The University, through its Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, successfully hosted the Global Social Entrepreneurship & CSR Summit 2025 on August 30, 2025. The day-long summit brought together eminent leaders, innovators, and change-makers to deliberate on the transformative role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and social entrepreneurship in building sustainable communities.

The context to the grand summit was set by Prof. Sidharth Tripathy, Director-Entrepreneurship & Innovation of SRM AP as he highlighted that this summit is going to redefine the language of social impact from ‘beneficiaries’ to ‘venture builders’, from ‘compliance’ to ‘conscience’ led CSR’ and from ‘nice-to-do social projects’ to ‘need-to-do systemic movements.

The summit featured four high-impact panel discussions addressing key themes in the field of social innovation and inclusive development.

Panel Discussion 1: Beyond Giving- CSR as a Lever for Systemic Change
Industry leaders such as Ayush Bagga (Founder & CEO, IAMpact), Devina Kamal (Associate Director CSR, Jubilant Ingrevia), Prof. Avijit Chakravarthi (Professor at BML Munjal University), and Akshansh Akshat (Lead CSR, Bata India) explored how CSR can move beyond traditional philanthropy to become a powerful tool for entrepreneurial transformation and long-term societal impact.

Panel Discussion 2: HEI as Impact Launchpads-Focusing on the role of Higher Education Institutions in nurturing entrepreneurship and social ventures, this panel saw thought-provoking insights from, Ilyas Shah Khan (Head of Incubation, Ed-Venture Park), Abdul Mujeeb Shaik (Community Manager, AIC-IIIT Hyderabad), and was moderated by Prof. Sidharth Tripathy (Director Entrepreneurship and Innovation, SRM University-AP).

Panel Discussion 3: Building Impact Ecosystems- Partnerships that Power Change Highlighting the importance of collaborations, Pranay Kumar Nalla (Head- Govt Innovation & Partnerships, TGIC), Sahithi Divi (Sr. Consultant, ST & RD, Govt. of AP), and Dileep Podili (Director- Innovation & Strategy- Impact Hub) shared how multi-stakeholder partnerships can accelerate systemic change and foster scalable solutions.

Panel Discussion 4: Agents of Change- Empowering Youth for Inclusive Entrepreneurship Youth-driven innovation and inclusivity were central to this session. Karthik Nagapuri (Founder, Evolvex), and Kilaru Naga Sravan (Founder, Politics for Impact) inspired participants with their journeys of driving change through entrepreneurial ventures and advocacy.

Adding to the spirit of the summit, Mr Sidhartha Tripathi narrated the story of SRM University-AP’s flagship CSR initiative- Aditri, which focuses on empowering rural women to become micro-entrepreneurs. Sharing the impact of the initiative, he said,“Through Aditri, we have been able to reach over 2,500 women through field visits, engage more than 1,400 women via baseline surveys, train 570 participants in intensive entrepreneurial bootcamps, and support the shaping of over 100 venture ideas into sustainable enterprises. This journey is a testament to the transformative power of social innovation and the resilience of rural women.”

In line with this impact, the summit also witnessed the launch of ‘The Red Book of Inspiration’ about Aditri- Transforming Rural Women to Micro Entrepreneurs by Vice Chancellor of SRM University-AP Prof. Manoj K Arora. He said, “The book consists of the story of the metamorphosis of rural women into microentrepreneurs in just 10 months time. It brings 100 inspiring stories of 100 women with 100 dreams, reflecting resilience and courage in building sustainable livelihoods.” As described during the launch, the book is “a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of women.”

Towards the conclusion of the event, the Paper Presentation track of the Global Social Entrepreneurship & CSR Summit 2025 recognised outstanding contributions. Mr. Vaibhav from VIT-AP secured the first position and was awarded a cash prize of ₹20,000. Mr. Sundhar Singh from SRM University-AP received the second prize of ₹15,000, while Mr. Mahendra Kumar from Half-Brain Technologies bagged the third position with a prize of ₹7,500.

The event provided a vibrant platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration between academia, industry, and social innovators.The Global Social Entrepreneurship & CSR Summit 2025 not only showcased the power of partnerships and innovation but also underscored the urgent need for collective action towards sustainable development.

The faculties from the Department of Computer Scinece and Engineering, Dr Sasmita Rout, Dr Hema Kumar Yarnagula, and Dr Debabrata Senapati, along with their students and scholars, Mr Muthyala Sai Venkat, Mr Mukku Suhas, Mr Seelam Avinash Reddy, and Mr PV Manikanteswara Rao Baddi, introduce an innovative system that gathers student feedback on their learning experiences through questionnaires. By refining this feedback using specific metrics, the system delivers a more accurate assessment of faculty performance, ultimately enhancing teaching methods and creating a more engaging educational environment for students.

Brief Abstract of the Research

In the realm of higher education, student feedback is crucial and offers invaluable insights into the effectiveness of teaching methods. In addition, it helps faculty members by illuminating how their instructional practices affect student learning outcomes. The student feedback in academic settings empowers educators to adapt and refine their teaching strategies by identifying strengths and areas for improvement. Thus, ultimately creates a more engaging and impactful learning experience for the students. This article introduces a next-generation weighted student feedback system that collects responses using a set of questionnaires, referred to as the Conventional Feedback Score (CFS), from students about their learning experience and course effectiveness. The proposed system then refines the students’ responses based on three key metrics to provide a more accurate, balanced, and reliable assessment of the faculty performance. Our experimental results show that the proposed weighted feedback system provides a more accurate, reliable, and robust feedback score compared to CFS.

Explanation in Layperson’s Terms

The proposed feedback system is designed for use in academic settings such as colleges, universities, and online learning platforms seeking honest student evaluations. Any higher educational institution that prioritises quality teaching and fair assessments can benefit from the proposed system. Its key advantage lies in enhancing feedback reliability by minimising incorrect or irrelevant responses.

Practical Implementation and Social Implications associated with the Research
Any higher educational institution with an intent to prioritise quality teaching and fair assessments can benefit from the proposed system. Its key advantage lies in enhancing feedback reliability by minimising incorrect or irrelevant responses. This allows the institute administrators to make more informed decisions regarding faculty performance and instructional improvements. The system integrates easily with existing feedback mechanisms, enabling quick and efficient adoption. Primarily, this invention serves academic institutions aiming to collect accurate and fair student feedback for faculty evaluation.

Collaborations

In-house work with collaborations from IIT Guwahati and IIT Kharagpur

Future Research Plans

Plan to expanding the research and tackle challenges in areas such as real-time scheduling, embedded systems, and cyber-physical systems, with the aim of developing innovative solutions that address critical issues in these domains.

 

Deeksharambh 2025: Where Future Begins

SRM University-AP, Amaravati, heartily welcomed freshers in its Orientation Programme, Deeksharambh 2025. The University addressed more than 4000 enthusiastic students through both online and physical modes. The ten-day orientation programme began on August 18 and concluded on August 29, 2025.

During the Orientation Ceremony, Vice Chancellor Prof. Manoj K Arora welcomed the new brigade, mentioning that they have the opportunity of a lifetime to work hard and SRM University-AP will support them to achieve their dream. He said, “You may be skilled. But if you don’t have any will, then the skills are not going to work at all. You have to will. You have to have a will to do this. If you don’t have will, then the skills are not going to work at all. Passion is certainly required. It all depends upon you. If you are smart, you can design your own curricula…SRM University-AP will give you everything so that you can change your dreams into reality.”

The ceremony progressed further with a message of motivation and encouragement for the students as they begin their academic journey, Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ch Satish Kumar encouraged students by highlighting SRM AP’s academic excellence and student-focused initiatives. He remarked, “At SRM University-AP, students have access to top-notch Placement Opportunities, International Transfer Programmes, a student-centric Entrepreneurship Office, and a campus that is committed to being clean and plastic-free. Alongside academics, we strongly encourage students to take part in diverse clubs and activities that help them develop skills, leadership, and hobbies for holistic growth.”

The varsity’s Registrar, Dr R Premkumar, in his inspiring address, emphasised the values that will shape the journey of students. He said, “Discipline is the foundation of success, and every student must contribute to keeping the campus clean and green. As you begin this new chapter, realise your true potential, take on responsibilities, and emerge as leaders who will make a meaningful impact on the community.”

While interacting with the first-year students on the campus, they showed their keen interest in attending classes of their mentors, gaining valuable exposure, and developing skills that will build their overall personality to take on any challenges in life. Pranjal Singh from Delhi, who has chosen BTech Computer Science & Engineering for graduation, said,” I want to improve my communication skills and develop my personality to face anything in life,” while Nayan Jain from BBA said, “I like the diverse culture here. The faculty and seniors are helpful and guide us in various ways. I also learnt about how the credit system works during the orientation programme.”

Freshers were excited to meet their fellow batch mates from diverse parts of the country and abroad, while some even expressed their curiosity about learning new languages.The parents who accompanied their children appreciated the state-of-the-art infrastructure of the campus, along with the modern facilities being provided for students that aim to prepare their children for top-notch career opportunities.

While conversing with Shri KSR Raju, employee of Indian Railways from Vijayawada, came along with his daughter Amrutavarshini who has chosen BTech Electronics & Communications for graduation said,” It is a better university for placements that brings great opportunities for children. The university has a great infrastructure that promotes quality education.” Visiting the varsity from Chittoor, K Chandrashekhar, father of Teja, said,” My son qualified AP EAPCET and got selected for the BTech CSE programme here. I am satisfied with all the facilities, and I hope my son gets good opportunities after graduation.”

The event, which arrayed enthusiastic students, was honoured by the esteemed presence of University Dean and Directors Dr S V Ramana Rao, Prof. Vishnupad, Mr Anup Singh Suryavanshi, Major General Gurdeep Singh Narang, Mr Pankaj Belwariar, Ms Revathi Balakrishnan, and other dignitaries. Their presence reaffirmed the institution’s unwavering commitment to service, education, and holistic student growth.

Throughout the 10-day programme, students will be engaged in a series of interactive sessions designed to acquaint them with the diverse opportunities at SRM University-AP. These sessions include introductions to academic departments, faculty, and administrative teams, along with detailed insights into the vibrant clubs, associations, and initiatives that enrich campus life and foster a holistic educational experience.

In conclusion, SRM University-AP invites first-year students to step into a vibrant community where their future truly begins- an inclusive and inspiring learning environment brimming with opportunities for innovation, personal development, and leadership.

 

 

The university celebrated its Founder’s Day with a series of impactful community service initiatives to commemorate the birthday of Founder Chancellor Dr T R Paarivendhar. The occasion was marked by a large-scale sapling plantation, distribution of sweets and fruits to children and the elderly, and the donation of an RO plant to a children’s home.

The day began with Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Ch Satish Kumar and Registrar Dr R Premkumar leading a massive tree plantation drive, underscoring the importance of greenery and sustainability. Students actively participated in the plantation programme, reinforcing the university’s emphasis on experiential learning and their role as responsible citizens.

As part of Institutional Social Responsibility (ISR) activities, students also joined faculty members in distributing sweets to children of the free tuition centres run by the university in Nidamarru, Kuragallu, and Neerukonda villages. Special gifts were presented to the teachers managing these centres, recognising their dedication.

Further extending the service initiatives, fruits were distributed to the students of the Nidamarru Christiana Children’s Home, where the university also donated a clean RO water plant as requested by the administrators. Later, at the Amma Old Age Home in Mangalagiri, fruits and rice were distributed to residents, with University Chief Advisor Dr V S Rao personally donating Rs. 5,000 in support. Students accompanied the faculty and staff in these activities, reflecting SRM University-AP’s commitment to holistic development by involving them in real-time community engagement and sustainability projects.

Speaking on the occasion, Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Ch Satish Kumar and Dr V S Rao lauded the vision and social commitment of Dr T R Paarivendhar, whose values continue to inspire the university community. They emphasised the importance of engaging students in ISR and sustainability initiatives, which instill empathy, responsibility, and leadership.

The celebrations were attended by University Directors Mr Anup Singh, Major General Gurdeep Singh Narang, Mr Pankaj Belwariar, Ms Revathi Balakrishnan, and other dignitaries, who reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to service, education, and holistic student growth.

jst-sakura

Anchoring one of the core objectives of providing global exposure through education, SRM University-AP is proud to announce that 7 students from B.Tech. Civil Engineering has been selected to the JST Sakura Science Program at Tokyo University of Science (TUS), Japan, scheduled from August 21-27, 2025. The Directorate of International Relations & Higher Studies held an event on August 13, 2025, to congratulate and brief the selected participants on their upcoming visit to TUS.

Prof. Ch Satish Kumar, Pro Vice-Chancellor, congratulated all selected participants and expressed pride in their achievement. He encouraged them to actively engage during the program and provided valuable guidance on maximising learning and cultural exposure in Japan.

During the event, Dr Lakshmi Narasimhan, Director (i/c) – IR&HS, and Dr Sudeshna Saha, Assistant Director – IR&HS, gave an overview of the JST Sakura Science Program and highlighted SRM AP’s collaborations with TUS and other Japanese universities. The IR&HS team also briefed participants on pre-departure requirements, travel preparations, and program-specific dos and don’ts to ensure smooth participation and representation of SRM AP abroad.

The meeting concluded with encouragement from all leadership members, emphasising the importance of representing SRM University-AP with excellence in both academic and cultural engagements during the visit.

The seven selected students – Ms Nithya Vattikuti, Ms Mullangi Lahari, Ms Shaik Sumaya Amreen, Mr Varikunta Hitheshwara Raju, Ms Vishakha Patel, Ms Mallela Durga and Mr Shaik Khadeer – will be accompanied by Dr Raghava Tulasi Pranav Peddinti, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

Independence Day

SRM University-AP celebrated the 79th Independence Day of India with great national pride and fervor. The celebrations featured the hoisting of the national flag by Vice Chancellor, Prof. Manoj K Arora, cultural programmes, felicitation of student athletic champions who secured national-level and state-level medals in various championships and honouring the staff who have completed five years of dedicated service to the university. The event was graciously attended by the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ch Satish Kumar, Registrar, Dr R Premkumar, Deans of all schools, Directors, faculty, staff and students.

In his Independence Day address, Prof. Arora spoke of the collective dream of seeing India as a developed nation through the Viksit Bharat Yojna by 2047, stressing the importance of economic, social, and environmental sustainability on campus. Calling youth, the greatest resource of the nation, he drew attention to SRM AP’s mission to provide “holistic, inclusive, and adaptive” education that shapes students into global citizens. He encouraged embracing technology in education, reimagining learning with AI, and adopting the philosophy to “learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

Independence Day

The university also honoured the remarkable achievements of the students in the field of sports. Ms Kunja Ranjita (B.Com. 1st year), winner of a Gold Medal in the Women’s 4×400m Relay at the 26th Asian Athletics Championship, was presented with a cash award of ₹5 lakhs along with Ms Budde Shanmukhi Naga Sai (B.Com. 1st year), who broke two world records and secured three silver medals in Compound Archery at the Singapore 2025 Asia Cup Leg 2, who received a ₹10 lakh award. The event also witnessed the felicitation of non-teaching staff members with mementoes who completed five years of service for their long-standing contributions to the university.

Cultural programmes by the students and staff, including a yoga demonstration, semi-classical dance performance, short skit and melodious songs showcased India’s artistic diversity and its values, resonating the true patriotic spirit.

The 79th Independence Day celebrations at SRM University-AP were a tribute to the nation’s past, a celebration of its present, and an inspiration for its future.

Following the resounding success of the Green Hydrogen Summit 2025, SRM University-AP, Amaravati, hosted a high-level strategic interaction with global leaders in clean energy to explore avenues for collaboration in building a resilient green hydrogen ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh.

The meeting witnessed the presence of Mr J K Srivastava, Founder and Chairman of JK Srivastava Hynfra PSA Ltd., Mr Tomoho Umeda, Chairman of the Hydrogen Technology Committee at KIG, Poland and CEO of Hynfra PSA, Ms Katarzyna Czumuda, Director at Hynfra PSA, Poland and Prof D Narayana Rao, Executive Director – Research, SRM Group of Institutions among other University leadership, faculty and researchers.

Inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the summit established the state’s vision to become India’s largest Green Hydrogen Hub by 2030. The declaration was swiftly approved by the state cabinet, reinforcing the government’s commitment to rapid, sustainable energy transformation and SRM University AP was identified as the state nodal agency for R&D activities of Hydrogen Technologies.

Mr Srivastava appreciated the fast-track policy environment in Andhra Pradesh and expressed confidence in initiating joint pilot projects within a realistic time frame. He further explored proposals such as developing an energy transition towards carbon-neutral data centers powered by hydrogen, co-firing ammonia in decommissioned coal plants, and manufacturing hydrogen-powered mobility solutions.Hynfra

 

Mr Tomoho Umeda emphasised the need for a financially sustainable model to support hydrogen innovation, highlighting India’s unique advantage in renewable energy potential, green ammonia production and market readiness. He also underscored the importance of localised solutions backed by international collaboration.

Prof D Narayana Rao, Executive Director—Research, SRM Group of Institutions, addressed the potential to jointly develop world-class manufacturing and testing infrastructure for high-pressure hydrogen cylinders (Type IV and V) and exploring onboard electrolysis and Catalyst design and development.

Further, the discussions focused on identifying concrete areas for collaboration between SRM University-AP and Hynfra PSA, with the shared goal of developing innovative, scalable, and commercially viable hydrogen technologies.

Both parties expressed strong interest in plans to launch a joint R&D unit and the testing facilities in the university’s upcoming Industrial Research Park where grassroot problems can be identified and addressed through actionable solutions. The university’s leadership intends to establish the unit within the next three months to accelerate this shared mission

SRM University-AP, as the state’s nodal agency for green hydrogen R&D, will work closely with Hynfra PSA Ltd. to co-develop key technologies and manufacturing infrastructure, supporting translational research and industrial implementation. This landmark partnership signifies a giant leap toward self-reliance, sustainability, and global leadership in the hydrogen economy.

 

The Department of Biological Sciences at SRM University-AP hosted an impactful expert talk on Emerging Therapeutic Strategies for Neurodegenerative Diseases featuring the renowned educator and biologist, Dr Maheedhar Kodali. Dr Maheedhar Kodali from the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics at Texas A&M University and Cellular Neuroscience shared his extensive knowledge in the subject that saw a huge participation from students and researchers alike.

During his lecture, Dr Kodali delved into the latest advancements in various interconnected fields, including neurodegeneration, cell biology, genetics, and biomedical sciences. His insights on the current research trends and challenges faced by these disciplines, offered a comprehensive understanding of how they interrelate. This was especially vital in an era where the understanding of neuro degenerative diseases is more crucial than ever.

The event was structured to encourage active participation through interactive sessions. Participants were engaged in discussions that promoted knowledge exchange, allowing attendees to ask questions and share their own insights. These collaborative exchanges not only enriched the experience for all involved but also laid the groundwork for future interdisciplinary research opportunities.

One of the primary goals of Dr Kodali’s talk was to enhance scientific awareness among the participants. By sparking academic curiosity and stimulating intellectual discourse, he supported the professional development of attendees, encouraging them to pursue their interests further and potentially spark new research initiatives.

The expert talk not only disseminated knowledge but also cultivated a community of learning and exploration, underlining the importance of collaboration in advancing scientific discovery. Dr Kodali’s presence and expertise provided an exceptional platform for engagement and inspiration, aligning with the university’s mission to promote innovative research and academic growth.

 

By combining Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) and Fuzzy Logic, the team at SRM AP has discovered a hybrid smart system for accurate localization of autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs). Dr Awadesh Dixit, Dr Firoj Gazi, Dr Muzakkir Hussain Md, Assistant Professors and MTech student Ms Naga Nandini Devi from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, have published their research article “OALHMT: Optimised AAV Localization Using Hybrid Metaheuristic Techniques” in the IEEE Journal of Indoor and Seamless Positioning and Navigation, that discloses the making and implementation of this smart system that is precise and works better than current methods for positioning and navigation.

Abstract

Accurate localization remains a critical challenge for autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) due to their high-speed, multidirectional movement. Precise positioning is essential for efficient resource management and task reallocation during flight. This research proposes a bioinspired hybrid model combining Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) with fuzzy logic to enhance AAV localization accuracy. PSO effectively explores the search space to identify optimal positions, while fuzzy logic fine-tunes the solution using real-time environmental inputs such as signal strength, sensor noise, and GPS inaccuracies. This synergistic approach leverages PSO’s global optimization with the contextual adaptability of fuzzy systems, delivering robust and precise localization under dynamic and noisy flight conditions. Comparative evaluations with existing methods demonstrate the model’s superior accuracy and responsiveness in real-time AAV operations.

Practical Implementation/Social Implication of the Research

Proposed hybrid optimization for Indoor localization through swarm UAVs, localization methods for autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) typically rely on the global positioning system (GPS), which is effective in open environments. GPS provides accurate real-time positional data, making it widely used for outdoor AAV localization.

The team will continue to focus on developing swarm-based V2X communication and coordination, and reduced interference, secure communication for enhance UAV networks performance, advance AI-related applications.

Link to the article

Overall abstract diagram of the paper

In an effort to upskill the faculty and to align them with the contemporary methodologies and classroom management techniques, the Teaching Learning Centre has launched a five-day faculty Development Programme.

The five-day upskilling session will see the presence of eminent educationists and trainers, including Vice Chancellor Prof. Manoj K Arora, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Ch Satish Kumar; Prof. Edamana Prasad, Head-Teaching Learning Centre, IIT Madras; Dr S Mannathan, Associate Director-Teaching Learning Centre, SRM AP; Ms Rupa Murghai, Head-Wellness Centre, B M L Munjal; Dr Karthik Rajendran, Associate Director-QAR; Dr Srabani Basu, Associate Professor; and Dr Manikandan V M, Associate Professor.

The inaugural session featured Vice Chancellor Prof. Manoj K Arora, who delivered a compelling presentation on “Introduction and Goal Setting for Teaching & Learning.” Prof. Arora began the session on a reflective note, asking, “What is education, and why is it important?” In his remarks, Prof. Arora emphasised that students today are exceptionally smarter, and as a teacher it is important that we rise up to the challenge, not just by staying informed, but also by staying ahead of them.”

He also referenced an important question by a student, which he implored every educator to work upon and which encapsulates the concept of inclusive and adaptive teaching and learning:“If I can not learn the way you teach, will you teach me the way I can learn?”

Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ch Satish Kumar, during his session on “Leadership and Teachers” analysed leadership styles among teachers. He also quoted the Gurukul system, where the teacher used to be at the centre of power, the roles have now been reversed; However, the influence of a teacher continues to surpass generations. He remarked, “Leaders do not just lead, they have this power to influence people, a teacher is the same, their influence goes beyond the classroom.”

The five-day event touched upon relevant topics such as Multiple Intelligence,Learning Outcomes,Technology in Teaching,Active Learning Strategies,Student Mental Health, the Use of AI in Education, and Storytelling in Teachin to name a few.

The SRM AP aims to facilitate such constant upskilling in order to promote innovation, adaptability, and long-term career growth for individuals in an ever-evolving job market.