Media Relesae

Udupi, Jul 21: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, has won the grand jury award at the Solar Decathlon India (SDI) finals 2025–26, with its multidisciplinary student team emerging as the overall winner among 233 participating teams and 36 finalist teams from leading institutions across the country.

Representing MAHE as Team Agniya, students from the Manipal School of Architecture and Planning (MSAP), Manipal, and the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal, developed Project Aabroo, a climate-responsive redevelopment proposal for Haji Public School in Breswana, Doda district, Jammu & Kashmir. After winning the Educational Building Division, the project advanced to the grand jury round and was declared the overall winner.

Inspired by the traditional Kashmiri Kanger, Project Aabroo reimagined the school as a resilient and sustainable learning environment. The proposal integrated passive solar design, renewable energy systems, locally sourced materials, water conservation, educational farming, and community-centric spaces to address the challenges of the region's harsh climate and limited infrastructure.

The project was developed over nearly a year by a team of 13 students under the guidance of Dr Deepika Shetty, faculty lead, with support from Sabbah Haji, director of Haji Public School, as the project partner, and Rutuja Ulhe as the industry partner.

Congratulating the team, Dr Sharath K Rao, vice chancellor, MAHE, said, "This outstanding achievement reflects MAHE's commitment to interdisciplinary education, innovation, and sustainability. Team Agniya has demonstrated how collaborative thinking can deliver practical solutions with meaningful social impact. Their success at Solar Decathlon India is a proud milestone for the University and an inspiration for aspiring innovators."

The recognition underscores experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation-driven education, while reaffirming its commitment to developing sustainable solutions for real-world challenges.