We take pride in sharing that our faculty team of the Research Capacity Building Centre won the 2^nd prize at the 18^th Best Educational Quality Enhancement Team (BEQET) President Award 2024 for the project “Inculcating Research Culture on Campus”. We share the glory of Ms. Akshata Dhokale (FYFSN) who has won gold medals at international, national and state levels in gymnastics, while Ms. Simran Nilesh Gurav (SYBCA) was selected for participation in YAI Senior National Sailing Championship by (The Yachting Association of India) in the Olympic NACRA17 Class. Ms. Triveni Tandel (NSS Volunteer, SYBCA) marched in the State Republic Day Parade 2024 held at Shivaji Park, Mumbai. Our sports women represented the university in chess, karate and shooting at the national level and state level. We continued to host a number of innovative workshops supported by the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) under the 'Enhancing Quality and Excellence in Select Autonomous Colleges Scheme'. Our collaborative ventures continue such as entrepreneurship skills development seminars by the Tata Power Skill Development Institute (TPSDI) and out-of-the-box research capacity-building activities by the UGC STRIDE Research Capacity Building Centre. We have been enriched through collaborative work with the Homi Bhabha Science Centre and the Green Club with Department of Higher Education, Centre for Environmental Education, Advanced Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, UNICEF under YEWS Program. A unique initiative this year was the first intercollegiate Sports competition ‘Lakshya’ organised by our non-teaching staff. Another important event was the international seminar on “Reconnecting with roots: Indian Knowledge Systems for the 21^st Century”, as well as an international Alumni Led Webinar. Also, to be mentioned was the two-day national workshop on Disability and Inclusion. Balmela 2023-24 by the Human Development Department was conducted as a special outreach activity at the Mobile Creches and ADHATA Trust. The Department of Textiles Science and Apparel Design hosted the innovative ‘Vastrakala - Exhibition and Sale’ while the theme for the restaurant set-up by the Department of Resource Management was “Chaat pe Gupshup" received an overwhelming response from all patrons, on and off campus.

As we draw to a close, I extend my deep-felt appreciation to all the departments and committees for the success with which they have conducted academic, cultural, NSS, sports, extension and alumni events. We are indebted to the SMES Management for being our pillar of strength. We also thank our well-wisher, alumni and collaborating partners from the industry for their constant support, especially for student freeships and infrastructure development.

We will miss our dear students who are leaving the portals of our college for the world ahead, but we are confident that they will shine in whatever life path they chose to pursue.