NIT Rourkela’s 21st Convocation: 1,988 Degrees awarded, female-to-male ratio increases to 1:4

The degrees awarded included 17 B.Arch., 961 B. Tech., 38 Dual Degree (B.Tech. & M.Tech.), 54 integrated MSc. (5 years), 168 M.Sc., 520 M.Tech., 3 M.Tech (by research), 21 MA, 39 MBA, and 167 PhDs.

National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) celebrated its 21st Convocation today with a graduating class of 1988 students (457 female & 1531 male). A total of 1,988 degrees, including several Dual Degrees, were awarded during the Convocation. The degrees awarded included 17 B.Arch., 961 B. Tech., 38 Dual Degree (B.Tech. & M.Tech.), 54 integrated MSc. (5 years), 168 M.Sc., 520 M.Tech., 3 M.Tech (by research), 21 MA, 39 MBA, and 167 PhDs.

The Institute has seen a rise in the number of female students passing out in different streams. This year, a total of 457 female students graduated, which comprises more than 20 per cent of the total graduating students. As many 173 girl students in Bachelor's programs, 228 in Master's programs, and 56 in PhD program graduated this year. It is also notable that the female-to-male ratio of the Institute has significantly increased from 1:6 to 1:4 in recent years. This year, 82 international students are graduating, comprising 66 males and 16 females.

Delivering the Convocation Address, Polavarapu Mallikarjuna Prasad, Chairman and Managing Director, Coal India Ltd, said, “As our great Nation is emerging as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, you (Graduands) are living in exciting times that offers diversified opportunities for professional growth. You are living in the times of information and communication explosion, you are living in the times of rapid technological advancements, you are living in the times of globalization and digitalization, you are living in the times of skill development and you are living in times of expanding business opportunities.”

In 2023, NIT Rourkela got the opportunity to organize CSAB 2023, wherein the institute organized CSAB for the second time in a row. Total registrations obtained through JoSAA were 2,15,917 and through CSAB Special were 57,950. One hundred and nineteen central institutes participated in this counselling session with 23 IITs, 31 NITs, 1 IIEST, 26 IIITs, 3 SPAs, and 35 GFTIs. Under the ‘NIT+’ system, another 96 institutes participated.

Delivering the Director’s Report, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela, said, “My dear graduates, the time has come for you to pay back to the country that has given you what you are going to get. Our commitment of a dedicated service to the nation and humanity is reflected through the contributions of the alumni in various nation building projects and are also visible at the international levels.

Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao added, “This year, we have successfully implemented reform aligned with NEP 2020, empowering students for successful careers in both industry and academia. NIT Rourkela stands 1st place (3,31,932 citations) based on Transparent Ranking2023 and in QS World University Sustainability Ranking among NITs. During the session of 2022-23, sponsored research projects worth Rs. 42.59 crores were sanctioned through 73 projects in the fields of Science, Social Science, and Engineering. A total of 22 patents have been granted in the year of 2023. 25 of our faculty members are on the list of most influential Scientists in the year 2023, as published by Stanford University. The Institute currently has around 370 international students from more than 20 different countries of Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America continents”

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

This year, eight students were awarded the Institute Gold Medal (10 Grams of 22k Gold) and five students were presented the Endowment Gold Medal. A total of 59 students will be the Branch Topper Medalists (Silver Medalist). There were also seven Endowment Awardees including one student who was granted a Rs. 1,00,000 endowment award for being the Best Student Research Scholar for 2023.