A series of programmes will mark the silver jubilee celebrations of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU).
Apart from lectures from entrepreneurs, academics and eminent personalities, the university will encourage workshops and interactions aimed at increasing industry-academia interactions and cultural programmes.
VTU will lay a strong emphasis on improving academic excellence and for laying a good foundation for research. This is expected to transform VTU into an institute of eminence. A detailed institutional development plan is being prepared to make the university a self-sustaining institution in the near future, Vice-Chancellor Karisiddappa said in a release.
The programmes were launched on the VTU Foundation Day on Friday last.
Director P. Seshu, who delivered the 25th Foundation Day lecture, urged students to develop a wide range of interests as engineering is inherently interdisciplinary.
“Gaining knowledge in only one stream or a branch of engineering education will no longer be enough. In today’s extremely competitive world, unlimited learning, a distinctive educational system that promotes an interdisciplinary skill oriented teaching–learning is an imperative component,’’ he said.
Interdisciplinary education allowed students to learn and explore subjects or curriculum from various disciplines. For instance, a student of engineering or technology can take a subject from humanities and it is the need of the hour, he said.
He said that there are ample research and innovation opportunities in agriculture, medical, civil, space and other sectors. “For example, precision farming solutions will reduce the input costs and increases crop yield, instant solution mechanisms for soil tests, temperature change in the fields will certainly help our nation. Engineering community should think of finding smart solutions for early diagnosis to different diseases of crops based on leaves morphology,’’ he said.
Integration of arts subjects with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) can bring a paradigm shift in teaching–learning mechanism. It also enhances creativity and innovation, problem-solving abilities, higher-order thinking skills, communication skills, teamwork, social and moral awareness, in-depth learning among students community, he said, according to a release.
