Pune: The sugar industry needs to move beyond conventional sugar production and evolve into a multiproduct biomass resource by expanding into ethanol, biogas, bio-CNG and other value-added products to improve its economic viability, former state home and finance minister Jayant Patil said on Friday. Speaking at the 71st annual convention of the Deccan Sugar Technologies Association (DSTA) and the inauguration of the sugar exhibition on Saturday, Patil stressed the need for the industry to embrace artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to improve operational efficiency.Deogaokar appointed to the Governing Board of DES Pune UniversityPune: The state Higher and Technical Education Department has appointed entrepreneur Mandar Deogaokar to the Governing Board of Deccan Education Society (DES) Pune University, recently. Deogaokar completed his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious College of Engineering Pune (COEP). He subsequently earned a master’s degree in Construction Engineering and Project Management from the University of Texas, USA, followed by an MBA from INSEAD, France.Deogaokar received his school education at the renowned Dnyan Prabodhini Prashala in Pune. He is currently engaged in the fields of construction, real estate, hospitality, and co-working spaces.SIMMC Granted Autonomy by UGC, Opens New Chapter in Academic ExcellencePune: The Suryadatta Institute of Management and Mass Communication (SIMMC), affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University, has been granted autonomy by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The recognition will give the institute greater flexibility in designing curricula, introducing contemporary industry-focused subjects, adopting innovative assessment methods, promoting research and implementing learner-centric academic initiatives aligned with global standards.Women’s empowerment, child development require collective social responsibility: Amruta FadnavisPune: Stressing that the responsibility of empowering women and ensuring child development cannot rest solely with the government, Divija Foundation founder Amruta Devendra Fadnavis, recently, called upon every section of society to actively contribute towards building a safer and more inclusive future. The Urja Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to veteran educationist and Padma Bhushan awardee Shantanu B. Mujumdar for his outstanding contribution to the field of education. Other awardees included renowned gynaecologist Dr Sanjay Gupte for healthcare, Sulajja Firodia Motwani, founder of Kinetic Green Energy, for entrepreneurship, Indian cricketer Tilak Varma for sports, noted scholar of folk literature and the Satyashodhak movement Prof Dr Vishwanath Shinde for literature, and Annarao Bhimshankar Rajmane, head of Jivhala Matimand Sanstha, Solapur, for education and social service.
