The latest batch of Nalanda Open University undergraduates and postgraduates received their degrees at the annual convocation on July 26 at SK Memorial Hall with smile on their faces and a spring in their steps.

Chief guest Bihar governor Keshari Nath Tripathi said at the ceremony on Wednesday: "It is a matter of pride that we have an university in the state that produces thousands of scholars every year. This university has provided those aspirants a platform who cannot attend regular classes as they have jobs to attend to. Despite lack of infrastructure, this university has performed excellently."

R.K. Sinha, the vice-chancellor of Nalanda Open University, said starting its journey with 2,000 students the varsity today has up to 1.5 lakh students, offering courses in 90 subjects ranging from skill development to vocational courses.

In the coming years more courses will be added, Sinha promised.

The university today runs from Biscomaun Bhavan but is expected to get a new campus soon as the government is planning to provide it land.

Ankita, one of the undergraduates who received her degree at the convocation, said: "The university is a distance-learning institute but is no less than any regular university as its course material is extremely good."

Start-up boost

Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna's incubation centre "Startup Incubation Centre and Business Innovation Lab" was launched at the institute on July 27.

S. Siddharth, principal secretary, industries, did the honours. The state department supports this initiative of CIMP to mentor start-ups under the under the Bihar government's 2017 policy.

CIMP director V. Mukunda Das spoke at the inauguration and told the participants - students and entrepreneurs - that the centre will provide physical infrastructure and the support system necessary for business incubation, including networking with seed-funders, angel investors and venture capitalists. It will also provide entrepreneursa platform for knowledge creation and expert advisory, he said.

Siddharth, the chief guest, elaborated on the government's initiatives to promote start-ups, and said not only would the CIMP centre help entrepreneurs but also serve as a platform for venture needs and start-up submissions.

The senior official discussed with the participants the various challenges entrepreneurs face ahead of starting a business and the ways to overcome the problems. He spoke on the role of incubators, rural market outreach and the scope in Bihar for start-ups to achieve success.

Prasad Sundararajan, faculty member at CIMP, said entrepreneurs must be prepared to take up tasks with calculated risks, and spoke on the role of family orientations in the process of problem solving and self-fulfilment, facing odds with determination.

Vinayak, one of the students who attended the launch, said: "In today's age, starts-ups have become very important and with CIMP motivating students to such ventures is a major source of help and encouragement."

Skills workshop

The School of Education under the Central University of South Bihar held a five-day training-cum-workshop on "Cooperative learning skills" under the Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching on July 25.

Pro-vice-chancellor O.P. Rai lit the inaugural lamp after which Rekha Agrawal, head and dean, School of Education, welcomed the dignitaries and participants at the workshop.

Coordinator Chandra Prabha presented a brief overview of the training-cum-workshop and pro-VC Rai addressed the teachers and teacher educators.

He said cooperative learning starts with cooperative feeling and the focus should be on learning empathy and subject simultaneously. Agrawal, who is also the nodal officer of the national mission scheme, mentioned the pillars of education - Learning to Know, Learning to Do, Learning to Live Together and Learning to Be.

Know each other

National Institute of Fashion Technology on July 26 organised an orientation programme for its new freshers.

Director Sanjay Srivastava said this was the function that acquainted students with the institute, its style of functioning, the academic environment.

NIFT Calcutta alumnusManish Tribhuvan, also the chief of the Tribhuvan Foundation, and NIFT Hyderabad alumna Anupriya Chauhan chaired the orientation programme.

Manish said for students, academics, extra-curricular activities and sports are essential. "One should work sincerely and entire focus should be on their work."

Surbhi, one of the freshers, said: "Joining NIFT is a dream come true for me. It's my aspiration to become a fashion designer and by joining NIFT, that dream has become a reality."

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