Tag BITS Pilani

New Delhi, 2nd September 2024: BITS Pilani, a renowned institution known for its commitment to innovation, has announced the appointment of Prof Souri Banerjee as the New Director for their Dubai campus. He assumed his role in August 2024 and will be serving as the Director for the next 5 years. He took over from Prof Srinivasan Madapusi who has served as director of Dubai Campus since July 2021.

Professor Banerjee began his career at BITS Pilani, Pilani campus in 2004. In 2008, he became the founding Department Head of Physics at the Hyderabad campus. Prior to being appointed Dean of Faculty Affairs in 2018, he worked for the institute for five years as the Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs in 2013, overseeing all faculty affairs at all BITS Pilani locations.

He has served in several postdoctoral positions at the University of Electro-Communications and Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, and was a Visiting Professor at the University of Electro-Communications. He also served as a Research Scientist at the Central Research Laboratory, HITACHI, Tokyo.

Welcoming Professor Banerjee to BITS Pilani, Professor V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor for BITS Pilani, said, “We are pleased to have Prof. Souri Banerjee on board and wish him all success in his new assignment. I am confident that his leadership and expertise will be instrumental in further enhancing our academic programs and research initiatives.

He further added, “I also take this opportunity to thank Prof Srinivasan Madapusi who has been extremely successful in his tenure. With his dynamic leadership, the campus has achieved significant milestones and grown manifold, taking the campus and BITS Pilani to greater heights.”

Professor Souri Banerjee obtained his Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics from the Indian Association for Cultivation of Science, Kolkata in 1997. After completing his PhD, he held a small stint at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai and was also awarded the prestigious JSPS Foreign Research Fellow two times (2012 & 2018) in recognition of his contributions to device physics.

National — August 27, 2024: Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani, an Institute of Eminence (IoE) that is globally renowned for its focus on innovation, hosted a convocation to commemorate the academic achievements of 7,839 working professionals. These professionals graduated in different MBA, M.Tech., M.Sc., and B.Tech. programmes from the institution’s Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP) division. While about 1,000 graduates attended the convocation in person, more than 6,800 graduates participated virtually with the help of the revolutionary Metaverse technology; nearly 111 of them graduated from 26 other countries as well.

During WILP’s second successive hybrid convocation, thousands of graduates had a memorable experience with the near-realistic convocation environment, as their personalized 3D avatars walked across a virtual stage to receive their degrees, thereby demonstrating the seamless fusion of a long-standing tradition and modern technologies. With the integration of 3D modelling and immersive technology, the participants also took virtual tours to explore the campuses of BITS Pilani.

Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of Executive Committee, National Assessment and Accreditation Council, graced the event as the Chief Guest and congratulated all the graduating students and their proud parents and loved ones. He stressed on the need to deal with successes and failures with a positive attitude, and to leverage knowledge and skills for the betterment of the society.

Ms. Saskia Loer Hansen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, International & Engagement, RMIT University, who was the Guest of Honour, spoke about the importance of work-ready skills, preparedness, and life-long learning to contribute in these complex times. Commending the graduates, Dr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chancellor, BITS Pilani, remarked, “Today is your day of triumph. It is a day that signifies not just the culmination of an academic journey, but the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Your relentless dedication, unyielding spirit, and unwavering commitment have brought you to this remarkable moment.”

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani said, “The WILP initiative from BITS Pilani not only helps working professional gain insights in academic and facilitates their growth but also ensures that these graduates are equipped to face real world challenges and the changing global landscape. Our dedication to blend tradition and technology into advancing education to meet the needs of the modern workforce is showcased through the wide range of students passing out from WILP. We wish all the passing students all the best for a bright fulfilling future in every field that they pursue.”

Prof. G. Sundar, Director, Off-Campus Programmes & Industry Engagement, BITS Pilani, in his congratulatory message to the working professionals, said, “In my view, the passion for continuous learning efforts, advancement of knowledge, and driving positive change are some of the key aspects that the new graduates can hold immense pride about, as they receive their degrees today and take further leaps in their professional growth. More than 124700 working professionals have graduated from WILP programmes over the years (till date), and the current active enrolment in various programmes is in excess of 46000 professionals; in addition to the quality of learning that is acquired, these impressive numbers too contribute immensely to addressing the talent gap that we are witnessing today — not just across several industries in India, but around the globe as well.”

The Center will be led by the K K Birla Goa Campus and supported by the Alumni Office and Incubation Societies of the institute

National, 8th August, 2024 – BITS Pilani, an institution known for its commitment to innovation today announced the establishment of a Bangalore Center for BITS Pilani. The development marks a major stepping stone for the institution in achieving its vision of fostering innovation and industry collaboration. The purpose of this key move is to open the door to numerous opportunities for BITS Pilani students, researchers, faculty, incubators, accelerator programs, and the institution itself.

Located in a city known for its lively technological ecosystem, the newly unveiled BITS Pilani office at Bangalore is primed to mark the presence of over 800 alumni creators and the largest concentration of alumni in any single city worldwide. It is located at the heart of the startup area of Bangalore in HSR Layout , home to nine unicorn offices. The space has been sponsored by Hustlehub, one of the largest providers of enterprise & coworking office spaces, in Bangalore.

The major objective of the BITS Pilani Bangalore Center is to establish collaboration with the corporate community including alumni and non-alumni-led organizations. The Center will contribute to the scope of institute initiatives, like adding Practice School and Placement stations, securing industry-sponsored research and consultancy projects, and developing the curriculum of the institution to be industry-aligned and make students job ready. A key focus will be to establish networks that can provide mentorship and investment to student and alumni start-ups. Engagement with corporate initiatives related to their Innovation programs and CSR requirements will support institute incubators and start-ups, infrastructure development, and scholarship schemes. These efforts are expected to create significant social impact.

Speaking at the inaugural event, Prof. V Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani said “BITS, Pilani Bangalore Centre exemplifies our resolve to foster innovation and industry collaboration. Launching a new Centre in Bangalore will help us intensify our relation with the local community and create a dynamic ecosystem that nurtures innovation and the development of budding entrepreneurs and researchers.”

Prof. Goel, founding lead of the BITS Goa Innovation, Incubation & Entrepreneurship Society also expressed her gratitude, stating, “We are immensely thankful to the alumni who have always been the backbone of institute initiatives. The support of various founders and investors for the activities of this Center will be the key to scaling its operations. Early support has been already committed by alumni founders of Hustlehub, Quizizz, Questt, Innaccel, Bewgle, Flutura, Flam, Portkey, Bogmalo Foods, Petasense and VC founders from Blume, AllinCapital,etc. The initiative is being led by BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus and Prof. Suman Kundu’s efforts have been key in bringing this project to fruition. We look forward to building more partnerships in the city to drive innovation and excellence in education.”

The BITS Pilani Bangalore Center will be led by Prof. Mridula Goel from the K K Birla Campus in Goa, supported by the Alumni Affairs Division and the institute’s Incubation Societies. Prof. Goel has a proven track record of helping BITSians and others transform their ideas into successful startups.

New Delhi, 16th July: Springer Nature has formed a partnership with BITS Pilani, an institution known for its commitment to innovation, to make research from BITS’ three campuses (Pilani, Hyderabad, and Goa) completely accessible to the public. The Fully Open Access Agreement will significantly increase the visibility and reach of the research from the three campuses leading to higher citation rates and greater impact. It will provide researchers from BITS with increased opportunities for collaboration with other researchers and institutions worldwide, fostering a more connected scientific community.

This groundbreaking development will be a significant step in promoting open access, putting BITS Pilani on the map as one of the first pioneering institutions to make important research data available to the public without restrictions. Researchers across the three campuses can publish in over 550 fully open-access journals, including BMC, Springer, and Nature Portfolio (Nature Communications & Scientific Reports).

Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, BITS, Pilani expressed enthusiasm about the new agreement, stating, “We are glad to partner with Springer Nature to make our research more accessible. This agreement reflects our commitment to sharing knowledge and driving innovation without restrictions. Open access publishing is the future of academic research, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this movement.”

Venkatesh Sarvasiddhi, Managing Director, Springer Nature India Private Limited said “This partnership with BITS Pilani exemplifies our shared vision for an open and collaborative research environment. By making cutting-edge research freely available, we are helping to break down barriers to knowledge and foster a more inclusive and equitable scientific community. This new agreement further strengthens our ongoing relationship with BITS Pilani.”

Building on a foundation of collaboration, Springer Nature and BITS Pilani previously signed a Memorandum of Understanding to foster knowledge growth and accelerate research. This agreement facilitated author workshops, mentoring opportunities, and community engagement for BITS Pilani students and faculty. It also opened doors for them to publish high-quality research, cultivate research communities, nurture innovative ideas, and champion open science and open access practices.

Mumbai, March 12, 2024: RDC Concrete (India) Pvt Ltd, India’s leading & largest manufacturer and supplier of Ready Mix Concrete, has signed an MOU with Birla Institute of Technology & Science–Pilani (BITS Pilani), focused on offering MBA and B.Tech programs for the members of its staff. This strategic association aspires to contribute towards the enhancement of the overall skills and career possibilities for the employees of RDC, apart from fulfilling societal aspirations of employees seeking degrees.

The affiliation between the two renowned entities is outlined to enable RDC employees to obtain access to MBA and B.Tech programs, promoting uninterrupted growth. The specialised programs are customised to industry demands and ensure to bring the staff up to date regarding market trends and contemporary technologies, building substantially their present employment capability.

The goal behind this initiative is to position RDC Concrete as one of the key contributors to the progress of the Indian workforce. Recent studies have shown that currently, 5,828 Engineering and Technology colleges are functioning in the country. As per the AICTE, out of these colleges, only 2,897 offer B.Tech or BE programs, with an annual intake capacity of 12 lakh students. For diploma holders, AICTE permits 10% seats for lateral entry to the programs, meaning one lakh diploma engineers are accepted for the degree programs annually. For B.Tech graduates opting for an MBA, the scenario is similar. Every year, around 2 lakh graduates pursue an MBA, each spending an average of about 6 lakhs to acquire it. This results in the nation making a loss of 12,000 crore in productivity. RDC Concrete’s partnership with BITS Pilani is designed to assist students turned employees with means to acquire higher degrees, that not only upskill the nation’s workforce but also assist their career prospects.

Mr Anil Banchhor, Managing Director & CEO of RDC, said, “We aim to design an atmosphere where our staff not only become proficient in their present roles but are also empowered to visualise an optimistic future. The MBA and B.Tech modules proposed by BITS Pilani will boost the employees’ skills and prepare them for newer opportunities beyond RDC Concrete.”

The modules designed for these courses consist of unique management and technical training programs, seminars, leadership abilities and strategic reasoning. This inclusive outlook corroborates not only scholastic growth but also constructive abilities pertinent to their roles.

Dr. KS Bhoon, Head of HR & Business Excellence of RDC Concrete, shared his vision behind the partnership saying, “This collaboration not only strengthens our commitment to nurturing talent but also brings threefold benefits. First, through work-integrated learning programs, we aim to boost India’s productivity. Second, the extended education opportunities will enhance employee loyalty, ensuring a dedicated workforce for the long term. Lastly, our employees stand to gain both professionally and personally, earning and learning concurrently. We now offer guaranteed admission to our engineering trainees through this collaboration on successful completion of a training period of one year. This guarantee is the first of its kind by any company in India.”

To qualify for these programs, working professionals pursuing a B.Tech degree must hold a diploma. Those aiming for an MBA should have a B.Tech background with a minimum aggregate of 60% marks. These are also campus entry-level requirements in RDC. In addition, they must have at least one year of work experience which is covered by the training period in RDC. The program has already enrolled 45 RDC employees, a landmark moment for the beginning of growth for many staff over the coming year.

RDC assists its staff academically by covering application fees, admission costs, and semester tuition fees. Employees will contribute a minimal monthly fee of INR 3,000, and a support system will be in place to balance work and studies seamlessly as classes are treated as duty. The tactical partnership between RDC and BITS Pilani puts the MBA and B.Tech programs as a stimulus for professional growth and skill development for the employees, establishing a new standard in the Indian construction industry.

National, 19th Feb, 2023: BITS Pilani is delighted to announce that alumnus Chaitanya Kalipatnapu has made a significant contribution to the establishment of the BITS Endowment Fund, committing over one million dollars to his alma mater. This pledge not only propels the initiative forward but also sets a precedent for alumni engagement and contribution.

Chaitanya is the co-founder of Eruditus group, which is a global leader in professional education. His career journey included roles at Sun Microsystems and INSEAD, where he also served as President of the Alumni Association’s India chapter. He is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and visiting lecturer at INSEAD.His commitment to BITS Pilani is longstanding, evidenced by a INR 2 Crore donation to establish the Kalipatnapu AR-VR Lab, aimed at fostering innovation in augmented and virtual reality technologies.

Chaitanya has been honoured as an inaugural “Lifelong Learning Laureate” by the Haas School at the University of California, Berkeley. He actively supports educational and sport initiatives through the Kalipatnapu Foundation. In recognition of his contributions to entrepreneurship and philanthropy, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award 2023 from BITS Pilani in the category of Public Life/Entrepreneurship/Philanthropy.

Chaitanya stated “BITS Pilani played a pivotal role in my personal and professional growth. This small gesture would support the Institution in driving further impact through high-quality education and in creating a sustainable ecosystem of excellence”.

Prof. V Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani, expressed appreciation for Chaitanya’s pivotal role as one of the founders of the Endowment Fund, stating, “The remarkable progress achieved by BITS Pilani Alumni Relations in just over 5 years since its inception underscores the significance of this culture of giving back in the Institute’s history. We are delighted to welcome Chaitanya as a founder of the Endowment Fund and eagerly anticipate his active participation in the Institute’s activities and future growth endeavours.”

Prof. Arya Kumar, Dean of Alumni Relations and an esteemed alumnus himself remarked, “Chaitanya’s altruism will be remembered, and its impact will endure indefinitely. We are honoured to have a distinguished professional of his calibre who has brought name and fame to the institution by not only as an entrepreneur but also through his philanthropic initiatives to transform the society at large.”

BITS Pilani, with its illustrious alumni network, remains dedicated to nurturing a tradition of excellence with the continued support from its global alumni community.

National, 9th Feb, 2024: BITS Pilani, a renowned institution known for its commitment to innovation and University at Buffalo (UB), The State University of New York (SUNY)  signed an MoU to expedite long-term collaboration and further foster the continued synergy between research and education.

 The signing took place during a luncheon hosted by President Satish K. Tripathi, marking a significant milestone in the partnership between the two esteemed institutions.

 As part of this MoU, BITS and SUNY-Buffalo will jointly develop a 2+2 joint Undergraduate Program in engineering and related fields. Students enrolled in these programs will complete their first two years at BITS and then transfer to the University at Buffalo for the final two years. Specific details such as courses, study plans, fees, scholarships and course features will be finalized in a separate agreement to be signed at a later date.

 Additionally, the institutions are also working towards establishing “2+3” cooperative Bachelor of Science/Master of Science (B.S./M.S.) programs. Under this novel plan, students will finish their first two years of undergraduate studies at BITS before transferring to UB to complete prerequisites for both the B.S. and M.S. degrees.

 This collaboration goes beyond undergraduate programs. Both BITS and UB are considering collaborating on postgraduate programs that could include PhD programs. The MoU expresses the commitment to promote collaboration among academics in the areas of teaching, research, publications, discussion and networking. These initiatives are designed to foster academic and faculty exchange while exploring new areas of collaborative teaching and research.

 Leading UB researchers, Professors Paras Prasad, Jonathan Bird and Mark Swihart, hosted a workshop at which UB and BITS Pilani faculty explored potential areas for research collaboration in the area of semiconductors.

Speaking on the development, Prof Ramgopal Rao, VC, BITS Pilani said, “We are delighted to begin this transformative journey of academic collaboration with the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. Through this MoU, we hope to give our students access to top-notch education, promote global perspectives, and equip them to face the difficulties of a fast-changing global environment. This collaboration is a prime example of BITS Pilani’s commitment to developing the next generation of leaders and advancing global knowledge.”

 President Tripathi, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York said. “BITS Pilani has a rich heritage of innovation and intellectual excellence, that aligns well with the University at Buffalo’s commitment to cutting-edge research and education. Collectively, our aim is to offer students an extraordinary and enriching educational journey that surpasses geographical limitations. This collaborative effort holds immense potential to nurture world-class leaders who will significantly impact the fields of engineering and related subjects in the future.”

 This major collaboration between BITS Pilani and the University at Buffalo is a major step in advancing research capacities, expanding the scope of education globally, and giving students access to unmatched chances for academic advancement. The partnership is evidence of the academic institutions’ common dedication to innovation, academic quality, and equipping students for success in a world that is becoming more interconnected by the day.

 Moderated by Professor Jeff Errington, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and Professor Nojin Kwak, Vice Provost for International Education, the meeting included Chris Connor, Interim Vice Provost for Enrollment Management; Dr. John Wood, Senior Associate Vice Provost for International Education; Danielle Lamarre-Smith, Director of Curriculum, Undergraduate Education; Allison Suflita, Assistant Director for Academic Advisement, SEAS, along with the Departmental Directors of undergraduate study from SEAS.