PAU gets national recognition for transforming agri education

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has been honoured with the IIRF Education Impact Award, 2026, for its exemplary role as an agriculture education mentor. Presented by the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) during the 8th Industry-Academia Conclave held in New Delhi, the award acknowledges the PAU’s enduring contribution to agricultural education, research and outreach—reaffirming its stature as a national pioneer in shaping India’s agrarian progress.

Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, described the award as a tribute to the university’s vision of uniting science, innovation and social relevance. The award, he said, was a recognition of the university’s dynamic academic and extension model, one that evolves with time to ensure students, farmers and industries advance together.

The honour adds to the PAU’s impressive record of achievements. The university earned an A+ grade from the National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board with a score of 3.59 out of 4, and has consistently ranked first among agricultural universities in India in the NIRF rankings of 2023, 2024 and 2025. These distinctions reflect a culture of academic rigor, faculty dedication and student-centered learning.

The PAU’s hallmark lies in its focus on experiential education. Programmes such as the Rural Agricultural Work Experience (RAWE), Experiential Learning Programme (ELP) and Agri-Diksha immerse students in real-world challenges. Cutting-edge infrastructure—from smart classrooms and AR-VR labs to innovation hubs like AccelBreed and S-DISA—ensures that learning keeps pace with evolving technology. A healthy teacher–student ratio of 1:5 further enables personalised mentoring and focused academic engagement, explained the VC.

The university’s global footprint is equally noteworthy. In the last five years, 35 students have received the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research, while over 520 graduates since 2016 have pursued higher studies at more than 100 premier universities worldwide, many through fully funded programmes. Collaborations with institutions such as Yale, Purdue, McGill, Sydney and Saskatchewan continue to expand the university’s international reach and enrich its research ecosystem.

Dean of Post Graduate Studies Dr Manav Indra Singh Gill, who led the award application, noted that the IIRF honour recognised the PAU’s holistic model of education—one that values both research excellence and human connection. With 92 academic programmes and over 4,000 students from India and abroad, the PAU attracts learners from across the globe, cultivating not just subject mastery but also ethics, leadership and problem-solving skills.

For Dr Gosal, the award validates the PAU’s journey from its roots in the Green Revolution to its reimagining in the digital era—an education that empowers people to think, adapt and lead India’s food future.