NIT Rourkela celebrates 20th Convocation Day with 1717 Graduating Students

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ROURKELA : National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) celebrated its 20th Convocation, with a graduating class of 1717 students (351 female & 1366 male) today, 4th February 2023. Smt. Soma Mondal, Chairman, Steel Authority of India (SAIL), graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, with Shri Om Prakash Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), as the Guest of Honor. Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Chairman, Board of Governor, & Director, NIT Rourkela presided over the convocation event.

Aligning with the vision of Digital India, apart from the hard copies, NIT Rourkela uploaded the graduating students’ degree certificates and transcripts on DigiLocker. The Hon’ble Chief Guest launched the Digilocker facility during the 20th Annual Convocation event. This facility will help the graduating students in carrying their degree in a digital wallet and free of the administrative hassles of a printed copy.

It is notable that NIT Rourkela is the first NIT and the second among ‘Institutes of National Importance’ in the country to implement ‘Blockchain-based digital degrees’ for its graduating students.

Speaking during the event, Smt. Soma Mondal, Chief Guest, 20th Convocation, and Alumnus, NIT Rourkela, said, “This occasion is a celebration of successful contribution of all stakeholders to the glory of its Institute and culmination of another stage of academic pursuit by the students. NIT Rourkela has created magnificent physical facilities and a rich legacy of academic excellence. Believe in yourself and follow your passion with a practical approach. Having a mentor in your professional journey will help you in facing unforeseen challenges. You will face failures in your life as well but make sure you do not stop putting efforts to achieve your goals. Aspire to become a trendsetter and a leader, flourish yourself in diverse areas to become an all-rounder. I wish all the graduating students and exhort them to live their dreams towards a better tomorrow.”

Degrees awarded were:
COURSE STUDENTS GRADUATING
Bachelor of Technology 767 (125 female & 642 male)
Bachelor of Architecture 17 (6 female & 11 male)
B.Tech. – M.Tech. Dual Degree 41 (5 female & 36 male)
Integrated Master of Science (5 years) 41 (11 female & 30 male)
Master of Science 151 (48 female & 103 male)
Master of Arts 23 (12 female & 11 male)
Master of Business Administration 26 (9 female & 17 male)
Master of Technology 525 (95 female & 430 male)
Master of Technology (Research) 2 (female)
Doctor of Philosophy 124 (38 female & 86 male)
Total = 1717

The Institute has seen a rise in the number of girl students passing out in different streams. This year a total of 351 (more than 20% of graduating students) female students including 136 in Bachelor programs; 177 in Master programs, and 38 in PhD program have graduated from NIT Rourkela. It is also notable that female to male ratio of the Institute has significantly increased from 1:6 to 1:4 in the recent years.

During his address Shri Om Prakash Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), said, “I congratulate the graduating class and wish you all the success in future endeavours. You all have been trained and groomed to be successful engineers. To navigate the path of Engineering Life on must have Up to date technical knowledge; Communication and interpersonal skills; Leadership quality; Analytical ability; Creativity; Enthusiasm; Knowledge of Micro Planning, and Ability to quickly recover from difficulties. You are now the band ambassadors of your Institute. Go out there and explore the world and I am sure you will come out with flying colours.”

Congratulating the graduating batch, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Chairman, Board of Governor, & Director, NIT Rourkela, said, “This is the occasion of a phase transformation from a student to a NIT R Alumnus I congratulate all the graduating students and I wish you success in the next step of your career, whether it is in your first job, as an independent entrepreneur or higher education.”

Further, highlighting the Institute’s vision, Prof. Rao, said, “Since its inception in 1961 NIT Rourkela has completed its glorious 60 years journey. We are continually moving forward with our vision to become an internationally acclaimed institution of higher learning that will serve as a source of knowledge and expertise for the society and be a preferred destination for undergraduate and graduate studies, and our mission of enabling our students and the society for sustainable creation of wealth and welfare of the humanity, through the highest dissemination of science and knowledge. This year, we initiated work to reform our graduate and undergraduate courses in line with the current demands of the NEP 2020. Our continued dedicated service towards the nation and humanity has propagated and is reflected through the contributions of our alumni in nation building and also at the international levels, making the ethos of G20 ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, a reality and way of life.”

Another key highlight of the 20th Convocation ceremony included Distinguished Alumnus Awards to 9 alumni of NIT Rourkela. These include –

• Ms. Prativa Mohapatra – Vice President and Managing Director of Adobe India

• Prof. Bhallamudi Ravi – Institute Chair Professor in Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay

• Prof. Pinakeswar Mahanta – Director, NIT Arunachal Pradesh

• Prof. Laxmidhar Behera – Director, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi

• Prof. Nikunja Swain – Chair & Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics Department, South Carolina State University, USA

• Mr. Atanu Bhowmick – Director In-Charge, SAIL, RSP, Rourkela

• Rear Admiral Sanjay Chaubey (RETD.) – Ex-CMD, ECIL

• Shri Lalit Das – IPS, Government of Odisha