Their 58th convocation was held by the IIT-Bombay on Sunday in which the degrees were awarded to the personalized avatars of the students from the virtual avatar of the Director Suhasis Chaudhari. It is described as a global first.
“We thought it best to arrange such a virtual reality convocation so as not to put their health at risk, but simultaneously, not deprive them of the sense of achievement and pride of passing out of India’s premier engineering institution.” Was told by an IIT-Bombay official.
Convocation is the last chance for the students to meet their friends and faculties, the IIT-Bombay arranged this for them to do with the virtual presence so by maintaining the Covid-19 guidelines.
The students were allowed to wander around their virtual Avatars grounds, drop into their departments and hostels, and also meet their friends or faculties.
Professor Duncan Haldane was the Chief Guest of the prestigious virtual convocation, the co-recipient of the 2016 Nobel prize for physics and the co-founder and the chairman of Blackstone Stephen Schwarzman was the guest of honour.
The IIT-Bombay’s annual report for 2019-2020 was presented by Professor. Subhasis Chaudhari while the students were addressed by Haldane and Schwarzman.
“Providing a virtual reality experience to all-out graduates needed not only highly innovative steps but also a tremendous effort by our professors and staff. They did it for the students. Hopefully, this will enthuse our graduates as well as other engineers in the country to think big and think innovatively.” Said Chaudhari.
Three students bagged gold medals for their admirable academic performance.
Sahil Hiral Shah bestowed the “President of India Medal” a (B.Tech) student from the department of computer science and engineering.
Shashwat Shukla was awarded the “Institute Gold Medal (2018-19) A student from the department of electrical engineering.
Prakash Singh Badal was awarded the “Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal” a PhD student from the department of civil engineering.
Additionally, The silver medals were presented to the departmental toppers by the Chief Guest.
