Dhirubhai Ambani University (DAU), Gandhinagar, formerly Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT), is celebrating its 25 years of excellence. The silver jubilee celebrations commenced with the Foundation Day event held today on August 6, 2025, at its campus. Over 400 stakeholders including faculty, staff, students, alumni, Board members, and esteemed guests participated in the event, both in-person and virtually.

Prof. Tathagata Bandyopadhyay, Director General, DAU, delivered his congratulatory address to the DAU community, "As DAU celebrates its 25 years of excellence, we stand poised not just to reflect on a distinguished past in ICT, but to boldly venture into new, interdisciplinary frontiers of knowledge and technological innovation. This remarkable journey, and indeed our ambitious future, would be inconceivable without the steadfast dedication of our exceptional faculty, staff, and students, and the invaluable support of our alumni, industry partners, and the wider community. We extend our profound gratitude to every stakeholder who has contributed to DAU's success; together, we will continue to shape a future where technology serves humanity." He further added that the DAU community reflect on the successes and challenges of the past and prepare themselves for the future.

The inaugural ceremony started with the unveiling of the 25 years’ logo by the Director General and the ceremonial lamp lighting by all the dignitaries which was followed by keynote speeches by: Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Institute Professor and Founder, IIT Madras Research Park; Mr Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, Partner, Catalincs and Former Chairman & MD, Cognizant India; Mr Ajit Balakrishnan, Founder and Current Chairman-Emeritus of Rediff.com and Prof Madhavan Mukund, Director, Chennai Mathematical Institute.

Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Institute Professor and Founder, IIT Madras Research Park, in his keynote shared his views on ‘Making India a product nation’, urging the audience to identify large Indian problems and solve them with technology.

Mr Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, Partner, Catalincs and Former Chairman & MD, Cognizant India, said that AI’s democratisation of information access represents both a great equaliser and a catalyst for educational transformation. The challenge is not just technological but institutional, requiring a fundamental rethinking of how education creates value in an AI-augmented world.

Mr Ajit Balakrishnan, Founder and Current Chairman-Emeritus of Rediff.com, shared his perspective on AI’s impact on middle management roles, suggesting that their jobs, which involve repeated tasks like reports and analytical work, could be easily replaced by technology.

Prof Madhavan Mukund, Director, Chennai Mathematical Institute, where he suggested using AI as a tool to make content more attractive with illustrations and animations, but warned against using it as a "crutch." He emphasised that educational institutions must adapt to ensure students develop the necessary skills for an AI-integrated world.

Following the keynotes, Prof G Venkatesh, Professor of Practice, IIT Madras and member Board of Governors, DAU, moderated a panel discussion on “Reimagining Higher Education in the Age of AI”. The discussion explored AI’s multifaceted impact on employment, particularly in creative sectors, it simultaneously enhances human creativity and creates new job opportunities. This dual nature requires us to rethink how we prepare the workforce for an AI-integrated future. It was also noted that educational institutions must evolve their approach with flexible certification, alternative assessments, and industry-relevant curricula. The discussion concluded by underscoring that to compete globally, India must focus on developing and scaling innovative products and services and that a holistic approach combining technological innovation with educational reform is essential for sustainable value creation.

The foundation day event marks the beginning of a year-long calendar of activities aimed at further strengthening the DAU’s commitment to advancing academia, research and contributing to societal needs.