Message from Prof R V Raja Kumar, Director to students on the commencement of the new academic year, (2020-21)

Dear Students,

It is gratifying that the institute could complete the last academic session successfully despite, the Pandemic situation. The Institute conducted the conventional examinations on time, through online mode; completed the grading of your performance in the usual manner, like any other year and started the online interactive classroom sessions for the Autumn 2020-21 semester without any shortfall.

As you are aware, the most unprecedented Covid-19 Pandemic has changed our lives and the way we educate. It is known to you that, the institute is committed to provide world-class education without any compromise on the quality of education even without any exception to the Pandemic situation. Also, it is very important that our youth (you) are all engaged in constructive activity during the too restrictive idle time. Our institution is committed to providing an innovative learning environment that would help the students to navigate through the plethora of challenges of online education.

Your present semester has started almost on time. We had a delay of about three weeks in starting the classes because we wanted to conduct on-campus laboratory classes and examinations for the last academic year. However, we soon realized that the Pandemic is here to stay longer and, hence, we quickly resorted to virtual online mechanisms and here we are, unfazed.

The pandemic forced us to start the new academic year through on-line education. In the endeavour to offer quality education without any compromise, I addressed all the faculty and staff of the institute on 3rd Aug 2020, requested them to be specially interactive (which is a big challenge, in online mode), create the best practices in the on-line teaching, making teaching as effective as it was in a physical class with a strong resolve and also, to give you the right problem solving assignments and provide feedback to you on the same. Please note that the hands-on for the laboratory part will be done once you return to the campus. However, the institute is keen that you have some concurrent training too on the laboratory along with theory, so that your learning is not affected due to delayed laboratory practice and included partial laboratory exercise by on-line alongside the lectures.

Concurrently, I would like to remind you that ‘learning’ is an important component of education and therefore, your role as the main stake holder is very important. I am sure, you are aware of it that in the endeavor of empowering our youth to be tomorrow’s leaders and running education with no compromises during the pandemic, you need to put in extra effort and face the associated challenges in doing the learning part. Please do your best in acquiring creative skills, the spirit of innovation, and dynamism in functioning. I also encourage you to participate in the numerous hackathons and other competitions at the national and international level available to you today, and showcase your talent and creativity in finding solutions to problems.

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to pose a question to you: How would you like to contribute towards creating Aatma Nirbhar Bharat?

I look forward to see you all in the campus with renewed enthusiasm and vigour and wish you all the best for the coming academic year!


With best wishes,
Prof R V Raja Kumar
Director, IIT Bhubaneswar