skill development.
Programme Context
The P2E initiative, driven by UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited programme, offers young learners free access to digital, job‑relevant learning opportunities and certifications. It is designed to complement academic education, enhancing preparedness for higher education, employment and emerging career pathways.
Future Collaboration
Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, Vice President of Vels Group of Institutions, stated that the partnership with UNICEF will extend beyond the current milestone. She highlighted plans to explore further industry engagement, placement‑oriented initiatives, and collaborations with leading technology firms such as Microsoft and Adobe. Additionally, VELS will host a Hackathon in January, providing a platform for students to apply their newly acquired skills in practical, innovation‑driven settings.
Attendees and Institutional Leadership
The ceremony was attended by:
- Dr. A. Jothi Murugan, Pro‑Chancellor, Vels University
- Prof. Dr. M. Bhaskaran, Pro‑Chancellor (Planning & Development)
- The Vice‑Chancellor (FAC)
- Representatives from UNICEF
- Academic leadership of VISTAS
The continued collaboration is expected to generate further opportunities in skill development, digital learning, industry exposure, career readiness and employment‑oriented initiatives.
About VELS University
Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS) is a deemed‑to‑be university in Chennai, holding NAAC A++ accreditation and UGC Category‑I status. It serves over 20,000 students supported by 1,220 faculty members and offers more than 150 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across fields such as Medicine, Engineering, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Management, Law, Mass Communication, Maritime Studies, Aviation, Physiotherapy and Computing Sciences. The university operates multiple campuses in Pallavaram, Thalambur, Periyapalayam, Thiruvanmiyur and Adyar.
Contact
For further information, visit the university website at www.vistas.ac.in.