The Symbiosis Society was founded in 1971 by Dr. S. B. Mujumdar to create a community, which helps in fostering an interaction between the foreign and Indian students. This helps them in getting a fresh insight into each other's varied cultures and thus broadens their horizons. It has under its fold 33 institutions spread across various campuses with 45,000 students on campus and 1,00,000 students off campus .

Symbiosis is one of India's leading educational Institutions imparting quality education for over 36 years. Symbiosis is a family of 33 academic institutions spread across 9 campuses in and around Pune, sister city to Mumbai - India's commercial capital.

A Foreign Affair that Founded Symbiosis
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. But, it is the first step that involves deliberation and much hesitation. The Symbiosis journey however began with a surge of enthusiasm spurred on by an incident that, in itself, makes a poignant tale.

“It was afternoon on a hot day. I was standing near a window of my house overlooking the first hostel block, of which I was a rector. A strange thing happened. A girl walked up to the window of the boys' hostel room, quickly handed over something and disappeared. My curiosity was aroused and I kept watching the girl walking up to the window day after day and suspected, like any other rector would, that an affair was afoot. So one day, I made up my mind and walked up to the door and knocked. When the door opened, I saw a Mauritian student lying in bed. His face was pale and his eyes seemed to have sunken low. I was puzzled.”

“When I turned to the boy for an explanation, he said, "Sir, I have an attack of jaundice and I'm feeling extremely weak. I cannot stand up, nor walk a few steps. A girl from my country brings me food. However, since ladies are not allowed to enter the boys' hostel, she hands over the tiffin box through the window."

"I was stunned. After all, it wasn't the type of ‘affair' I had expected. I was very much pained and decided something had to be done about this. That was the instance, the golden moment that Symbiosis was born.”

Symbiosis is a term in life science, meaning ‘living together of two different organisms, for the benefit of each other'. Dr. Mujumdar, himself a professor of botany, thought this name apt for the institution.

Thus the institution was founded to alleviate the problems faced by foreign students coming to India. At the time, these problems included - accommodation, meals, medical care, guidance, coaching, information about the city, etc.

Symbiosis has come a long way since then. Today it is home to students from more than 60 different countries. These students are offered the best learning resources, industry exposure, a strong international students' alumni network, a global recognition, and above all, a truly enriching Indian experience.

Symbiosis Managing Committee

Dr. S. B Mujumdar -  President and Founder
Director Prin. P. L. Gadgil - Vice President
Dr.Mrs. Vidya Yeravdekar - Principal
Director Mrs. S. S.Mujumdar - Founder Member

Members

Ms.Swati Mujumdar
Dr. S. S.Ghali
Dr. C. R. Patil
Mrs. Sanjeevani Patil
Dr. A. V. Sangamnerkar
Dr. N. V. Unkule
Mr. A. V. Walimbe

Planning and Development Board of Symbiosis

Mr.B. G. Deshmukh
Former Cabinet Secretary, Government of India and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India.
Dr. S. B. Mujumdar
President and Founder Director, Symbiosis and Chancellor, Symbiosis International University
Dr. M. S. Raste
Vice Chancellor, Symbiosis International University
Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar
Principal Director, Symbiosis
Adv. B.R. Ranade
Senior Advocate and Legal Advisor, Symbiosis
Mr. J. N. Desai
Ex-vice President, Human Resource, Bharat Forge Ltd.
Mr. Pradeep Bhargav
Managing Director, New Age Electrical India Ltd.
Mr. Prakash Shah
Former Indian Ambassador
Mr. S.K. Jain
Chairman and Managing Director, Synergy Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. P.J. Lavakare
Former Executive Director, USEFI
Dr. Arun Nigvekar
Former Chairman, University Grants Commission
Dr. M. A. Tutakane
Former Vice Chancellor, Symbiosis International University

Institutes of Symbiosis Society 
 
Symbiosis International Cultural Center
Symbiosis college of Arts and Commerce 
Symbiosis Nursery School
Symbiosis Primary School
Symbiosis Society's Dr. Babasaheb Ambedker Museum & Memorial
Symbiosis Secondary School
Symbiosis SPA
Symbiosis Center Of Health Care
Symbiosis Vidyavardhini Vidyalay, Harali, Dist Kolhapur
Symbiosis Kindergarten , Nasik
Symbiosis Institute Of Foreign & Indian Languages
Symbiosis Center for Distance Learning
Symbiosis Society's Afro Asian Cultural Museum
Symbiosis Institute of Teacher Education
Symbiosis International School
Symbiosis Open School