Pro-Chancellor's Address
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Edition 19 2 PRO-CHANCELLOR’S ADDRESS 4 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S PROGRESS REPORT 2020-21 9 GUEST OF HONOUR IN PICTURE: 11 GOLD MEDALIST - CLASS OF 2021 HONORARY DEGREE MANSI NARANG BACHELOR OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES RECIPIENTS 2 1 EDITORIAL season of goodbyes, and new beginnings. This is how our beloved Class of 2021 A is going to remember this year. It is their time to pause, reflect and refresh, as they leave behind - their second home for the past few years and step into new territories. They are young and smart, and ready. The University has prepared them well. Some are excited about their dream role in that coveted firm, and many are busy packing, to start afresh their new journey at that prestigious institution of higher learning. As they flock to different destinations to achieve diverse feat, there is something that is bound to bring them together, a piece of their heart that they are leaving behind at Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR. They will always share the pride and memories of this place, which has shaped them in ways more than one. Our current issue of Whistling Teal celebrates the Class of 2021, as we take you through the highlights of sixth Convocation Ceremony, held virtually on 24 July 2021. The ceremony commemorated the graduation of more than 500 students, who received their Doctoral, Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in the presence of our Guest of Honor, Mr. Vineet Nayar, Founder Chairman of Sampark Foundation. The Convocation was an event to remember, as our Pro-Chancellor, Mr. Shikhar Malhotra addressed the Class of 2021 and conferred Honorary Doctorates on four eminent global personalities for commendable contributions in their respective fields. Read about them inside the issue. A keeper’s edition, this Whistling Teal, also brings to you ‘Memorabilia of Class of 2021’ - a collection of pictures, words, and memories. An extension to the Memorabilia, Deans’ and Directors’ messages and Faculty Reminisces is a compilation of our faculty members recollecting the times spent with the recently graduated Class. There is more to the issue - we are now officially the youngest ‘Institution of Eminence’, read about this and more in the Highlights section. Take a recap of the talks, and events we have had in the past six months under the campus Buzz and Campus Beat sections; and read Accolades and Student Achievements to know more about the awards and honors that our faculty members and students have won. And as the pandemic continues to change the world we live in, we are changing too. Our students, faculty, and staff members are now more resilient, strong and informed. While we continue to learn and adapt to the ‘new normal’, we shall all be reminded of these lines from one of the greatest books of all times, E.R. Braithwaite’s To Sir, With Love - “It is our duty to rebel. Not to destroy, but to build upon the grounds laid before us.” Sincerely, Editorial Team Whistling Teal 2 1 Whistling Teal | Edition 19 PRO-CHANCELLOR’S ADDRESS Dear Graduates, at Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR as the world I want to say how happy I around us changed, how am to be speaking to you you evolved as individuals after what has been and with transformational continues to be a very knowledge and difficult year. I truly wish experiences. I want to that we could host your remind everyone that while Convocation ceremony we struggle to deal with in the magnificent sports the pandemic, researchers arena at the University across the world raced campus like every year against time to understand and celebrate your the virus and find a cure. achievements. In the The first covid-19 vaccine Mr. Shikhar Malhotra interest of everyone’s was developed in a mere 10 Pro-Chancellor, safety and well-being, months. Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR this had to be a virtual ceremony. Did you know that the But we now “Today is a reminder of how you spent your time at Shiv know that Nadar University, Delhi-NCR as the world around us changed, we can be closest to how you evolved as individuals with transformational one another knowledge and experiences.” by staying apart. Many of us have braved personal challenges and losses knowledge with which vaccines are developed in the last year. Let us pause for a moment to today is based on a Nobel award-winning remember those who are not here to celebrate research at the University of Oxford in 1967. your achievements with us. The format of the This research uncovered the secret as to how our ceremony does not diminish the immense pride body defends itself with antibodies. The finest and joy I feel in seeing how you have triumphed universities in the world are all based on research in the face of adversity. You all mirror what this and are focused on knowledge creation as institution stands for. To challenge the status research is what propels humanity forward. The quo, break the barriers and boundaries and pandemic has truly reinstated its importance. redefine them. Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR from Today is a reminder of how you spent your time the beginning has believed in not just 2 3 Whistling Teal | Edition 19 Pro-Chancellor’s Address “Today as the university celebrates its 10th anniversary, it is pushing the frontiers of knowledge while delivering a truly multidisciplinary and research oriented educational experience to the students. In a span of a decade, it has grown to be the youngest Institution of Eminence as recognized by the Government of India, empowered to elevate Indian higher education to the world stage. Imagine the new heights that we can together scale in the next decade and beyond.” disseminating knowledge but also in creating experiences of your academic journey have left new knowledge that helps solve the world’s you with an attitude to take risks and to move most pressing problems. Today as the university ahead boldly with confidence, confidence that celebrates its 10th anniversary, it is pushing you can tackle the most difficult problems armed the frontiers of knowledge while delivering a with knowledge and skills that you have learned truly multidisciplinary and research oriented at this young but exceptional institution. educational experience to the students. In a span of a decade, it has grown to be the youngest There is a popular saying, “crisis breeds Institution of Eminence as recognized by the creativity and innovation”. The life journey of Government of India, empowered to elevate our Chancellor Mr. Shiv Nadar exemplifies this. Indian higher education to the world stage. He started HCL at the height of the emergency, Imagine the new heights that we can together a highly tumultuous time in the history of our scale in the next decade and beyond. nation but he never let challenges dampen his spirit and confidence that the microprocessor Class of 2021, you should be proud to have could change the world. been trained at one of the best institutions in our country by leading academics and to have This pandemic has presented an opportunity for had access to education and facilities of global us to reflect upon and identify the gaps across standards. The faculty under the able guidance all aspects of our being. I hope the university has of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rupamanjari nurtured in you an entrepreneurial spirit as some Ghosh has brilliantly shouldered the critical task of you will go on to set-up ventures that will help of shaping your future and inspired you every improve our lives in more ways than one. It is day to ask new questions as well as to seek the also our Chancellor’s dream that not so far in the answers. future an HCL will emerge from the University. Before I end, I want to say that we are headed Then, there is the staff who have worked into some amazing times. The next two decades tirelessly behind the scenes and made sure that will witness brilliant inventions and innovations your academic journey is as comfortable as that will radically change how we live and possible. Everybody at the University responded work. Be the driver of this change. Be ready to to the pandemic quickly to ensure that your embrace it and keep learning new things. Go out learning continued seamlessly. I hope the and change the world! 2 3 Whistling Teal | Edition 19 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S PROGRESS REPORT 2020-21 On the occasion of this national & international Sixth Convocation of the academic partnerships. Shiv Nadar University, In March 2021, we Delhi-NCR, it is my honor signed a Memorandum of and privilege to present the Understanding (MoU) with Vice-Chancellor’s Progress the Ministry of Education, Report for the Academic Government of India, which Year 2020-21 (1 July 2020- accords us the prestigious 30 June 2021). status of ‘Institution of Eminence’. With this MoU, This year’s Report is we transition from being special. It demonstrates a university established the commitment of our Dr. Rupamanjari Ghosh by a State Legislature University community Vice-Chancellor, Act to becoming an in a year marked by Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR institution incorporated unprecedented challenges under a Central Act, with brought by the “In the last century, innovation remained strongly coupled COVID-19 pandemic, with STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and and captures Mathematics subjects. Our offerings of, what I call ‘STEAM’ their stellar disciplines with an extra A for Art and Design, and the work in the landmark E standing for Enterprise education, coupled with our year of the emphasis on critical thinking and creative problem solving, University’s and the training and experience of cross-connecting ideas tenth give our students a clear advantage in the face of worldwide anniversary.