KISS Humanitarian Award 2011 Conferred on Chief Justice of UK Supreme Court

KISS Humanitarian Award 2011 was conferred on Rt. Hon Lord Nicholas Addison Phillips, President (Chief Justice) of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. He received the award from Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS and Smt. Saswati Bal, President of KIIT & KISS at a function held at Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) on 30th April 2011. A galaxy of luminaries including Rt. Hon. Lord Anthony Peter Clarke, Justice of the Supreme Court of UK; Shri Fali S. Nariman, Sr. Advocate, Supreme Court of India and Prof. J. Martin Hunter, Emeritus Professor, Nottingham Trent University, UK graced the award ceremony.

Wives of visiting dignitaries, Ms. Christylle Phillips, Ms. Rosemary Clarke and Ms. Nariman were also present.

Expressing gratitude to Dr. Samanta for the honour, Lord Phillips in his acceptance address said it is wonderful to see KISS providing education and all other facilities to 12,000 tribal students. “You are lucky to find opportunity to study here and it is only because of the hard work of Dr. Samanta”, he told the students. Lord Phillips was chosen for this prestigious award by the jury for his outstanding contribution to the civil society and for his views on human rights.

Speaking on the occasion, Lord Clarke said it feels fantastic to speak to 12,000 students at a place. Shri Nariman said that the award is given for compassion and KISS is the best example of it.

The prestigious award, instituted by KISS four years ago, is given annually to people with exceptionally high contribution to the society in various fields relating to social issues. Every year an eminent person is selected by the jury for this award. The first recipient of the Award was Ms. Edna Bomo Molewa, noted social worker & presently Hon'ble Cabinet Minister, Social Development, South Africa National Assembly in 2008. Eminent educationist and physician from South Korea, Dr. Ham Kee-Sun, who is also President & Founder of Hanseo University, received the award in 2009, while the Award was conferred on eminent social worker Sir Anerood Jugnauth, His Excellency the President of Mauritius in 2010.          

KISS is the largest tribal institute in the world, which aims at bringing deprived tribal children to mainstream of the society through education. The institute, which was started in 1993, presently provides education from KG to PG, vocational training, food, health care and all basic amenities of life free of cost to 12,000 tribal children. It is a matter of pride for the institute and the State of Odisha to felicitate a personality like Lord Phillips, Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS said. He expressed his gratitude to all the dignitaries for their gracious presence.

A large number of national and international legal luminaries and officials attended the award ceremony. Dr. P. K. Routray, CEO, KISS and Ms. Sujata Sen, Director (Education), British Council, East India were also present. During his visit to Odisha, Lord Phillips will be Chief Guest at an international seminar on ‘Celebration of 150 Years of Indian Penal Code’, organised by KIIT School of Law on 1st May 2011. Later in the evening, Lord Phillips and Lord Clarke will be felicitated by His Excellency Shri M. C. Bhandare, Hon’ble Governor of Odisha at a felicitation ceremony.

1,30,000 Candidates to Appear KIITEE '11 on 24th April

KIITEE ’11, the All India Test for admission into different courses of KIIT University, will be held on 24th April 2011 at various test centers across the country. A total of 1,30,000 students from different parts of India and as many as 20 countries have applied for KIITEE '11.

Bihar tops the number of applicants with 40,000 applications received for this reputed national level entrance test. While Uttar Pradesh accounts for 25,000 applications, 20,000 applications each have been received from Odisha and Jharkhand.    

It is the first time in the country that so many students are writing entrance test of any single institution. The test will be conducted in 120 centers of 61 cities and towns across the country, out of which 20 are in Odisha. About 12,000 applicants will write the test in KIIT Centre. Students will be admitted into coveted Bachelor and Master Degree programmes of KIIT University in Technology, Computer Application, Biotechnology and Law through this entrance test. Admission into M.B.B.S., B.D.S., B.Sc. in Nursing, B.B.A. and BF&TP (Film & Television Production) will also be done through KIITEE ’11.  

The University authorities have made application to this test free of cost and online for last two years. This has relieved the guardians of financial burden. An increasing number of students are eager to pursue their higher education in KIIT due to its excellent campus placement, modern teaching methods and green eco-friendly campus.

Like last year, 25% seats in KIIT are reserved for the students of Odisha. For smooth conduct of the test, biometric system will be used for verifying identity of the candidates. The KIITEE '11 result will be declared on 15th May and counseling for admission will start from 1st week of June, informed the Admission Department of KIIT University.

Rajdhani Gaurav Samman 2011 Conferred on KIIT & KISS Founder

The Rajdhani Gaurav Samman 2011 was conferred on Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS on the occasion of the 63rd Foundation Day of Bhubaneswar, the capital city of odisha at Jaydev Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.

KIIT Inks MoU with Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Kolkata

KIIT University and Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Kolkata agreed upon a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 5th April 2011. The Institute of Russian Language, Gorky Sadan is an integral part of the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Kolkata. The Russian Centre of Science and Culture, having campus at Gorky Sadan, Kolkata, is an abode and living embodiment of amity and understanding between peoples of diverse and rich cultural heritage. It has been playing an important role in developing people to people friendly relationship between two great nations of Russia and India. 

The MoU was signed between Mr. A. V. Mazirka, Vice Consul and Director, Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Kolkata and Dr. Sasmita Samanta, Registrar, KIIT University in the presence of Shri Baishnab Parida, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (RS);  Mr. V. V. Lazarev, Consul General of Russian Federation in Kolkata and Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS. As per the agreement, valid for a period of five years, it has been mutually decided to start a Course on Russian Language in KIIT. The MoU also provides for student & faculty exchange programme, research & development, exchange of publications and information; seminars / conferences; short term occupational training and other new initiatives.

Mr. V.V. Lazarev, Consul General of Russian Federation in Kolkata was highly pleased with KIIT and expressed his happiness for this MoU. He congratulated Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS for his tireless effort in establishing the institutions like KIIT & KISS.

New Chancellor Appointed at KIIT

KIIT Society has appointed Prof. R. P. Kaushik as new Chancellor of KIIT University with effect from 2nd April 2011. He took office in place of Prof. (Dr.) Hari Gautam, who completed his term of three years on 4th February 2011. However, Prof. Gautam will continue as Chairman of the Advisory Board of KIIT University.

Prof. R. P. Kaushik is a seasoned academician and administrator, with more than 40 years of experience in responsible positions. He is a former Professor of J.N.U., Commission Member of UGC and Indian Ambassador to Turkmenistan. Prof. Kaushik has also been on Selection Committees of Vice Chancellors of different Universities.