CREATE A NEW CULTURE AND MIND SET IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, SARASWAT TELLS SRMIST GRADUATES
If India is to make economic impact through Science and Technology and improve its position in Global Innovation Index, there is the need to alter the Science and Technology Innovation eco-system said Padma Bhushan Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Honorable member of NITI Aayog at SRM Institute of Science and Technology’s 14th Convocation.
“This would require global leadership in science, engineering,, technology, manufacturing and innovation. Excellence is needed in basic research… excellence is required in applied research including pre-competitive applied research, particularly in critical technologies”he added
Nearly four thousand students received their Under Graduate, Post Graduate and Doctoral Degrees from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology in person and about an equal number in absentia. More than 50 students received gold medals for their academic achievements; and 53 students were awarded the Ph.D degree.
“We have to create a culture and mindset of Design-Simulate-Build-Test- Evaluate and Validate in engineering education. Present approach to give up after the design is seen on the computer screen using imported design and and simulation tools is not good for innovation. Engineers have to go from drawing boards to test and evaluation and iterate the process till an efficient and optimum solution is evolved and ready to go to market”, Dr. Saraswat said going on to make the point that design is a continuous process of innovation that develops gradually, not abruptly.
One of the high points of the Convocation was the conferment of the Honorary Degree of Science (D.Sc., Honoris Causa))on Prof. Dr. Mohan Rajan, Chairman and Medical Director, Rajan Eye Care Hospital, Chennai.
In his acceptance speech Dr. Mohan Rajan spoke of the difference between sight and vision. “It is because of vision that you see the achievements of SRM Group which has consistently been at the top for the last three decades. That is why we call the Founder Chancellor and the top Management as visionaries”, he said.
Talking of his Blindfree India Project that stresses on the need to combine technology and technique with a focus on the rural areas, Dr. Mohan Rajan called on the graduates to be also socially conscious. “Go home, have a wonderful life, but be a socially conscious person”, he said.
In his welcome address, the Founder Chancellor, Dr. Paari Vendhar, spoke of the numerous achievements of SRMIST in the recent past that would include the A++ rating by NAAC and hence in the First Category of Institutions. “We are the largest multi-disciplinary institution with more than 50,000 students and a Group that is also socially responsible”, the Founder Chancellor said pointing out the waiver of fees to students to the tune of Rs 48 crores coming from the four Delta Districts affected by the recent cyclone Gaja.
Dr. Sandeep sancheti, Vice Chancellor of SRMIST presented the Annual Report.
