Students should look beyond conventional career paths and focus on developing the ability to solve real-world problems, create innovations and contribute meaningfully to society, said Shri Shankar Vanavarayar, President, Kumaraguru Institutions.

Addressing the Class of 2030 at Swagatham 2026, the formal induction ceremony for first-year BE and B.Tech students of Kumaraguru College of Technology (KCT) in Coimbatore on Monday, he urged students to rethink the purpose of engineering education.
“Instead of asking who will employ me, start thinking: What will I solve? What will I create?” he told the freshers, emphasising that academic marks and campus placements should not be the sole measures of success.

He encouraged students to explore research, innovation, entrepreneurship and start-ups alongside their academic pursuits. The ability to apply knowledge, address real-world challenges and develop meaningful solutions would increasingly determine opportunities in a rapidly changing world, he said.

Shankar Vanavarayar said students should focus on developing capability rather than acquiring knowledge alone. Classrooms, laboratories, industry interactions, research platforms and innovation spaces should be viewed as interconnected elements of their learning journey, he added.

Highlighting the need to prepare for a rapidly evolving world, he introduced the ‘ALIVE’ framework, encouraging students to adapt, learn continuously, integrate diverse experiences, venture beyond the familiar and engage actively with the world around them. The ability to continuously learn, unlearn and relearn, he said, would be essential as technology, careers and society undergo rapid transformation.

Describing Swagatham as more than a formal induction ceremony, he said it marked the beginning of a four-year journey during which students would discover their interests, explore new possibilities and develop their individual identities.He urged students to make full use of the Kumaraguru ecosystem, which brings together education, research, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, sports, culture and community engagement.

Speaking about the institution’s legacy, he said legacy should not merely be viewed as a record of past achievements, but as a foundation for building the future. He highlighted the institution’s philosophy of empathy, stewardship and nation-building, inspired by the ideals of Saint Vallalar, Mahatma Gandhi and the vision of founder Arutchelvar Dr. N. Mahalingam.

He also stressed the importance of respect, well-being and responsibility, urging students to respect everyone in the institution irrespective of their role and to give equal importance to their physical and mental well-being.
Concluding his address, Shri Shankar Vanavarayar urged the students not to view their four years merely as a route to graduation.

“Don’t come here to graduate,” he said, calling upon the Class of 2030 to remain curious, resilient and responsible while developing integrity, courage, kindness and respect.

Welcoming the new cohort and their parents, Dr. M. Ezhilarasi, Principal, Kumaraguru College of Technology, highlighted the diversity and academic strength of the incoming batch.

A total of 1,470 students have joined KCT this year across 14 BE and B.Tech programmes. They represent 1,150 schools across 52 districts and six Indian States. Students have also joined the institution from Qatar, Kenya, the UAE, Oman and Bahrain.

Dr. Ezhilarasi said the students’ learning journey would extend beyond conventional classroom education through active and project-based learning, research, laboratory experiences, student teams and industry engagement.

She encouraged the freshers to participate in clubs, forums, sports, cultural activities, entrepreneurship and research, and to use their four years at KCT to experiment, build, create and contribute.

‘Ignite 2026’ to help freshers transition into college life

As part of the induction experience, Kumaraguru has introduced ‘Ignite 2026’, a 10-day freshers’ immersion programme aimed at helping students transition from school to college and familiarise themselves with the Kumaraguru ecosystem.

The student-led programme, facilitated by senior students, is designed to help freshers build connections, understand the institution, discover their interests and strengths, and develop curiosity, critical thinking and leadership skills.

Built around the principles of growth, depth and rigour, Ignite 2026 follows four stages — Belong, Explore, Engage and Become — and features five learning modules covering personal growth, the Kumaraguru ecosystem, professional excellence, leadership and social responsibility, and engineering mindset, problem-solving and innovation.

Each fresher will be part of a brigade of around 35 students, supported by student leads and co-leads. The programme features more than 50 learning exercises and over 60 hours of engagement, giving students an early opportunity to build friendships, explore the campus and actively participate in the Kumaraguru community.

Swagatham 2026 thus marked the formal beginning of the Class of 2030’s journey at Kumaraguru, with the institution placing emphasis not only on academic achievement, but also on capability, innovation, leadership, character and meaningful contribution to society.