St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) will introduce Master of Laws (LL.M.) programme from the 2025-26 academic session, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., the university’s Vice-Chancellor, announced at the 6th convocation held at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre on February 15, 2025, Saturday.

Rev. Dr. James Arjen Tete, S.J., Chancellor of the university presided over the ceremony, where 844 students received degrees across undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D programmes. Among them, 102 students from the first batch of Xavier Law School (XLS) graduated. 48 students were awarded with gold, silver and bronze medals.

During his address the Vice-Chancellor said: “The climate that we have in our country, of disturbance and communal violence, St. Xavier’s University has taken the initiative of offering a course on inter-religious studies. That will be our focus this year, so we can train students of the university with an inter-religious outlook, so every student who passes the portals of St. Xavier’s will also go with a greater appreciation of every religion in the world.”

G Viswanathan, Founder and Chancellor of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), was conferred upon the Doctor of Literature (D.Litt., Honoris Causa) for his contributions to education, leadership, public service, and humanitarian efforts.

In his acceptance speech, Viswanathan said: “Our GER is only 28 per cent, whereas in developed countries, it ranges between 60 per cent and 100 per cent. The National Education Policy (NEP) aims to increase GER to 50 per cent. It means that the government has to spend, invest more on education.”

The convocation address was delivered by Justice I.P. Mukerji, Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, who was an alumnus of St. Xavier’s School and College, Kolkata. He said, “I am highly indebted to the institution for whatever I am today.” He called upon the young graduates to be committed to the ideal of justice in their future lives.

Justice Mukerji, the Chief Guest also released the Xaverian Journal, a Journal of Interdisciplinary Research. Dr. G. Viswanathan released the University Magazine, Xaverianum 2024.

Dr. Somak Sen