The early focus was on producing well educated engineers primarily at the undergraduate level, but I am happy that today these institutions have strong focus on research and development,” said president of India Ram Nath Kovind speaking on the occasion of 48th convocation of Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) on Saturday.
Further he said: “I understand that IIT Delhi has now more postgraduate student then at undergraduate level, this is a healthy sign. We are moving towards research based learning and churning out products and technology for nation’s development,” he said. He also cited few examples of affordable products developed by IIT for welfare of society and its people like low cost nano-filters for air pollution, smart cane for visually impaired etc. Present among the audience were 50 students from Navodaya Vidyalaya from across the nation. President Kovind hoped that some of these students will return to study in IIT in near future.
Further, he laid stress upon the need to engage IIT-D alumni with the institute. “All great universities of the world have a deep and thriving engagement between old students and the institution,” he said. They invite alumni who contribute not merely in terms of financial assistance but more in terms of knowledge sharing and time,” he said. He said that those who have studied here, have a moral obligation to pay back as they have studied on the public money and at highly subsidized rates. He also said that the IIT-D has an obligation to engage its alumni.
1941 students were conferred degree in the convocation.