SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, May 23: The Amity University, Jharkhand on Monday organised the second DST-STUTI Programme, in collaboration with National Institute of Technology Rourkela, on ‘Developing Skills and knowledge for Civil and Electrical Engineering Researchers through Access to Cutting-Edge Technology’, at Rourkela.
Thirty Engineering Research Scholars were selected under this programme which aims to equip participants with the basic knowledge and skills required to function in Cellular and Molecular Research.
The training programme is helpful for Post Graduate students, Research Scholars, Faculty Members from Universities and Colleges, Scientists, and Post-Doctoral Researchers who are working in multidisciplinary/ trans disciplinary and translational research in various organisations.
Notably, the Amity University Uttar Pradesh (AUUP) has been awarded the STUTI programme as a Project Management Unit (PMU) by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) to conduct seven days of residential hands-on training on the state-of-the-art equipment, fully sponsored by DST. The second DST-STUTI Programme was conducted by Amity University Jharkhand under this at the National Institute of Technology at Rourkela.
Prof. K. K. Khatua, Coordinator, NIT Rourkela, said, “This training programme has four main objectives – firstly, to contribute the research to the research community, secondly, to provide collaboration opportunity, thirdly, extending the Research & Development facilities to the larger society where DST is providing the support and fourthly, optimum utilization of the facilities created by the government of India.”
He further added that both institutions are to ensure that the participants gain hands-on experience of research through latest S&T equipment and facilities, design experiments by selecting appropriate/ alternate equipment for the various experiments and connect with the R&D organisations / universities / private sector facilities / start-ups/ MSMEs involved in research & development.
Prof. R. K. Jha, VC, Amity University, Jharkhand addressed the gathering and said, “Our founder President Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan believes that India can become a knowledge super power through education, research & development. One should not waste time doing something which is non-productive rather utilize the time in the area of interest, and thus contribute by focusing on the area of expertise. Let’s work towards the development of the country, by constantly moving forward with true commitment and focus.”
Advising the research scholars, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela, said, “We must move from untruth to truth, from darkness to light, from death to immortality, and from ignorance to knowledge. Only when we empower ourselves with knowledge, we become enlightened and immortal. The training programme emphasizes on the fact that in the digital era, there is a need to utilize the opportunity to the optimum with two big institutions providing immense exposure in the field of research and innovation.” He further called upon the participants to always keep alive the quest for knowledge and learning.
Speaking about the training programme, Dr. Nitin Batra, CEO, Amity Institute of Training & Development said, “This programme envisions Sensitization of the state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring transparent access to S&T facilities, capacity building through training modules, hands on training, effective and optimal usage of S&T facilities created by DST.
He added that so far, IIT Roorkee, NIT Rourkela, Guru Nanak Dev University have already started this programme on their state-of-the-art S&T equipment and the hope is to tie up with many universities and institutes having DST funded SATHI / SAIF / PURSE / FIST / CURIE and other premier institutions all across the country.”
As per information, the training will be conducted on a hub-and-spoke model approach. The Department of Science and Technology, as the apex body, will identify an Institute that shall function as a Project Management Unit (PMU). The hubs will essentially be organisations having availed projects under FIST/ PURSE/ CURIE/ SAIF/ SATHI schemes. The PMU then shall act as a hub to further identify host institutes/ departments in the catchment areas for coordinating and imparting the training in a smooth and efficient manner.
