The achievement was formally recognised by the UNICEF team during a programme and educational leadership and partnership meeting held at the university. The recognition acknowledged VELS’ contribution to enabling a large number of students to participate in structured skill development and complete the UNICEF Passport to Earning programme.
To mark the milestone, 14,000 students who successfully completed the programme assembled on the VELS campus with their course completion certificates. Aerial drone footage captured the gathering, showing students holding their certificates and highlighting the scale of the institutional achievement and the university’s efforts towards large-scale skill development.
The UNICEF Passport to Earning initiative, led by UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, provides young people with free access to job-relevant learning opportunities and certifications. It enables students to acquire skills that complement their academic education and improve their preparedness for higher education, employment and emerging career opportunities.
With more than 14,000 students completing the programme, VELS has recorded one of the largest institutional-scale student participation milestones of its kind in Tamil Nadu. The achievement also reflects the university’s focus on integrating skill development, digital learning and industry-relevant competencies into higher education.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, Vice President, Vels Group of Institutions, said the collaboration between VELS and UNICEF would continue to expand beyond the completion of the Passport to Earning programme. She said both organisations would explore further opportunities in industry engagement, placement-oriented initiatives and career development, including potential collaborations involving leading technology organisations such as Microsoft and Adobe.
She also highlighted plans for continued engagement through a Hackathon scheduled for January, which will provide students with opportunities to apply their skills in practical and innovation-driven environments.
The event was attended by Dr. A. Jothi Murugan, Pro-Chancellor, Vels University; Prof. Dr. M. Bhaskaran, Pro-Chancellor (Planning & Development); and the Vice-Chancellor (FAC), along with representatives from UNICEF and the academic leadership of VISTAS.
The continuing partnership between UNICEF and VELS is expected to open further avenues for students in skill development, digital learning, industry exposure, career readiness and employment-oriented initiatives.
VELS Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS) is a deemed-to-be university in Chennai, recognised for its NAAC A++ accreditation and UGC Category-I status. The institution has more than 20,000 students and a faculty strength of 1,220 members. It offers over 150 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across disciplines including Medicine, Engineering, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Management, Law, Mass Communication, Maritime Studies, Aviation, Physiotherapy and Computing Sciences, among others.
With an emphasis on academic excellence, innovation and holistic development, VISTAS continues to position itself as a destination for higher education in India.
VELS operates campuses across Pallavaram, Thalambur, Periyapalayam, Thiruvanmiyur and Adyar. These campuses provide students with opportunities to combine academic learning with research, innovation, industry engagement, sports, cultural activities and experiential learning.
For more information, visit www.vistas.ac.in.
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