President of India attends the First Convocation of NIT, Arunachal Pradesh

New Delhi: President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee attended the First Convocation of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Arunachal Pradesh at Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh today (November 21, 2014).

Speaking on the occasion, the President stated that turning NITs into world-class engineering institutes calls for developing multiple linkages. NITs have to actively engage with other institutes for research collaboration and sharing of best practices. They have to be more proactive in their interaction with the industry. Most NITs have an industry interface cell in place. The cell has to explore possibilities like sponsoring of chair positions by industry; drafting experts from industry in project guidance and curriculum design; and setting up incubation centres, laboratories and research parks. The ‘Make in India’ initiative aimed at making our country a manufacturing hub depends to a large extent on the deepening of this academia-industry alliance.

The President said that NITs have to also devise mechanisms to connect with their alumni, many of whom have excelled in their chosen field. They could be inducted in governance mechanisms, or utilized for business and project mentoring of students and in curriculum design.