Chennai, 13th July 2019: Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing Kancheepuram (IIITDM) conducted its Seventh Convocation today (13th July 2019) with a total of 288 students graduating on the occasion. Of these, 118 are B. Tech, 116 are Dual degree, 41 are M. Tech, and 13 are PhD students. As much as 32 percent of the Graduands of this batch are Girl Students.
Also, the pioneering batch of Dual Degree students graduated this year. A total of 31 medals were presented to students under various categories for their outstanding performances.
IIITDM Kancheepuram is an Institute of National Importance established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, to pursue design and manufacturing oriented engineering education and research and to promote the competitive advantage of Indian products in global markets.
The Chief Guest of the occasion was Dr. Koppillil Radhakrishnan, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Kanpur, and Former Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Highlighting the opportunities that beckon the graduating students, Dr. Radhakrishnan said, “India is on the threshold of human spaceflight and complex interplanetary exploration which will open up enormous challenges and host of opportunities to the new generation. India has mastered the complex technologies and achieved self-reliance in access to the outer space. All Indian satellites, except a few heavy communication satellites, are lofted by the Indian launchers. Also, we have launched close to 300 satellites for 33 countries on a commercial basis.”
Further, Dr. Radhakrishnan added, “Chandrayaan-2, with an Indian Lander-Rover combine, is India’s first step in Robotic Space Exploration and the mission is on the anvil. Obviously, this mission is more intricate. The Lunar lander orbiting Moon at a speed of around 6,000 kmph, must have the autonomous capability to brake its speed and steer itself for a soft and safe landing in an uncharted terrain of Moon, that too precisely at a designated site. Moreover, all these operations would happen within 16 minutes and the landing site also has to be ascertained by itself while on its descent. The entire nation is looking towards it.”
“These accomplishments signify (i) India’s capabilities to conceive, design, manufacture and deploy complex and large high technology systems on an end-to-end basis and (ii) confluence of ISRO and Indian space industry for enhancing capability and capacity,” he said.
Dr. Radhakrishnan also noted that several academic institutions and R&D Agencies in India had made a commendable foray into frontline technologies, besides the fact that many Indians abroad are driving some of these innovations and technological disruptions.
Medals
Ms. Dheepika K. won the Institute Gold Medal for the All-Rounder of the Graduating Batch. Mr. Surya Prakash T.K. was awarded the Gold Medal across all B.Tech programmes, Mr. Shiva Ganesh M. the gold medal across all Dual Degree programmes, and Ms. Shweta Kumari, the gold medal across all M.Tech and M.Des. programmes.
Addressing the students, Prof. S. Sadagopan, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIITDM Kancheepuram, said, “Thanks to global acceptance of Indian Information Technology (IT) sector, the IIITs have arrived in the past two decades. This great Institute is the result of that development. At the cutting edge of globally competitive technology and being the “preferred choice” for millions of youngsters, IIITDM Kancheepuram is indeed fortunate to be in Chennai, which is undoubtedly the “automotive capital” and “engineering capital” of India (the way Bangalore prides itself as “IT capital of India”).”
Presenting the Annual Report, Prof. Banshidhar Majhi, Director, IIITDM Kancheepuram, said, “IIITDM has a unique thrust to produce new generation engineers who are industry 4.0 ready and design and product-oriented skillset having a high competency in problem-solving. The Institute offers 4 years B. Tech, 5 years’ Dual degree programs, 2 years M. Tech and PhD programs in Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. We also offer a unique interdisciplinary program called Smart Manufacturing at UG and PG level.”
Further, he added, “We have recently set up two centres, namely, AI, IoT and Robotics , and Smart Manufacturing, and few more R&D centres are underway. Design centric R&D laboratories, a new state-of-the-art facility for Teaching-Learning Centre, the construction of Phase 3 of Technology Business Incubation Centre are in progress.”
Throwing light on the Institute’s research capabilities, Prof. Banshidhar Majhi said that it had 65 full time research scholars and 15 project scholars pursuing their research. The Institute faculty members have received 30 different sponsored projects during the last two years with worth of Rs. 9 crore from various sponsoring agencies including Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
