Make positive impact on lives of less fortunate: Dharmendra to KIIT students – Times of India

“You have acquired several skills which will help you to achieve milestones in the coming days. While you strive for excellence, I hope your knowledge will help to achieve the greater common goal that positively impacts people less fortunate than you,” said the minister in his speech.

He said the initiatives including academic bank of credit, multiple entry and exit system and National Education Technology Forum launched upon completion of the first year of the National Education Policy 2020 will be a catalyst for developing the quality higher education sector in India.

As many as 7,032 students of 2020-21 graduating batch of the institution received their degrees at the virtual convocation ceremony. It also conferred Honoris Causa degrees of DLitt upon Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma), spiritual leader and humanitarian, Vallabh Bhanshali, co-founder of ENAM Securities and founder director of FLAME University, and Jean-Marie Lehn, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1987), France.

Amma dedicated the honour to her devotees. “Compassion towards our fellow beings is the most important thing which can be developed through education,” she added.

KIIT and KISS founder Achyuta Samanta said the batch of 2021 has fared well despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. “It is the only university in India which has sent three of its students to represent India in the Tokyo Olympics, 2021. They are Dutee Chand (Athletic), Shivpal Singh (Javelin Throw) and CA Bhavani Devi (Fencing-Sabre),” he added.

Among others, KIIT chancellor Ved Prakash, pro-chancellor Subrata Kumar Acharya, vice-chancellor (I/C) Sasmita Samanta, registrar JR Mohanty and others attended the convocation ceremony.

A total 61 research scholars were awarded PhD degrees. Aayush Kumar, Basel Nassor and Sudhanshu Upadhyay won Founder’s Gold Medals for their outstanding all round and academic performances. Similarly, 22 students were awarded Chancellor’s Gold Medals, while 31 students got Vice Chancellor’s Silver Medals. Other gold medals were also given away on the occasion.