Guwahati, Jul 12 (PTI) The CEO of Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, on Sunday said that interdisciplinary collaboration and entrepreneurial mindset would be needed to meet the challenges of the future.
He exhorted youth to continue in the process of learning as deep knowledge, sound judgement and ability to evolve solutions will be key in the age of AI.
Delivering the Convocation address at IIT-Guwahati, Kalyanaraman said, “Congratulations to the graduating students. I wish you a successful career, but I also suggest you to build capabilities for the country. Use your knowledge to create a meaningful impact on society.” Urging the students to continue their learning graph, he added, “In the age of AI, the true differentiator will be deep knowledge, sound judgment, and the ability to define meaningful problems rather than merely generate answers.” The CEO of the country’s apex body established by the Central government to seed, grow and promote research and development across universities, colleges and research laboratories emphasised that the challenges of the future will demand interdisciplinary collaboration and an entrepreneurial mindset that takes ownership of solving problems that matter.
“India needs innovators who can translate research into technology, build impactful solutions and contribute to national development. Through ANRF, we are strengthening India’s research and innovation ecosystem by fostering frontier research and academia-industry collaboration,” Kalyanaraman added.
A total of 2,265 students received their degrees in various disciplines during the 28th Convocation ceremony, which was presided over by Prahlada Rama Rao, acting chairman, Board of Governors, IIT-Guwahati, while Devendra Jalihal, Director of the institution, presented the Convocation report.
Saptarshi Mukherjee, BTech in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, achieved the top score in the Undergraduate batch and was awarded the President of India Gold Medal.
Atri Chattopadhyay, BTech in Electronics and Electrical Engineering, received the Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal.
Moreover, Praneel Bhattacharya, M Tech in Chemical Engineering, was awarded the Governor of Assam PG Gold Medal, while Sarthak Kapoor, BTech in Computer Science and Engineering, was awarded the Governor of Assam UG Gold Medal.
The Institute also awarded 18 students with Institute Silver medals for their remarkable academic performance.
During his address, Jalihal said, “As our graduating students embark on diverse career paths, I extend my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to each one of them. I am confident that with their knowledge, hard work and dedication, they will excel in their chosen professions and make meaningful contributions to society and the nation.” He added that with 2,478 research papers published in the past year, IIT-Guwahati has continued to strengthen its position as a leading centre for research and innovation.
“We are actively expanding our campus infrastructure with state-of-the-art research facilities while enhancing our incubation ecosystem. Further, we are advancing on multiple fronts to create a vibrant and future-ready ecosystem that nurtures talent and innovation,” he said.
The director further said that the Institute is undertaking a comprehensive review of its undergraduate curriculum with a stronger emphasis on experiential learning and industry engagement.
“Additionally, we are strengthening student support systems by improving access to mental health, yoga and well-being facilities, alongside investing in sustainable campus infrastructure to enhance the quality of campus life,” he added.
Rama Rao, in his address, highlighted IIT-Guwahati’s contributions to research, innovation and nation-building initiatives.
The Manekshaw Centre of Excellence for National Security Studies and Research is one such example of the Institute’s commitment to developing indigenous solutions for the country’s defence and strategic needs, he said.
“The Institute’s partnerships with leading Japanese universities is contributing meaningfully to the vision of a Viksit Bharat and position India as a global leader,” he added. PTI SSG SSG RG
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