Plaksha's journey started in 2015, as a conversation among a few friends about how and why technology education needs to change. This group of people, most of them entrepreneurs and business leaders, were keen to change the landscape of engineering and technology education in India and the world.
Reimagining Higher Education Foundation, a Section 8 not-for-profit company, was set up in 2017 with a mission of converting the idea into a plan. In Feb 2019, the groundbreaking of the campus took place in Mohali and in Aug 2021 the campus opened its doors.
More than 100 tech entrepreneurs, business leaders, and academicians across six countries have come together to shape Plaksha’s mission. Their collective experience and vision form the foundation of the university’s three guiding pillars - defining what we do and how we do it. What we do and how we do it is represented by three pillars - based on the shared inspiration of academic leaders and the founding group.
Reimagining technology education
Interdisciplinary curriculum integrating technology, social sciences and design. Hands-on pedagogy and focus on self-development
Enabling research and innovation ecosystem
Entrepreneurial mindset in faculty and students, innovation culture and enabling ecosystem, mentorship and networks
Addressing grand challenges
Thematic research centers with industry, government and academia collaboration; shared core lab infrastructure
Plaksha University was established in 2021 under the Punjab State Private Universities Policy of 2010. It has over 500 students and 40 faculty members, including academic experts and industry professionals. The 50-acre campus is located in the Chandigarh tri-city, 10 minutes from the international airport.
- Collective governance: Plaksha operates under a model of collective governance, drawing on the expertise of a distinguished Academic Advisory Board and a founding community of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and academicians.
- Global partnerships: Collaborations with Cornell University, UC Berkeley, Penn Engineering, Purdue University, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Harvard) shape globally aligned curricula, pedagogy, and student experiences.
- Research culture: Four interdisciplinary research centers address grand challenges in clean energy, sustainable agriculture, water security, and equitable health. Faculty are actively engaged in research, supported by a robust doctoral program.
- Reimagined undergraduate education: Plaksha offers four BTech majors built on an interdisciplinary foundation. The Freshmore curriculum integrates design, humanities, modern computing, and fundamental sciences—free from traditional department silos.
- A greenfield advantage: As a young institution, Plaksha is free from legacy constraints and able to drive innovation in curriculum, pedagogy, and institutional design.
- Entrepreneurial mindset: The university’s agile and action-oriented culture supports bold experimentation and rapid execution.
Our Founders
Plaksha’s founders are accomplished business leaders and technology entrepreneurs from India and global hubs including Hong Kong, London, New York, Silicon Valley, Singapore, and Tokyo. United by a shared commitment to nation-building through education, they have contributed generously through philanthropy and play an active role in shaping the university. Their engagement extends beyond financial support - mentoring students, guiding strategic initiatives, and helping build a vibrant community of innovators and changemakers.
Our Academic Advisory Board
Plaksha’s Academic Advisory Board was formed in 2017, bringing together radical thinkers and academic leaders from across the world. Today, it comprises 20 eminent scholars and institutional leaders who have been at the forefront of transforming higher education globally. Their insights have been instrumental in shaping Plaksha’s academic vision, curriculum design, and institutional direction.
We partner with top institutions, globally
Plaksha has partnerships with leading academic institutions around the world that share its vision to reimagine engineering education and research. These collaborations span curriculum design, faculty and student exchange, joint research, and academic delivery - ensuring our programs are globally benchmarked and locally relevant.
8,000
Students across our programs
50,000
Students online
500
Faculty & researchers
Inclusion
Build a diverse community
