Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar has organised its 12th and 13th Combined Convocation on 28th December 2024.
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, Govt. of India graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and delivered the Convocation address. Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor, Govt. of India; Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, Dept. of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India and Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India were the Guests of
Honour. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Singh, Chairman, Board of Governors (BoG), IIT Bhubaneswar presided over the Convocation. Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar presented the Convocation report and awarded the degrees to the students.
During this Convocation, the Institute conferred degrees on 1388 students for the academic years 2022-23 and 2023-24. Out of these students, 8% are PhD, 19% M.Tech, 14% M.Sc, 14% Dual degree (B.Tech and M.Tech) and 45% B.Tech.
Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Minister Shri Pradhan said: “IIT Bhubaneswar should strive to become an institute of Knowledge, Research and Innovation. Being graduates of IIT, they should make efforts towards becoming job creators rather than being job seekers. They should make themselves ready to be contributors to Industrial Revolution 4.0.
The educational institutions and faculty members should work towards redefining the attitude and aptitude of the students towards entrepreneurship.” He stressed that the research of the country should move beyond academic publications and achieve global benchmarks in terms of innovation and entrepreneurial acumen. “IIT Bhubaneswar and its students should work towards boosting the start-up and entrepreneurial ecosystem to enhance the growth process of Odisha by 2036 and of the country by 2047,” he added.
In his address, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood said stressed on knowledge creation through research and innovation to become globally competitive. Collaborative partnerships between academia and industry, fostering a multi-disciplinary approach, funding and investment in groundbreaking research and cutting-edge infrastructure and a skilled and diverse workforce are imperative for the development of the research ecosystem. He mentioned about the
Anusandhan Research Foundation (ANRF) and its objective.
Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty said that human knowledge and human competence are irreplaceable even in the age of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The youth of the country have the potential to innovate, and they should utilise this power towards the development of the country, he added.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Abhay Karandikar appreciated IIT Bhubaneswar for becoming a hub of cutting-edge research and innovation. He mentioned that the country has taken a giant leap in the field of science and technology to make a mark on a global map. India has become the 3 rd largest in terms of start-up ecosystem in the world which showcases the innovation and entrepreneurial prowess of the country. The youth of
the country should take the cue and work towards contributing in making India leader in the field of research and innovation.
During this Convocation, the Institute conferred degrees on 1388 students out of which 105 PhD, 269 M. Tech, 197 M.Sc, 192 Dual Degrees (B. Tech & M. Tech), and 625 B. Tech for the academic years 2022-23 and 2023-24. It was a proud moment for the graduating students, their parents, the faculty and staff members and the administration of the institute.
For the year 2022-23, the President of India Gold Medal was awarded to Shri Harsh Singh Jadon of Computer Science and Engineering for the best academic performance among all the B.Tech students. For the year 2023-24, the President of India Gold Medal was awarded to Shri Arnav Kumar Behera of Computer Science and Engineering.
An Interaction Meeting on “Exploring Pathways and Prospects for the Future of Research in India” with Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India and Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India was successfully organised by DST, ANRF and IIT Bhubaneswar today. The dignitaries addressed the queries of the faculties members, deans and Vice Chancellors
from various institutes across Odisha.
