St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated the 7th Convocation ceremony of the university at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, New Town on February 21, 2026.

Rev. Dr. Arturo Sosa, S.J., Superior General based at Rome, Italy graced the occasion as the Chief Guest along with a galaxy of priests from different locations in India. The Honoris Causa (D.Litt) was conferred upon Dr. Shashi Tharoor, MP from Thiruvananthapuram and also the Chairman of the Standing Committee on External Affairs.

1052 postgraduate and undergraduate students and 25 Ph.D scholars received their degrees in this convocation. 17 students were awarded gold medals in different subjects for their exemplary performance.

While presenting the annual report, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) announced the commencement of B. Tech programme from 2026 academic session in the university. Father Felix Raj also said, “M.Tech. Course will be added in due course of time. The university also embarks on an array of courses like, Integrated MBA, Integrated B.Ed., School of Design and School of Nursing.”

While addressing the gathering, Rev. Fr. Arturo Sosa, S.J. said, “We live in a world of extraordinary progress. We often see a lot of meaning, of values and of human connection. Jesuit education challenges us to respond differently. To balance intellect and empathy, ambition with integrity and success with service; we need to be persons of integrity, socially conscious and compassionate.”

Dr. Shashi Tharoor congratulated the students of SXUK saying that every degree conferred today represents not only the personal accomplishments of the students, but an investment in our republic’s future.

In his address, Dr. Tharoor said, “Behind every technological breakthrough, there lies a human aspiration and behind every institutional debate there is a discussion about values. It teaches us to see complexity where others may see simplification, and empathy where others may settle for abstraction. In societies as diverse and argumentative as our own, such habits of mind are indispensable. They strengthen the qualities upon which any democracy depends; the ability to listen, to question, to dissent and above all to understand complexity.”

Dr. Tharoor further added, “In the decades to come, the energy, talent and imagination of today’s young people will determine whether we translate demographic potential into national achievement.”

Father Felix Raj also said, “The MBA programme offered by Xavier Business School achieved the NBA accreditation for a period of three years, commencing from 2025-26. To further its global reach, the university has signed 5 MoUs with institutions of repute in the last year.”

Since 2017, the university has undergone dramatic transformation both physically and academically. The second academic building is nearing completion and will have provisions for modern classrooms and laboratories, library, moot court, etc. The upcoming auditorium will accommodate around 1500 persons, whereas the smaller auditoriums will have a seating capacity for 600 heads and 300 heads respectively. The university also plans to have MDP Block with 110 rooms including suites for VIPs.

The Executive MBA is attracting a good number of students from the corporate sectors. The university is also contemplating to introduce Executive MBA in hybrid mode and a new MBA programme in Hospital Management to meet the ever-changing demand of good executives for running the hospital effectively and efficiently.

The ceremony ended with a vote of thanks by Fr. Dr. Xavier Jeyaraj, S.J., Registrar of SXUK, followed by a high tea. Thanks to Dr. Manali Bhattacharya, the Convener of the 7th Convocation ceremony and her team members for successfully organising the event.

Dr. Somak Sen