Amit Shah to Set the Initial Stone for TSU, India's Inaugural Cooperative University, in Gujarat the Following Day; Aspirations to Educate 20 Lakhs Within Five Years
On July 5, 2025, Union Home and Cooperation Minister, Amit Shah, laid the foundation stone for the Tribhuvan Sahkari University (TSU) in Anand, Gujarat. Named after Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel, a key figure in India's cooperative movement, the university aims to strengthen the cooperative sector through education and training.
The TSU, a historic and strategic initiative, is designed to empower cooperative institutions at the grassroots level and contribute significantly to India's cooperative sector. The university will offer a multidisciplinary academic structure, aiming to equip grassroots-level organisations with both technical and managerial skills.
The academic programs at TSU are diverse, encompassing cooperative management, accounting, finance, marketing, cooperative law, and rural development. The university plans to offer flexible and tailored programs, such as managerial degrees, diplomas, and certificates, to cater to different levels of professionals in cooperative societies.
In a bid to address nepotism and ensure that only trained individuals are employed, TSU aims to train approximately 20 lakh personnel from cooperative societies over the next five years. This training will cover various sectors, including dairy, fisheries, and agricultural credit cooperatives.
To drive innovation and promote best practices across rural cooperative institutions, a Research and Development (R&D) Council will be established within the university. This council aims to fill a critical gap in India's cooperative framework, which lacks an institutional setup for innovation-focused research. The R&D wing will collaborate with reputed national and international institutions to introduce global best practices in India.
TSU also plans to connect over 200 existing cooperative institutions to create a national network for standardising cooperative education and training. This network will help promote innovation, capacity building, improve governance, and accelerate inclusive and sustainable rural economic development.
The university will also develop a pool of trained educators through PhD programs focused on cooperative studies. The R&D council will work towards promoting innovative, cost-effective solutions for rural cooperatives.
Several dignitaries are expected to attend the event, including Union Ministers of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar and Muralidhar Mohol, Gujarat Education Minister Rishikesh Patel, Cooperation Minister Jagdish Vishwakarma, Ministry Secretary Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, and TSU Vice Chancellor Dr. J.M. Vyas.
The event will also see the unveiling of an NCERT-developed educational module for schoolchildren about the cooperative movement. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary are also expected to attend.
By focusing on these areas, TSU aims to be at the forefront of capacity building, innovation, and employment generation in the cooperative sector. The university's vision is to build a skilled workforce for the sector and contribute to India's economic growth through the empowerment of cooperative institutions.
The Tribhuvan Sahkari University (TSU) is initiating policy and legislation changes within the cooperative sector through education and training, aiming to be at the forefront of capacity building, innovation, and employment generation. To achieve this, the university will offer a diverse range of learning opportunities, encompassing cooperative management, accounting, finance, marketing, cooperative law, and rural development, catering to various levels of professionals in cooperative societies.
