PANORAMA 2025: Bringing MAHE’s Online Learners Together

Welcoming learners

In Manipal – the coastal town of ideas and ambitions – on May 31, 2025, MAHE’s online learners set out to attend the most awaited event of the year – PANORAMA 2025. A rendezvous of minds and miles celebrated ambitions and aspirations in the second edition of this event, where the learners, who once bonded by screens, experienced campus life at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).

Crossing time zones and distances, around 215 learners pursuing online degree and certification programs, from across the globe united to experience a one-of-a-kind event. PANORAMA, hosted by MAHE is a tribute to resilience, ingenuity, and tenacity of the ambitious minds of Online Manipal. What started out as a picturesque day filled with excitement, quickly roared into conversations, laughter, and deep connections by sundown.

Voices of visionaries

The day started at Dr TMA Pai Halls with an inauguration ceremony and a warm welcome. Key dignitaries set the tone with inspiring words.

• Dr. Manojkumar Nagasampige, Director – Directorate of Online Education, welcomed the learners saying, “Panorama 2025 is designed to be an immersive experience blending insightful discussions, engaging sessions, cultural performances, and the joy of human connection. We hope each one of you leaves today not just with knowledge and memories but also renewed sense of belonging to the MAHE community.”
• Addressing the energetic crowd, Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M.D. Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor, MAHE said, “We are really honoured to welcome you all. You are a part of 10,000+ online learners and 50,000+ on-campus learners in Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) within and outside of the country. We thank you for choosing MAHE for upskilling, reskilling, and academic qualification enhancement.”
• Address by the Guest of Honour, Dr. Rohini Srivathsa, Chief Technology Officer – Microsoft India & SA saying “Today is just the beginning of a lifelong journey in many ways. The online medium opens up the ‘Panorama’ in a way that is limitless. What today’s technology and the online world provides is unlimited. Accessing information to knowledge and insights is unending. The only limitation is your curiosity.”
• Dr. Giridhar Kini, Registrar, MAHE advised the online learners, “Do not focus on missing out on the campus life, rather focus on what you get to gain and make the best out of whatever is available to you. As you progress, make sure you network, connect with people, and once you graduate, make the effort to reach out and help others who need your help. Be the guiding light.”
• Mr. Ambrish Sinha, CEO, UNext Learning Pvt. Ltd. noted, “It is a great honour for UNext Learning Pvt. Ltd. to be a part of your online journey. The way the world is changing with the advent of AI, I think education is one of the biggest sectors that will be impacted for the better – especially online learning. AI tutors and personalized learning are the way of the future. We, at MAHE and UNext Learning, aim to make this shift possible for you.”

Launching MAHE Online Alumni Portal

Dr. Rohini Srivathsa announced the launch of MAHE Online Alumni Portal, a prestigious initiative dedicated exclusively for Online Manipal learners to engage, grow professionally, and maintain lifelong networks with their alma mater.

Dr. Rohit Singh, Director – Alumni Relations addressed the launch saying, “The online alumni portal opens up a lot of avenues for online learners as future alumni of Directorate of Online Education. You will be joining a network of 2 lakhs+ alumni from diverse fields in Manipal Academy of Higher Education. The aim of this platform is to provide access to Connect – Inspire – Support.”

Following a break, the event progressed into a panel discussion moderated by the esteemed Dr. Manojkumar Nagasampige. The panel included:

•  Dr. Rohini Srivathsa, Chief Technology Officer – Microsoft India & SA
•  Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M.D. Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor – MAHE
• Prof. Sudarsan N S Acharya, Assistant Professor – Manipal School of Information Sciences
• Dr. Ganesh Paramasivam, Associate Professor – Cardiology at Kasturba Medical College, and Coordinator for Centre for Excellence in AI at Kasturba Medical College, MAHE
• Mr. Ambrish Sinha, CEO – UNext Learning Pvt. Ltd.

The expert voices delved into the topic ‘AI in Education’, emphasizing the importance of exploration of AI in academia to enhance and personalize learning. The interactive and stimulating panel discussion was followed by faculty interactions.

F2F with faculty

The most anticipated segment of the day was the faculty interactions where the learners got to meet and interact with their faculty they knew only through virtual medium. Ranging from academic clarifications to career guidance, the conversations forged a relationship that was far more than just meet & greet with teachers, the learners discovered ‘mentors.’

Joy in motion

The evening took an exciting turn when the learners got a chance to showcase their talents – unbeknownst in their digital realm. From soulful singing to peppy dances, the energy of the performers echoed through the hearts of faculty and peers alike, reflecting the creativity and unity of the MAHE Online community.

A tour to remember

A campus that had only been glimpsed in videos and photographs once, was brought to life when the learners got to walk the halls of MAHE campus in a mentor-guided campus tour. With a backpack full of dreams and a handbag with Online Manipal goodies that was showered to them as a token of appreciation, the learners ended their day with smiles and selfies!

Learners Speak

PANORAMA: Many learners, One community

PANORAMA 2025 was not just an event – it was a celebration of the importance of human touch in a digital realm. It gave learners a platform to build lasting relationships with mentors & peers, an unforgettable legacy, and most importantly – to be able to inspire. As Online Manipal continues to transform lives through accessible and quality education, PANORAMA stands to remind us that behind every screen, there is a story worth celebrating.