April and May were truly momentous for Anant, marking a period of remarkable achievements and transitions. Anant was recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Government of Gujarat, a distinction that underscores our unwavering pursuit of academic and institutional excellence. We also celebrated a pivotal leadership transition, welcoming Dr Sanjeev Vidyarthi as our new Provost, while honouring Dr Anunaya Chaubey’s extraordinary six-year legacy defined by creativity and commitment to nation-building through education.
The Anant community expressed deepest gratitude to Dr Anunaya Chaubey for his visionary leadership that not only shaped Anant into a vibrant and dynamic institution but also positioned it as a Centre of Excellence. From launching ADEPT, India’s first and only multilingual design entrance test, and introducing the country’s first undergraduate BTech in Climate Change programme, to establishing the Centre for Public Policy Research and Design and the Centre of Design Education for Schools, these initiatives have redefined educational innovation. Dr Chaubey’s legacy at Anant will continue to inspire us to strive for excellence and innovation.
Anant welcomed Dr Sanjeev Vidyarthi as the new Provost. An architect, urban designer, spatial planner, scholar, author and leader, Dr Vidyarthi led the founding of the first and only standalone school of architecture in Rajasthan, the Aayojan School of Architecture. He also served as Director of Undergraduate Studies and Head of the Department of Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois, Chicago.
He brings a wealth of expertise and a proven legacy of leadership to Anant, and we are sure that under his mentorship, Anant will continue to scale new heights and make a lasting impact on the world.
Dr Anunaya Chaubey visited Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Bihar to create awareness amongst students and educators about Design Thinking and design as a discipline. During these visits, he highlighted Anant’s pioneering approach to design education, sustainability and innovation. Organised by Anant’s Centre of Design Education (CODE), the workshops aligned with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises integrating design pedagogy into school curricula to foster critical thinking and innovation. Prof Amitabh Pandey, Professor and Lead, Communication Design, School of Design, accompanied Dr Chaubey on his visit to Bihar.
The first batch of Anant Summer IsCool’25, a distinctive 10-day programme introducing school students and educators to Design Thinking, came to a successful close. Participants immersed themselves in hands-on workshops and interactive sessions, exploring the fundamentals of design. The programme culminated in a vibrant exhibition showcasing the participants’ impressive projects and creative growth. The second batch is scheduled from 25 May to 5 June.
Anant's Career Services Office hosted a two-day workshop, ‘Crafting a strong design portfolio, case study essentials, what industry demands’, on 26–27 April 2025 for final-year and 4th-semester BDes students. Sivraj Roy, an industry expert, led the workshop and provided students with valuable guidance on key aspects of career preparation in design, covering the art of creating a compelling design portfolio, mastering the fundamentals of case studies and understanding industry expectations.
Anant celebrated Earth Day 2025 with an insightful session titled ‘OUR POWER, OUR PLANET’, organised by the Anant School for Climate Action (ASCA) on 22 April at the campus. The gathering brought together climate advocates, scholars and professionals, including Mr Jagdish B Rele, Founder and CEO of Chaiam Consultants and former Chief Engineer with the United Nations Peacemaking Division. The event also felicitated the winners of ASCA’s Climate Champion Programme.
