Pune University launches Postgraduate Diploma Course in Temple Management

Pune University launches Postgraduate Diploma Course in Temple Management
Pune, 22 January 2025: The Savitribai Phule Pune University has partnered with Temple Connect to launch India’s first-ever Postgraduate Diploma Course in Temple Management. The MoU for this ground-breaking initiative was signed by Shri Giresh Kulkarni, Founder of Temple Connect, in the presence of the university’s Vice Chancellor, Dr. Suresh Gosavi, and Dr. Suresh Haware, a renowned nuclear scientist and author on Temple Management. This six-month programme is designed to professionalise temple operations, equipping students with advanced skills and extensive knowledge of the economic, social and cultural aspects of managing temple ecosystems. Admissions begin from February 2025 onwards and the first batch will commence in Nashik campus of Pune University from June 2025 onwards.
This innovative initiative follows the monumental success of Temple Connect’s International Temples Convention & Expo (ITCX) and its earlier collaborations with the University of Mumbai and Welingkar Institute, where inaugural batches commenced in September 2024. Temple Connect was pivotal in curating the curriculum, transforming the collective vision of temple economy experts into a structured course that blends theoretical insights with real-world application. The diploma comprises three months of in-person classroom training with over 20 interactive sessions and a three-month internship at various renowned temples. Students will gain relevant expertise in administrative duties, community engagement, spiritual stewardship, technology integration, sustainability and inclusivity – all within the context of managing sacred spaces. The faculty includes veteran professionals with substantial experience in temple operations.
Giresh Kulkarni, Founder of Temple Connects & ITCX, said, “This pioneering programme is a significant step towards advancing the field of temple management. Temple Connect aims to empower students to innovate and drive sustainable change with temple ecosystems. We anticipate over 50% of the batch securing internships through our extensive network, with lucrative employment opportunities awaiting them. Looking ahead, we also aim to expand this initiative with three additional programmes – a six-month certificate, a one-year diploma and a two-year MBA in Temple Management.”
Expressing his satisfaction, Dr. Suresh Gosavi, the Vice Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University said, “I am eager to see this course make a meaningful impact. It will be conducted under Pune University at the Nashik campus, and stands as a vital initiative to empower the next generation of temple managers, not just across Maharashtra but also from various parts of the country who come here to study.”
Applicants for the course must be graduates from a recognised university. They must either have a strong background in temple administration or be closely associated with or seek hands-on experience through internships. Each institute or university will admit 30 students per batch. Additionally, temples across India are actively supporting by offering scholarships. To make the course more accessible, Temples Connect has also established an open scholarship fund for students requiring financial assistance, with other temples expressing interest in sponsoring students from their regions.
While Temple Connect serves as the lead curator of this diploma course, it is the result of a collaborative effort by a distinguished committee of experts chaired by Dr. Suresh Haware (former Chairman of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, a renowned nuclear scientist and author on Temple Management). The committee includes Shri Giresh Kulkarni (Founder of Temple Connect & ITCX), MLC Shri Prasad Lad, Dr. Uday Salunkhe (Group Director, Welingkar Institute), Dr. Pendharkar (former Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University), Professor Ravindra Kulkarni (present Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University), Dr. Nitin Karmalkar (ex-Vice-Chancellor of Pune University) and other eminent dignitaries from Mumbai and Pune Universities and Welingkar Institute.
This collaborative endeavour aims to set a benchmark in temple management education and shape the future custodians of India’s temple heritage.