The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Indian Navy through a formal memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will offer wide-ranging educational and professional development programs to naval personnel and their families.
The agreement was signed by Shashi Tripathi, president of the Navy Welfare and Wellness Association; Commodore S.M. Urooj Athar, Commodore (Naval Education); and Manish Madaan, registrar of UPES. It follows similar partnerships already established by the university with the Indian Army and Indian Air Force.
The collaboration will open academic doors for serving and retired naval personnel, as well as their spouses and children. Families of those who lost their lives or were physically incapacitated in the line of duty are also included. UPES will offer full-time undergraduate and postgraduate programs on campus, online courses in disciplines like management, law, and technology, and part-time Ph.D. programs tailored to working professionals.
“This collaboration with UPES is a significant step toward enabling our naval community to leverage the transformative power of education more flexibly and efficiently,” said Shashi Tripathi. “We are investing in their future and honouring their immense sacrifices.”
Bharat Kharbanda, a member of the UPES Board of Governors, described the partnership as a tribute to the service of the Indian Navy. “We are proud to extend our academic ecosystem to those who serve the nation and support their personal and professional journeys,” he said.
The MoU outlines a range of benefits for the naval community. Children of serving and retired Navy personnel will be eligible for merit-based scholarships, and a 20% tuition fee waiver will be granted to personnel enrolling in online programs. Eligibility criteria will also be relaxed by 5% for online admissions. In recognition of professional experience, project work may be substituted with viva-based assessments.
Participants will have access to weekend live classes, recorded lectures, and remote examinations to accommodate naval postings and deployments. Ph.D. candidates from the Navy will receive a 50% tuition fee scholarship per semester. The agreement also allows limited access to UPES’s e-library and guest house facilities during academic visits, subject to availability.
Beyond education, the MoU paves the way for joint research initiatives, knowledge exchanges, and leadership development programs in fields relevant to naval operations, including aviation, aeronautics, logistics, engineering, legal studies, and management.
This partnership signifies a continued commitment by UPES to contribute to nation-building by equipping the Indian armed forces with advanced academic and research capabilities.
