The two-day event features 14-plus competitions and activities, including the launch of the Media Truth Lab
Solan, October 1
The fourth Shoolini Marvel International Media Fest brought students from India, Bangladesh, and Nepal to the Shoolini University campus for media competitions, performances, and cultural exchange. Organised by the Faculty of Media and Liberal Arts, the two-day fest was held on September 29 and 30.
More than 200 participants attended the event, including over 90 students from schools in and around Solan. School and university students took part in activities such as photography, filmmaking, news anchoring, and theatre.
Most international participants came from Bangladesh, representing the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Jagannath University, Bangladesh University of Professionals, University of Chittagong, and Daffodil International University.
The Media fest featured more than 14 competitions and activities, including photography, news anchoring, short filmmaking, declamation, radio jockeying, caption writing, Instagram reels, and quizzes. The programme also included theatrical performances, stand-up comedy, and other cultural activities.
Founder Chancellor Prof PK Khosla attended the inauguration as Chief Guest, while Pro Chancellor Prof Vishal Anand was the Guest of Honour. Fest Director Prof Nishtha Shukla Anand led the fest with the organising team and faculty members.
Prof Nishtha Shukla Anand, Dean Faculty of Media and Liberal Arts also introduced the audience to Shoolini Upskill, an online learning platform offering short courses in AI, business, marketing, finance, and communication. Designed to be completed in under three hours, the courses focus on practical skills for work and personal development.
Prof PK Khosla addressed changes in the media sector and the growing influence of technology and artificial intelligence. He urged young media professionals to understand emerging technologies while retaining creativity, human judgement, and a responsible approach to communication.
Pro-Chancellor Prof Vishal Anand spoke about the value of bringing young people from different regions and countries together. He said interacting with peers and exchanging ideas helped students understand other perspectives and prepare to work across cultures.
Prof Nishtha Shukla Anand said the fest gave students practical media experience through competitions, creative work, and cultural exchange. She added that participation from institutions across India and abroad helped students work with and learn from peers from different backgrounds.
Prof Vishal Anand inaugurated Media Truth Lab, a fact-checking initiative founded by Prof Nisha Kapoor with students Harsh Raj, Sayed Al Hasan, and Kashish Kotia. The lab aims to give students practical training in verifying information, assessing sources, and communicating responsibly online. Its work will address misinformation and manipulated content, helping students examine the accuracy and credibility of material before sharing or publishing it.
The second day featured stand-up comedy and a screening of the film awarded Best Short Film. The valedictory ceremony and prize distribution followed, and the festival closed with a formal vote of thanks.
Prof Ashish Khosla discussed how AI was changing content creation, journalism, and digital communication. He stressed the need to verify AI-generated material and retain human oversight, with ethical judgment guiding the use of these tools.
The competition winners are:
Chandigarh University students secured first place in photography (Vardaan), news anchoring (Yogi Kumar), radio jockeying (Aditi Shukla), and the Instagram Reel Contest (Tanvi Chadha, Sabira Shakoor, and Pari Gupta). Chandigarh University’s UIMS Theatrical Act won the Cultural Evening competition.
Kashvi Rai of Shoolini University won the Declamation Contest, while the university won the Quiz competition. Kiran Kumari of Himachal Pradesh University won the Short Film competition, and Priyanka Kumari of SILB won Caption the Photo.
For international students, the fest was also a chance to experience Himachal Pradesh and spend time with peers from different countries. Tanjina Tinni, a final-year student at Daffodil International University, said, “Marvel Media Fest at Shoolini University was unforgettable. I loved connecting with wonderful international peers. We bonded deeply over shared culture and laughter.” She thanked Shoolini for the experience and the friendships formed during the visit.
Arafat Rahman, a seventh-semester student at the University of Chittagong, said, “Solan welcomed us with rain and truly stole our hearts.” He recalled the events, cultural evenings, and the welcome he received from fellow students, and thanked Dr Shakil, Sayed, and Sourin for making the visit possible.
Faculty Coordinators Prof Ranjna Thakur and Prof Nisha Kapoor coordinated the fest with faculty members from the Faculty of Media and Liberal Arts. The two-day event concluded with the valedictory ceremony, prize distribution, and a formal vote of thanks By Prof Charanjit Singh.
