Dehradun’s Tula’s University Gains Private Status, Expanding Local Higher‑Education Hub

Tula's University in Dehradun was granted State Private University status in 2026, giving the city its first privately‑run university with full autonomy. The milestone follows a decade‑long effort by Raunak Jain, co‑founder and senior vice‑president of Tula’s Group, to build a local education ecosystem that rivals Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Jain, a Brightlands School alumnus, earned his graduation and post‑graduation at Royal Holloway, University of London before returning to his hometown in 2012. He joined Tula’s International School as managing director, insisting that world‑class learning need not require relocation. Under his guidance, Tula’s Group expanded from an established school into a broader higher‑education and innovation hub. Tula’s University, founded in 2006 under the Rishabh Educational Trust, originally offered engineering and management programmes but now hosts multidisciplinary studies, research, entrepreneurship and industry exposure. The university’s research output exceeds 2,000 papers, more than 30 patents, and it has secured government research grants of over ₹1.50 crore. Its Technology Business Incubator Foundation provides an IoT lab, a fab lab and an IPR cell to nurture start‑ups. Jain’s vision also embraces emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity and software development, aiming to equip students with skills for a global economy. His contributions earned national recognition in 2026, including ET Edge and The Times Group’s 40 Under 40 list and a spot among Outlook Business Magazine’s Most Admired Leaders.

Context

Dehradun’s shift from a school‑centric reputation to hosting a private university reflects a broader trend of regional cities creating self‑contained education ecosystems, reducing the need for students to move to traditional metros for advanced study.