India enjoys demographic dividend as its young population is capable of taking the country to new heights, opined Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at the 15th annual convocation of the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University here on Saturday.
Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees were awarded to 6,578 students of 2018-19 graduating batch. State Assembly Speaker Surjya Narayana Patro and MP Aparajita Sarangi also graced as guests.
Asserting that technology has become the main driver of change in the modern world, Birla said that Indian informational technology professionals are in key positions and making key contributions for their companies and to the industry all over the world. “Development of new technology has become necessary for the progress and Indian youth with their education, skill and motivation can bring prosperity to the country,” he stated.
He thanked Prof Achyuta Samanta, founder, KIIT and KISS, for providing free education to 30,000 tribal children through the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS). He also said that Samanta is dedicatedly serving people of his Lok Sabha constituency. “He is doing a commendable work towards national reconstruction,” said Birla.
In his speech, Patro asked students to create new knowledge and use their knowledge to in combating global warming and environmental degradation.
In his presidential address, KIIT Chancellor Prof Ved Prakash said, “The KIIT has been chosen as an Institution of Eminence from amongst a pool of over 900 degree awarding institutions of higher learning in the country.
Such recognition within a short span of about fifteen years is a creditable achievement.”
He advised the students to hold the values symbolised by Prof Achyuta Samanta, which is an amalgamation of service, sacrifice, commitment, passion and love for the underprivileged.
Each constituent institute of the university is trying hard to establish itself as the best in the country, said KIMS Pro Chancellor Padma Shri Prof SK Acharya.
The KIIT has received top national recognition for its technology incubation initiatives, informed VC Dr Hrushikesha Mohanty.
Its students Dutee Chand has made the country proud by winning Gold Medals in 100m and 200m in the World University Games 2019 in Italy, he added.
KIIT Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Sasmita Samanta asked students to make it a lifelong practice to explore and reinvent oneself. As many as 85 research scholars were awarded PhD degrees.