Ajay Piramal Inaugurates Anant University’s New Faculty & Graduate Housing
India’s First Design University – Anant National University Adds World-Class Housing to Growing Campus
Bilkul Online | 1 Sept 2025
By Rafat Quadri
Ahmedabad: Anant National University, India’s first design university, unveiled its latest infrastructural milestone with the inauguration of its Faculty and Graduate Housing by Ajay Piramal, President, Anant National University, in the presence of university leadership and community members.
The new facility represents a significant step forward in Anant’s mission to create a transformative learning ecosystem through world-class infrastructure, holistic development, and design-driven innovation.
Inspiring Students for Global Impact
During his visit, Piramal interacted with faculty and students urging them to embrace design thinking and use their creativity to shape meaningful solutions for society. He said, “India is a young country, and you are the future. You can make a difference with your design thinking and develop solutions that are unique to India and globally relevant. Anant offers that opportunity and scope for you to create impactful solutions.”
A World-Class Residential Facility
The 26,475 sq m facility, designed by the acclaimed Rushabh Parekh Design Studio (RPDS), houses 172 apartments comprising studio units, as well as 1, 2 and 3 BHK homes. Built as a home-away-from-home, the residence is equipped with thoughtfully designed common spaces, a modern gymnasium and yoga room, a café and visitor’s lounge, while ensuring safety with CCTV surveillance in all common areas and round-the-clock security.
Massive Campus Expansion
Anant is currently undergoing an extensive infrastructural transformation spread across 1.5 lakh sq m. The upcoming state-of-the-art academic centres, integrated with cutting-edge technology, are designed to ensure that students are exposed to the latest innovations in design and technology. The uniqueness of this expansion lies in the involvement of some of the world’s most celebrated architects, including BV Doshi/Rajeev Kathpalia, Bimal Patel, Rahul Mehrotra, Sasaki, Hafeez Contractor, Aniket Bhagwat and Vijay Arya.
DesignX Pedagogy at the Core
At the core of Anant’s educational philosophy lies the DesignX pedagogy, which enhances traditional design education by integrating liberal arts disciplines, emerging technologies and hands-on community experiences. This multidisciplinary approach helps students better understand the world and devise impactful, real-world solutions.
Recognised Centre of Excellence
Anant National University has been officially recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Government of Gujarat, acknowledging its contribution to world-class education, innovative pedagogy, employability and entrepreneurship. Further validating its excellence, Anant has received a 5-Star Rating in Architecture and a 4-Star Rating in the University category under the Gujarat State Institutional Rating Framework (GSIRF) 2023-24. These recognitions highlight Anant’s growing eminence in higher education.
Commitment to Viksit Bharat
With its infrastructural advancements, pioneering pedagogy and visionary leadership, Anant National University is reaffirming its mission of contributing to Viksit Bharat through design-led solutions, while preparing future generations of “solutionaries” — revolutionary thinkers with a solution-oriented mindset.
Visionary Leadership Driving Excellence
The university’s growth and achievements are guided by its visionary leadership. Dr. Sanjeev Vidyarthi, Provost and Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha, Founding Provost, continue to steer Anant National University towards global standards in design education, ensuring that students benefit from world-class infrastructure, innovative pedagogy, and a holistic learning environment. Their combined expertise and commitment are central to nurturing the next generation of design thinkers and solutionaries.
( Rafat Quadri can be reached at editorbilkul@gmail.com)
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