Guru Kashi University
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Established | 2011 |
| Chancellor | S. Gurlabh Singh Sidhu |
| Vice-Chancellor | Dr. Rameshwar Singh[1] |
| Location | , , 29°57′38″N 75°07′29″E / 29.9606297°N 75.1248143°E |
| Campus | 100 acres |
| Affiliations | UGC |
| Website | www |
Guru Kashi University (GKU) has been established by the Act of the Legislature of the state of Punjab, under the "Guru Kashi University Act 2011" (Punjab Act No 37 of 2011), to provide education at all levels across all disciplines of higher education. GKU is a residential university with Gurlabh Singh Sidhu as its chancellor and comprises separate hostels for boys and girls, housing more than 7,000 students. The University provides education through a wide range of disciplines at all levels of education, including doctoral, postgraduate, graduate, and diploma programmes.
History
The Guru Kashi University is in Punjab, India. It was founded by the Balaji Education Trust Talwandi Sabo which was established in 1997 that and became the foundation stone for education in this region. The school came into existence in 1998 as GGS Polytechnic College, graduate and post graduate courses were added, and in 2001 GGS College of Engineering & Technology was established, followed in 2005 by GGS College of Education, in 2006 by GGS Institute of IT and Research, in 2009 the GGS College of Nursing & GGS Collegiate Public School were established. Finally the university was established in 2011 Guru Kashi University was established by Punjab Act No. 37 of 2011.
Gurlabh Singh Sidhu
Gurlabh Singh Sidhu, born August 1, 1963, is an Indian edupreneur and the Chancellor of Guru Kashi University (GKU), Talwandi Sabo, Punjab. He is associated with the Balaji Education Trust and is among the founding members of Guru Kashi University. His active involvement in educational affairs is integral to the university's policies, academic partnerships, and institutional directions.
Career
After pursuing his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1997, Gurlabh Singh Sidhu joined Desh Bhagat Educational Society as vice-chairperson, where he conducted various research related to education and management practices.
In 2008, he was appointed the chairperson of the Baba Deep Singh Educational Society, a registered academic NGO in Sangrur, Punjab. In his position, he promoted faculty development through ongoing professional training and workshops.
In the same year, he became the director of SAS Infotech, an IT services and business solutions firm based in Mohali, Punjab. During his service, the firm established various strategic partnerships with other technology-based companies, including Zapbuild Technologies and Infosys.
In 2011, he joined Guru Kashi University as the chairperson of the Board of Management. Thereafter, he introduced various innovative academic programs and modified course structures to bring in students from diverse regions.
He also joined Balaji Educational Trust, the founding body of GKU, in the same year as chairperson. During his leadership role, the society witnessed various new establishments of academic programs and campus facilities, with annual admissions spanning over 15,000 students.
In 2021, he became the chancellor of Guru Kashi University. Under his administration, the university received NAAC A++ accreditation and Category-1 status from the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Professional affiliations
He has been actively participating in various professional and civic initiatives, including:
- Member, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)
- Member, World Punjabi Centre (WPC), Canada
- Secretary, Farmers Welfare Association (FWA), Mohali
- Advisory Board Member, Green ThinkerZ, Punjab
Awards & recognitions
During his role at the Guru Kashi University, Gurlabh Singh Sidhu received numerous national and international honors in education, agriculture, leadership, and institutional development. The notable awards and recognitions include:
● Mahaan Vidya Dani Award (2023) – Conferred by the Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation in recognition of his efforts in promoting scientific and technical education in Punjab.
● Bharat Gaurav Education Excellence Award (2021) – Awarded by the Centre for Professional Advancement, West Midlands, United Kingdom, for his performance in educational leadership.
● Prof. Mohan Singh Award (2020) – Presented by the Prof. Mohan Singh Foundation (Regd), in collaboration with the Punjabi Sahit Akademi (PSA), for his contributions to education and cultural preservation.
● Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Research Excellence Award for Agricultural Sciences (2019) – Presented by RED (Research Educational Daily) International, India, for his contributions to sustainable agricultural research.
● Dr. J. S. Kanwar Award for Promoting Natural Resource Management – Awarded by the International Multidisciplinary Research Foundation for his efforts in advancing environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.
Cultural & academic initiatives
In 2025, GKU launched the Sufi and Folk Music Heritage Chair to preserve the music traditions of Punjab. Gurlabh Singh Sidhu served as the chief patron of this initiative, led by the popular singer and Padma Shri Award recipient, Hans Raj Hans.
References
- ^ "Guru Kashi University". Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
1. Guru Kashi University. Governing Body. Available at: https://gku.ac.in/gove_body.php.
2. Royal Patiala. Gurlabh Singh Sidhu. Available at: https://royalpatiala.in/tag/gurlabh-singh-sidhu/.
3. Business News This Week. Padma Shri Hans Raj Hans joins Guru Kashi University as Chairperson of the Sufi and Folk Music Heritage Chair. 14 August 2023. Available at: https://businessnewsthisweek.com/business/padma-shri-hans-raj-hans-joins-guru-kashi-university-as-chairman-of-sufi-and-folk-music-heritage-chair/.