Xpressions, the three-day annual fest of the Xavier Institute of Management  Bhubaneswar (XIMB) that concluded on November 15, witnessed a gathering of over 3,000 students from various colleges across the country. Students from XLRI, Jamshedpur, IIM-Bangalore, IIM-Shillong, Great Lakes Institute of Management, IMI Delhi and MDI Gurgaon among others participated in the fest. The students took part in a number of competitions such as singing, quiz contests, operations case studies, HR case studies and an online treasure hunt. The model United Nations also saw students from various schools and colleges who were engaged in stimulating debates and discussions on global issues. They also made an attempt to find feasible solutions. A RJ hunt contest was also conducted where Vijit Agarwal from XIMB emerged winner. 

Decibelz, the battle of the musical bands, witnessed powerful performances by bands such as Knight Shades, Grails of Destruction, Intoxicate and Annihilate the Reich. A fashion show, classical dance, music and painting competitions were also held. The fest concluded with a concert by well-known singers and music directors Vishal and Shekhar.

Peace rally

The students of Dhaneswar Rath Institute of Engineering and Management Studies (DRIEMS) took out a candlelight march on November 17 to pay tribute to the victims of the Paris terror attack. The students and faculty members condemned the terrorist attack in which more than 100 innocent people were killed. A two-minute silence was also observed to pray for the departed souls. The students urged the people across the country and the world to unite against terrorism and make the planet a safer place to live. A signature campaign was also organised against terrorism as a symbolic protest against the barbaric act against humanity. They also waved the French flag as a sign of solidarity. 

Book fair

A day-long literary event to commemorate the writing skills of late musician Akshaya Mohanty was organised by the students of National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, on November 17. The literary achievements of the stalwart was discussed and his portrayal of Odia in his career of five decades. Prior to that, a three-day book fair in association with the Biju Patnaik Central Library (BPCL) of the institute was also conducted. More than 35 publishers and booksellers from different corners of country displayed their collections at the fair. Books on various technical fields of study such as engineering, planning, architecture and science and technology were readily available.  The students also picked up classics, short story collections and books on poetry and children's literature for pleasure reading. Apart from the students of the institute, a number of students from the nearby schools and colleges attended the book fair. The students also interacted with the publishers on the latest book releases and the trends in the publishing industrty. 

Cloud computing

In a first of its kind, the Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM) has adopted cloud computing at the institute. This kind of Internet-based computing, will allow shared resources and information on computers and other devices to a shared pool of teachers and students. The advanced pedagogical innovation has now been made available in just a few clicks to educators and students who want to experience the industry trends as well as employment opportunities. The varsity has partnered with Dassault Systems, a world leader in 3D design software, to offer this virtual design and digital manufacturing programmes for its post-graduate diploma courses ACCEPT (Academic Centre of Excellence in Product Lifecycle Management Technologies) programme. The cloud application for Centurion will address 86 high-end domain applications and covers around 19 commercial roles.  

Cleanliness drive

The students of Utkal University undertook a quick sweeping activity on the campus after Diwali to clear wastes  such as burnt crackers, discarded gift-wrappings, stale flowers and religious offerings. As a part of the cleaning drive, the students of the varsity swept the various lanes and corridors of the university premises. They also cleaned the lawns at the varsity and pledged to make it a weekly affair. A number of NSS volunteers were also involved in the process. After the cleanliness drive, the students distributed placards among the public requesting them to keep their environment clean. The youngsters pressed upon the public that the responsibility to clean the garbage that mounds at our nearby areas rests not only on the government but the common people as well. The faculty and staff members of the university also joined in the drive. 

Walk for diabetes

The students of Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) and Pradyumna Bal Memorial Hospital (PBMH) observed World Diabetes Day on November 14. They jointly organised a walkathon to create awareness among the residents of Bhubaneswar. The faculty members and employees of the institute also took part in the rally that commenced from Magnetic Square to the KIMS campus. After the event, the students discussed how yoga, morning walk and food habits could control the killer disease. The occasion aimed to raise awareness of diabetes, its prevention and complications and the care that people need. They informed the citizens that diabetes can be controlled by dietary measures, weight loss, oral medication or injected or inhaled insulin hence early medical check-up and precautions could curb the disease.

Paint for a cause

The members of Srishti, the art club of SOA University, conducted a painting competition for schoolchildren on November 15 as an act of charity. The paintings will be auctioned to raise funds for cancer patients. Around 700 students from various schools across the city took part in the competition conducted in four groups. The winners of the first, second and third prizes in each group were presented with cash awards of Rs 5,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 respectively besides mementos and certificates. Consolation prizes were also given to five students in each group. Artist and secretary of Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi, Tarakanta Parida, attended the event and interacted with the participants on ways to hone their artistic skills. The students decided to make the event an annual affair. 

Seminar

A national-level seminar on recent advancement in the field of civil engineering was organised by the students of Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla, this week. The objective of the seminar was to inform the students about the scope, research, development, modern equipment and challenges in the field. During the two-day seminar, the students discussed a number of issues. A number of students of the varsity took part in the seminar. 

Camps galore

A number of National Service Scheme (NSS) camps were organised at various colleges last week. A camp was organised at Jaleswar Women’s College in Balasore where the students received extensive training on various subjects and spread awareness about various government welfare schemes. At the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose College in Sambalpur, a NSS camp was held where the students carried out several social activities at the Anand Ashram at Gobindtola. They also launched a cleanliness and tree plantation drive on the ashram premises. Discussions on several issues including Right to Information, history of India and freedom fighters and the Indian constitution were conducted. The students also conducted yoga sessions for the ashram inmates. The camps provided the youth opportunities for group living, collective experience sharing and constant interaction with communities.