Hyderabad, 5^th August 2018: Indian Institute of Hyderabad celebrated its 7th Convocation today, 5th August 2018 with a graduating class of 566 students (435 boys & 131 girls). Honorable President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind graced the occasion as the chief guest in the august presence of Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan, Honorable Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Shri Mohammad Mahmood Ali, Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana and Shri Harish Rao, Minister for Irrigation, Marketing & Legislative Affairs of Telangana.

As the institute celebrates its 10th anniversary, it has grown from strength to strength. With 2,550 students of whom 20 per cent are women and 190 faculty members across 14 departments, it has been rated among top 10 technology institutions (National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF), MHRD,) in India.

Shri Ram Nath Kovind delivered the Convocation Address and presented the medals to the Gold Medal winners. The Convocation robe of Shri Ram Nath Kovind, is a special weaving called ‘Jacard weaving’ with ekat design. It is very unique to Telangana Region.

Last year, a total of 473 students graduated including      389 boys and 84 girl students.

Congratulating the graduating students and commending IIT Hyderabad’s achievements on completion of 10 years, Hon’ble President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind said, “It is encouraging to see that 1 in 5 of those graduating today in IIT Hyderabad are young women students”, and added, “IIT Hyderabad should become the hub of the innovation, research and entrepreneurial ecosystem of the region and the Institute should work collaboratively on areas of research for the benefit of the country and society.”

Presenting the Institute Report, Prof U.B. Desai, Director, IIT Hyderabad, said, “Though IIT Hyderabad is 10 years old, we have made a mark in education and research. We are ranked 9th by NIRF. We have developed a very novel academic structure referred to as Fractal Academics – this brings in a totally new paradigm in education. As an example of flexibility, I would like to mention the new minor in Artificial Intelligence in Humanities, that we are starting from this academic year.”

Further, Prof Desai added: “On the research front too, we have made significant strides. Our sanctioned sponsored research funding is to the tune of Rs. 350 crore and it is rapidly growing. …Two of the top Research Projects in IIT Hyderabad include the world’s leading 5G physical layer pilot, which outperforms many such pilots across the globe. And the other being the novel way developed to recycle polystyrene waste, for example styrofoam, by using extracts from peels of citrus fruits like orange. The fabric obtained from these fibers is hydrophobic and can selectively absorb oil from water.”

IIT Hyderabad is nurturing a vibrant research culture in cutting-edge technologies, with over 800 Ph.D. students, out of which 58 received their doctorates during the Convocation 2018. The Institute has developed a strong connect with industry with as many as 104 sponsored research and 68 consultancy projects in last year alone. The institute is intensely inculcating the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship amongst students with three incubators – in healthcare, fabless chip design, and technology.

Addressing the Convocation, Mr. B.V.R Mohan Reddy, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Hyderabad, said, “You are now stepping into the real world that is undergoing unprecedented change brought about by technology. A change that is fundamentally transforming the way we live, consume, communicate and manage and is playing a unique role in powering economic growth and bringing better comforts to mankind.”

Mr. Mohan Reddy added, “The recent rise of new digital technologies like AI, AR/VR, 3D Printing, Drones are causing massive transformation in many sectors like healthcare, agriculture and education. You are fortunate to graduate at a time when technology changes are on an exponential trajectory, presenting countless opportunities.”

With nearly 50 filed patents, over 50 industry collaborations, and with over 50 MoUs with universities globally, IIT Hyderabad is creating a holistic educational ecosystem with deep ties with all the stakeholders.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Mr. Ibrahim Dalal, B.Tech (Computer Science and Engineering), who won the President of India Gold Medal, said “Faculty members, especially in CSE department and seniors have always been my inspiration. I also had great friends/batch mates who were always so helpful and I learned a lot from them. Of course, my parents are the reason I am here today. So, I would like to dedicate this medal to all these people.”