Former Prime Minister of Nepal Visits KISS

Former Prime Minister of Nepal, Hon'ble Shri Jhala Nath Khanal went around different campuses of KIIT University and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) during his visit to the institute recently. Shri Khanal, who led a 10-member delegation from Nepal, had a long interaction with 15,000 tribal children of KISS.

Addressing the students of KISS, Shri Khanal highlighted rich cultural, traditional and political contacts between India and Nepal. He informed about recent situation of Nepal. Shri Khanal advised the students to lead a disciplined life, citing examples from his own life in which he overcame many hurdles to become the Prime Minister of Nepal. He told them to make it a mission to remove poverty and exploitation from the society.

It may be mentioned that Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS had met him during his visit to Nepal for a programme in February this year. On that occasion, Dr. Samanta had briefed him about KIIT & KISS and invited him to visit the institutes. Shri Khanal, who resigned from the post of Prime Minister of Nepal within only 21 days, kept his assurance to visit KIIT & KISS. Wife, Ravilaxmi Chitrakar and son, Nirbhik, besides a delegation from Nepal, accompanied him.

Accenture Picks up 251 KIITians in Campus Placement

Dream run of KIIT students in the ongoing campus placement continues as 251 students bag job offers from Accenture on 22nd September 2011. This comes on the heels of job offers to a record 708 KIIT students by Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) earlier this week. The selected students, who would be passing out in 2012, belong to B.Tech, M.Tech and MCA streams of the University.

Recruitment team of Accenture, a top IT company, was overwhelmed with the profile of KIIT students with 251 out of 412 candidates who participated in the selection process making it to the final list. KIIT is a regular talent hunting ground for the company. Excellent performance of students selected in previous years might have proved an encouraging factor for the company this year resulting in such a large number of job offers.

KIIT is the only campus of Odisha where Accenture visited for campus recruitment. Campus visits of Accenture, like two other reputed companies - Deloitte and Kennametal, for recruitment are very limited and includes only IITs and KIIT.

Like previous years, KIIT graduates are in high demand both in IT and core companies. Besides TCS and Accenture, companies including Shapoorji Pallonji, TATA Steel, Atkins, SAP and Deloittes also selected more than 100 KIIT students, whereas campus placement by companies like Wipro, Siemens, Capgemini, Aricent, Siemens and Punjlloyd are scheduled during the month end.

It is just the start of placement season at KIIT and most of the students of 2012 passing out batch are placed. At the end of the placement season, each student is likely to have two to four job offers. Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS expressed his happiness at the continued success of KIIT students.

KISS inks MoU with Intel Technology

Bhubaneswar: Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) and Intel Technology India Private Limited agreed upon a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 22nd September 2011. The MoU was signed between Ms. Valsa Williams, Head, Corporate Affairs (N & E), Intel and Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS.

Briefing about the MoU, Ms. Williams said that most of the Intel’s programmes are run in association with Central or State Governments. This is the first-time Intel will be sharing its programme with a non-government organization. Describing KISS as a wonderful initiative by Dr. Samanta, she said that it is an excellent opportunity for Intel to express its corporate social responsibility through KISS.

The MoU focuses on introducing sustainable professional development practices for the teachers in the K-12 segment through Intel-Teach curriculum and promoting inventions and innovations among students through IRIS-Intel. It also seeks to promote literacy among tribal youth and out of school children through the Intel Learn Programme. Focus would be on hands-on approach to ICT learning for under-served children in the age group 8-16.

Expressing gratitude to Ms. Williams and other officials of Intel, Dr. Samanta said that various programmes to be undertaken as a result of the MoU would provide exposure to tribal students of KISS on modern ICT technology.         

Mr. Indranil Samaddar, Manager, Business Development, Intel; Mr. Srinivas Tadigadapa, Programme Manager, South Asia, Intel World Ahead Programme; Mr. K. C. Mishra, Director, eKutir; Mr. Sriniwas Garudachar, Director, Grameen; Prof. Ashok S. Kolaskar, Vice Chancellor, KIIT University; Dr. Sasmita Samanta, Registrar; Dr. P. K. Routray and other officials of KIIT, KISS and Intel were present at the signing ceremony.

Intel is an ultimate subsidiary company of Intel Corporation and has been developing technology, which enables the computer and internet.

KIMS Observes World Alzheimer's Day

Bhubaneswar, 21st Sept.: The World Alzheimer's Day was observed, as a part of the ongoing National Dementia Awareness Week', at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) on 23rd September 2011. A week-long free dementia screening camp was held, which drew a good response. A Continuing Medical Education (CME) was also organized on the occasion with guest lectures by Dr. Satyabrata Dash, Consultant Psychiatrist, Apollo Hospital and Dr. Satyajit Pattnaik, Assistant Prof., Dept. of Community Medicine on the topics 'Trends in Management of Dementia' and 'Status and Burden of Dementia' respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. A. S. Kolaskar, Vice Chancellor, KIIT University said that Alzheimer's disease and Dementia are assuming alarming proportions due to increase in life expectancy. Health professionals of the country need to be trained in order to tackle this challenge, he added. Dr. R. N. Samanta, CEO, KIMS urged the students to work hard towards inventing new drugs and management techniques to relieve the burden and suffering of dementia patients.

Effort to spread awareness on lesser known conditions like dementia was praiseworthy, Prof. (Dr.) B. C. Das, Dean-cum-Principal said, while lauding the organizers for the event. Mr. Panchanan Parida, Management Representative proposed the vote of thanks.

Quiz and essay competitions were also organized on the occasion. Siddharth Patnaik and Jashaswin Das won the first prize in quiz competition on neurology, while Shradha and Torsha won the second prize. Similarly, Krushna Nanda Mohapatra, Linkita Nayak and Ranjita Sahoo won the nursing essay competition on psychosocial intervention for dementia.  

The mega-event was organised by Dr. Jayaprakash R. Ravan, MD, CMC Vellore; Asst. Prof. of Dept. of Psychiatry, KIMS along with Dr. Payodh Kumar Jena. MD Neurology and Dr. Shreemant Das (FMT).

KIIT Campus Placement:708 Students Picked Up By Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Highest Placement Record in Eastern Region, Highest in India in Terms of Percent 

KIIT University's strong brand continues to charm India's top recruiters with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) picking up a whopping 708 students in the campus placement on 18th September 2011. The selected students, who would be passing out in 2012, belong to B.Tech, M.Tech and MCA streams of the University. Job offer to so many students by a single company in campus placement on a single day is a record in Eastern India as well as another record in entire country in terms of percent.

Encouragingly, three out of four tribal students from Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) who participated in the selection process also got job in the IT major.

Recruiters from the Indian IT behemoth, who conducted the campus placement, were overwhelmed with the students' profile. KIIT students fared extremely well with 708 out of 915 students who went through the selection process making it to the final list.
Over the years, KIIT University has emerged as the favorite recruiting ground for TCS. Last year, the company had picked up 658 students in the campus placement from KIIT. It has been possible due to high employability of KIIT students due to their quality.

Like previous years, KIIT graduates continue to be in high demand both in IT and core companies. Besides TCS, companies including Shapoorji Pallonji, TATA Steel, Atkins, SAP and Deloittes also selected more than 100 KIIT students, whereas campus placement by companies like Wipro, Siemens, Capgemini, Aricent, Punjlloyd and Accenture are scheduled in the end of the month. It is just the start of placement season at KIIT and most of the students of 2012 passing out batch are placed. At the end of the placement season, each student is likely to have two to four job offers. Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS expressed his happiness at the selection of so many students (708) by TCS.

KIIT Celebrates 44th Engineers’ Day. Padma Vibhushan Dr. Anil Kakodkar visits KIIT on the occasion

The 44th Engineers’ Day was celebrated in Schools of Engineering of KIIT University and KIIT Polytechnic. Eminent Indian Nuclear Scientist and Padma Vibhushan Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Homi Bhabha Chair Professor, Dept of Atomic Energy & Former Chairman, Atomic
Energy Commission graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

Speaking on the theme ‘Engineering Preparedness for Disaster Mitigation’, he said that engineers are supposed to do organized things in unorganized environment. This is the nature of this profession, he elaborated. Bharat Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, on whose memory Engineers’ Day is celebrated, was the engineer of engineers and we must emulate him, he told students. He believed that the key to success is buildingm a team and preparation of mind and because of these he could acheive impossible feats, Dr. Kakodkar added. Briefing about the research reactor ‘Dhruba’, he explained creation and details of this powerful reactor.

Prof. Ashok S. Kolaskar, VC, KIIT spoke on space science and the success of Indian satellite programme. Prof. A. K. Sen, Prof. B. C. Das and Prof G. Malhotra of KIIT were also present on the occasion.

Two KISS Girls in Probable Indian Women Rugby Team

Two girls of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) - Bhagyalaxmi Barik and Samyukta Munda - have found place in probable Indian Women Team for Asian Women 7-A Side Rugby Championship to be held from October 1 - 2, 2011. They have left for Balewadi Stadium in Pune to participate in the training camp for the Championship, which will go on till September 30. Bhagyalaxmi was also selected for Indian Rugby Squad, which played in Asian Games held in China in 2010. She had put up a spirited performance in Asian Games. Similarly, both Bhagyalaxmi and Samyukta had attracted attention of selectors due to their excellent performance in recently concluded All India Women 7-A Side Rugby Tournament. The two girls were selected for probable Indian Women Rugby Team because of a string of excellent performances in their recent outings.

I have never seen an institute like KISS : Angela Gomes

“KISS is a unique institute. I have visited 48 countries but never seen an institute like KISS”, said Mrs. Angela Gomes, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee and Social Activist from Bangladesh, who visited KIIT & KISS on September 13, 2011. Efforts taken by Dr. A Samanta, Founder of KISS, for the betterment of deprived sections of the society is commendable, she said, while observing that the institute is striving to bring tribal children from remote rural villages into mainstream society.       

Amazed and pleasantly surprised to see 15,000 happy and smiling tribal children at a place, she said that Dr. Samanta deserves Nobel Prize for this service to humankind. Dr. Samanta has dedicated his entire life in the service of deprived sections of the society, she said, adding that everyone should learn from him how to serve the society.  

Mrs. Angela Gomes, a noted social worker from Bangladesh, won the Magsaysay Award in 1999 for community leadership. She leads an organization – ‘Bachte Shekha’ (Learning to Live) - in Jessore region of her country. ‘Bachte Shekha’ imparts income-generating skills, including handicrafts, raising crops, poultry and livestock, fish farming, beekeeping and silk making, to women and has more than 20,000 beneficiaries from about 400 villages.

Thanking Mrs. Gomes for the visit, Dr. Samanta said that her words would be a constant source of encouragement and inspiration for the tribal children of the institute.

KISS Rugby Academy Qualifies for 78th All India & South Asia Rugby Tournament 2011

 KISS Rugby Academy has qualified for 78th All India & South Asia Rugby Tournament – 2011 scheduled to be held in Bombay Gymkhana, Mumbai from 10th to 17th September 2011. It is the first time that KISS Rugby Academy will participate in this prestigious tournament. Total 22 players from KISS, accompanied by Coach, Mr. Roshan Xaxa and Manager, Mr. Debasis Rout left for Mumbai on 8th September 2011.

 Players of KISS Rugby Academy are:- Rajkishore Murmu (Captain), Muna Murmu, Sahadev Majhi, Bukai Hansda, Kanhu Charan Hembram, Krishna Tudu, Satindra Hasnu, Chittaranjan Murmu, Ganesh Hembram, Jabes Hajoary(Assam), Basu Hembram, Kishore Nayak, Rukman Bariha, Prakash Murmu, Bhanja Sundhi, Niranjan Biswal, Barial Besra, Ramrai Munda, Gauranga Jamuda, Narasingh Kerai and Hadidhangada Majhi.  Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS congratulated all players and wished them success.

East Zone Vice Chancellors' Conference inaugurated at KIIT

The AIU’s Eastern zonal meeting of the Vice Chancellors of the region organized by KIIT University got off to a colorful start on 2nd September 2011. Inaugurating the two-day conference, Shri Badri Narayan Patra, Hon'ble Minister of Higher Education, Odisha assured all possible help in implementing the specific recommendations of the meeting. He lauded the efforts of KIIT and its Founder, Dr. A. Samanta and that of its Vice Chancellor, Prof. A. S. Kolaskar. The Conference was attended by more than 50 Vice Chancellors from different universities of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, East Uttar Pradesh, etc.

The inaugural address was given by Prof. P. T. Chande, President of the Association of Indian Universities and Vice Chancellor of  Kavikulguru Kalidas Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Ramtek, Maharashtra. Initiating the main theme of the meeting-‘Bridging the gap in higher education’, Prof. Chande highlighted the huge gap exiting between central, states and self-financing Universities. He expressed concern over the problem of inadequate staff in the universities, absence of quality faculties and insufficient fund. He suggested removal of section of ‘12B’ and the maintenance of parity in regulating bodies. Prof. Chande advocated putting a curb on the entry of foreign Universities. Emphasizing on the Research, Industry-Academic relationship, Prof. Chande asked the state governments to agree on a common State Act for all the Universities. Higher education can never exist in isolation; hence, some sort of linkage should exist between higher education and societal things, he said.

Highlighting the works of the AIU, Prof (Dr.) Arun Diwakar Nath Bajpai, Secretary General (Additional Charge) of the Association of Indian Universities and Vice Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh University, spoke on the working of the Association including the student information centre, Research and short-term courses for foreign students.

In his address, Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS and Member, UGC and AICTE commented on the existing system and informed about the UGC which has been doing its part in reforming higher education system at University level. There cannot be any bridge in the gap unless the people from the under privileged sections are not brought to the mainstream, he added.

Introducing the topic for the 1st technical session, Prof. Arun Kumar Pujari VC, Sambalpur University spoke extensively on three major problems like recruitment, retention and the improvement of quality in the academics. Dr. Sasmita Samanta, Registrar, KIIT proposed vote of thanks.