School of Management of KIIT University organised its 4th National Marketing Conclave, one of the biggest B-school marketing events in Eastern India on December 21. The theme was “Business ecosystems: Driving new paradigms in marketing”. The event featured keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops deliberating on how organisations need to deeply understand the ecosystem they operate in. It also dealt with the management of various aspects of marketing in dynamic business ecosystems. Dilip Cherian, founding partner of Perfect Relations, who is widely regarded as the Image Guru of India, was the chief guest at the event. Several industry professionals, academics and students from across the country attended it. Also, in the same week, the 4th Applied Electromagnetics Conference, AEMC-2013, was inaugurated at KIIT. World-renowned scientists and researchers in the field of electromagnetics attended the three-day meet held for the first time in Odisha. Department of civil engineering, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, conducted three-day International Conference on Structural Engineering and Mechanics (ICSEM 2013) that concluded on December 22. Around 200 delegates from India and abroad took part in the conference. Over 100 technical papers and 150-odd manuscripts were received from across the world. Jose Turmo from Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, was the chief guest and delivered talk on externally pre-stressed segmental bridges.
Joint ventures
An eight-member delegation chaired by Stephen M. Jordan, president, Metropolitan State University of Denver, visited KIIT University for establishing cooperation between the two institutions. The delegation after visiting schools and facilities of KIIT University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would encourage and support faculty and student exchanges. Both the universities agreed to advanced collaborative development and delivery of courses and programmes in addition to promotion of research and scholarly projects. The SOA University and the Daffodil International University, Dhaka, will be working together in research and other collaborative areas for mutual benefit. This was agreed upon at a meeting between Mohammed Sabur Khan, president of the Daffodil International University and professor R.P. Mohanty, VC, SOA University when the former called on the latter at the university office on December 26.
Game on!
Elite Institute of Science and Applications (ELISA), a residential college for Plus Two in Biribati near Cuttack, organised its weeklong annual sports meet recently that featured events such as 100 and 200 metres sprints, long and high jump, shot put, discuss throw and indoor games such as chess and carom. A cricket match between the first and second year students was a major highlight. Also, co-curricular events such as essay writing competitions, science quiz and debates were organised. Inter-college university level sports for Fakir Mohan University was conducted recently. The two-day event was hosted at Baliapal College of Physical Education. About 150-odd athletes belonging to 20-odd colleges took part in different events. Khaira College was adjudged as overall champion. Vice chancellor of the university Kumar Bar Das said that sports not only helps in maintaining the fitness and competitive attitudes also inculcated sportsmanship among the competitors. Also, art students won laurels in the Kabaddi matches that were held recently in the KKS women’s college recently. National inter-zone university badminton (M/W) championship 2013-14 concluded at KIIT University on December 29. M.G. University, Kottayam, won the tournament in both men and women category. In women’s category, Mumbai University was the first runners up, while Osmania University of Kerala was placed at third position and Aligarh Muslim University came fourth. Similarly, in men’s final, Kottayam edged out Punjab University by a score of 3-2. While M.D. Rohtak of Haryana was placed in third position, Andhra University placed in fourth position.
Community radio
The need of community radio as a tool of social change and empowerment of the community at large was emphasised at a three-day Community Radio Awareness Consultation that began at the SOA University here on December 19. “Communication being the driving force today, the community radio concept can become the tool for the empowerment of the marginalised and oppressed sections of the society,” said former diplomat Abasar Behuria while inaugurating the consultation in the Institute of Technical Education and Research campus. The consultation was organised by the ministry of information and broadcasting in partnership with the Community Radio Association and the “Voice of SOA Community”, the community radio station run by the SOA University. Inderjeet Grewal, deputy director, ministry of information and broadcasting, who spoke on the occasion, described community radio as an “inexpensive and vibrant” medium to empower the community. In Odisha, two community radio stations did commendable job by informing the people when cyclone Phailin struck the state last October. At present, he said, only six community radio stations were operating in the state though the license had been issued in favour of around 30 organisations.
Annual day
The Vivekananda Institute of Social Work and Social Sciences (VISWASS) organised its 10th Annual Day commemorating 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on December 19. Basudev Chatoi, chairman, Plus Two council, graced the occasion as chief guest and Kabiprasad Mishra, eminent cardiologist and researcher, was the chief speaker and Bhabani Sankar Pani, the ex-director of Nalco, was the guest of honour for the occasion. On this occasion, the annual report of VISWASS and one Odia magazine Pratima was also released. Several prizes were also distributed to the winners of different intra-college competitions.
Training centre
Subhalakshmi Panse, chairperson-cum-managing director, Allahabad Bank, visited the campus of Centurion University on December 21 and inaugurated the Ashok Leyland Zonal Training Centre and Automotive Centre of Excellence. The focus of the centre would be on hands-on knowledge, experience based learning and practice oriented pedagogy while targeting the lower end of the economic pyramid.
Entrepreneurship summit
Entrepreneurship cell, IIT Kharagpur, is bringing its annual flagship event the global entrepreneurship summit to be held from January 10-12. The three-day event includes many flagship events, guest lectures, online events, workshops, etc in the field of entrepreneurship. It seeks participation from Odisha.
