Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar has organized its 12th and 13th Combined Convocation

Bhubaneswar, 28^th December 2024: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar has organized its 12^th and 13^th Combined Convocation on 28^th December 2024. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble 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 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 utilize 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 to making India a leader in the field of research and innovation.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar presented a detailed report on various efforts and achievements of IIT Bhubaneswar. He said, “Since its inception in the year 2008, IIT Bhubaneswar has traversed a long way. In recent years, it has aligned itself with the NEP 2020 initiative towards the Viksit Bharat @ 2047 vision. We are working with the motto: Follow no one, But learn from Everyone, and Acknowledge it too. Follow no one means Be Original, Learn from Everyone means Be open to feedback and criticism, and Acknowledge it too – means duly acknowledge others contributions in your achievements.” He shared the key milestones of IIT Bhubaneswar’s journey towards excellence in research, academics, and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Singh, Chairman, of the Board of Governors (BoG) motivated the students and said that with its cutting-edge facilities and focus on innovation, the institute empowers graduates to lead in transformative technologies while upholding environmental sustainability and cultural values. He stressed finding simple solutions to every complex problem.

After the Convocation, the Hon’ble Minister visited the groundbreaking Industry-Academia Research and Innovation Center on Silicon Carbide and interacted with the semiconductor researchers. He also visited the Research and Entrepreneurship Park and interacted with the Startups incubated under IIT Bhubaneswar.

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 ShriArnav 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 organized 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.