International Conference on Climate Change Litigation
Institute of Law organised this conference in collaboration with the British Institute of International Comparative Law, UK, Paryavaran Mitra NGO, and Eastern Book Company on June 1-2, 2024. On this occasion, a keynote address was delivered by Hon’ble Mr Justice Swatanter Kumar (Former Judge, Supreme Court of India) and Justice Brian Preston (Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales). The deliberations covered diverse areas, including climate change and its impact, environmental jurisprudence for shaping a sustainable future, green finance and environmental clearance, and the role of stakeholders.
Distinguished guest speakers included Dr Gitanjali Nain Gill (Professor, Environmental Law, Northumbria University), Dr Alexander Zahar (Professor, Southwest University of Political Science and Law), Dr Ivano Alogna (Research Leader, Environmental and Climate Change Law, British Institute of International and Comparative Law), Prof Usha Tandon (Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Dr Rajendra Prasad National Law University, Prayagraj), Dr Philippe Cullet (Professor, International and Environmental Law, SOAS University, London), Dr A P Singh (Professor, Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow), Dr J P Gupta (Chairman, Environment Committee, Chamber of Commerce), Dr S P Rathore (Retd Director, School of Law, Gujarat University), Shri Mahesh Pandya (Director, Pariyavaran Mitra, an NGO), and Ms Kanchi Kohli (Senior Researcher, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi).
International Symposium of SPDS – DISSO India
Institute of Pharmacy, in collaboration with the Society for Pharmaceutical Dissolution Sciences (SPDS) and the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), hosted the 12th Annual International Symposium of SPDS – DISSO India Ahmedabad-2024 on June 28-29, 2024. The event featured notable guests, including Dr Rajeev Raghuvanshi, DCGI, Government of India; Dr H G Koshia, Commissioner, FDA, Gujarat; Dr Viranchi Shah, National President, IDMA, Dr Tina Morris, CEO – AAPS.
International Conference on Materials Processing and Characterisation
The conference, organised by the Mechanical Engineering Department, Institute of Technology from June 27 to 29, 2024 brought together experts from academic institutions, industries, research institutes, and professional engineers from the United Kingdom, Singapore, and India. More than 200 participants registered for the conference and presented research work.
Workshop on Programming Self
Institute of Commerce hosted the workshop on Aug 3, 2024 for faculty and staff members led by motivational speaker and life coach, Mr R K Chopra. The workshop aimed to facilitate personal and professional growth among faculty members by exploring the essence of life, setting clear personal goals, and overcoming barriers to success. Mr Chopra emphasised the importance of self-reflection and goal clarity, using storytelling and real-life examples to engage participants.
Workshop on Financial Literacy
The NSS Unit of the Institute of Commerce, in collaboration with the Department of Youth Affairs, organised a Financial Literacy Workshop on Aug 21, 2024. Ms Harsha Sharma, a certified trainer, led sessions on various financial topics, including the importance of savings, debit card benefits, government schemes and fraud prevention. During the workshop Mr Kamal Mackwan, Centre Incharge, ICICI Academy for Skills, Vadodara also gave his valuable inputs on financial literacy and addressed the queries of students.
All Gujarat Automation Engineers Meet (AGAEM’24)
The ISA Students’ Chapter Nirma University hosted the Meet on Aug 10, 2024, which featured distinguished experts like Mr Pramod Parikh, an ISA-certified SIS-SIL specialist, Dr Jagdish Shukla, owner of Servilink Systems Limited, Mr Rahul Aggrawal, President of ISA Gujarat Section, among others. With participation from more than 12 colleges across Gujarat and over 100 attendees, the event included a research poster competition on ‘Industrial Automation.’
Celebration of Important Days
International Day of Yoga
The 10th International Day of Yoga was celebrated on June 21, 2024. 543 participants, including university officials, faculty-staff members, and students attended the event. A team of trained yoga experts guided the participants through a series of asanas and pranayama as per the prescribed yoga protocol.
World Environment Day
On June 5, 2024, the Institute of Science, under the aegis of the Students’ Welfare Board, celebrated World Environment Day with engaging activities and discussions to promote environmental awareness and action. The event started with a tree plantation drive on the lawn of the new building by distinguished guests, followed by a public lecture by Dr Jagveer Singh, Scientist-G, Adviser and Head – Reachout at the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.
Kargil Vijay Diwas
The NCC Unit of Nirma University, in association with 1-Guj (Girls) NCC Bn and 9-Gujarat NCC Bn, NCC Ahmedabad Group, observed the 25th ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas – Rajat Jayanti Mahotsav’ on July 25, 2024 at the Nirma University campus. Major General Ramesh Shanmugam, Additional Director General of NCC for Gujarat, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, was invited as the Chief Guest. NCC cadets prepared paintings and posters on the theme of Kargil Vijay Diwas and organised a cultural programme consisting of narrations, one-act plays and group acts that depicted various events from the Kargil War. The NCC battalion provided real weapons such as the 0.22 mm rifle, 7.62 mm SLR rifle, INSAS rifle, Prismatic compass and various informative charts for display and demonstration purposes. On this occasion, Shri K K Patel, Vice President, Nirma University, felicitated Veernari Rajeshree Mukeshkumar Rathod, the widow of Nk Mukeshkumar Rathod, who sacrificed his life during the Kargil War.
Independence Day
Nirma University celebrated the 78th Independence Day on Aug 15, 2024, with a flag hoisting ceremony. The event was graced by Ms Mirai Chatterjee, Director of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) Social Security. The ceremony saw enthusiastic participation from heads of institutions and departments and a large gathering of students, faculty, and staff members, reflecting the unity and spirit of freedom on this significant occasion.
Anti-Ragging Week
As part of the Anti-Ragging Week (Aug 12-18, 2024), the Institute of Law organised a Poster-making competition on Aug 13, 2024 to raise awareness against ragging and foster a safe educational environment.
Further, the Institute of Pharmacy held an Anti-Ragging Poster Competition on Aug 17, 2024 aimed to raise awareness about the harmful impacts of ragging and to promote a culture of respect and inclusivity on campus. The posters conveyed powerful messages about the detrimental effects of ragging on mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being. The posters also emphasised the importance of reporting ragging incidents and seeking help from authorities.
National Space Day
The Student Association of the Institute of Pharmacy (NIPSA) organised a Space Research Awareness Programme for undergraduate students, coinciding with National Space Day, as declared by the Government of India on Aug 23, 2024. The event featured live telecast of the programme at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, allowing participants to witness the grand celebrations in the capital. In addition, an interactive session was held with Dr Priti Mehta, Chair Professor, who is actively involved in Space Medicine research followed by a quiz.
Expert Talks
Mr Rajesh Duraiswamy, Global Delivery Leader- Bank of America, along with his team, shared insights on the ‘Financial industry’s landscape and the evolving trends shaping its future’ at the Institute of Management on July 31, 2024. They also discussed current industry trends, emphasising the increasing role of technology in banking, the shift towards sustainable finance and the need to adapt to changing regulatory environments.
Mr Ankush Jain, Principal Consultant, Infosys shared insights on the ‘Role of management graduates in technology organisations’ at the Institute of Management on July 24, 2024.
Dr Bhavesh Sarna from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland conducted a ‘Sustainability and Circular Economy’ session at the Institute of Management on July 12, 2024.
Other Events and Activities
Faculty Development Programme
Institute of Pharmacy organised a Faculty Development Programme (FDP) ‘Synergising Academic Success: A Comprehensive Skill Development Programme’ from July 8-20, 2024. Prof H B Patel, Registrar (officiating) and Dean, School of Education, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar inaugurated the event and spoke on ‘Assessment and Evaluation in Teaching-Learning.’
Institute of Law organised a Faculty Development Programme on ‘Course on Wheels: Faculty Immersion Programme: Learning Through Field-Based Interventions’ from July 1-15, 2024. Experts included Dr Jyotsana Yagnik (Retd Judge & Clinical Professor, ILNU), Dr D C Baxi (Adjunct Professor, ILNU), Shri Ajay Kumar Tomar (Senior IPS Officer), Ms Nupur Sinha (Senior Activist, Centre for Social Justice, Ahmedabad) and Dr Mahesh Pandya (Founder, NGO- Paryavartan Mitra).
Orientation Programme
Institute of Pharmacy held an Orientation Programme for PharmD students from July 29- Aug 3, 2024. Dr Karen Beth H Bohan, Interim Associate Dean for Admission and Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Binghamton University, USA, was the chief guest. Dr Natesan, Director, Institute of Pharmacy welcomed the students and provided an overview of the PharmD programme at Nirma University. He discussed the significance and scope of the programme within India’s healthcare sector, emphasising the expanding opportunities for graduates in both clinical and research settings.
Institute of Law organised the Orientation Programme for first-year students from July 16-25, 2024. The inauguration ceremony was graced by Hon’ble Justice Ms S G Gokani from High Court of Gujarat, who highlighted the importance of legal education. Spanning over ten days, the Orientation Programme included several external and internal expert speakers orienting the students on topics ranging from Clinical Legal Education, Mental Health Awareness, Importance of Nutrition, Cyber Security, Law & AI to Gender Sensitisation. The students were also introduced to various students’ committees and centres for co-curricular activities, rules and regulations regarding academic and administrative processes, alumni interaction and internships and placement opportunities.
Orientation Programme for the Postgraduate Programme (LLM) students was held on Aug 5, 2024. During the event, students were briefed about the structure of the LLM programme, an overview of the examination policy, anti-ragging rules, an introduction to Equal Opportunity Cell activities, the University’s anti-drug policies, and library resources at the institute.
Patriotic Song Competition
Institute of Design under the aegis of the Student Welfare Board, Nirma University, organised ‘Deshraag’, a Patriotic Song Competition on Aug 3, 2024. The event saw enthusiastic participation, with eight teams in the student category and four teams in the faculty-staff category. In the Students’ category, the Institute of Management stood first and the Institute of Commerce stood second. In the Faculty-Staff category, the Institute of Pharmacy was adjudged the winner and the Institute of Architecture and Planning stood second.
Har Ghar Tirangaa
The NCC Unit at Nirma University, in collaboration with the Students Welfare Board, celebrated the ‘Har Ghar Tirangaa’ campaign on Aug 14, 2024 as part of the 78th Independence Day celebrations. Affiliated with the NCC Ahmedabad Group, Gujarat Directorate, the unit organised a Tirangaa Rally on the university campus, embodying the spirit of patriotism.
Aadhaar Card Registration and Updation Drive
The NSS Unit of the Institute of Management under the aegis of the Students’ Welfare Board, Nirma University and support from the Aadhaar Agency and Kotak Mahindra Bank facilitated the Aadhaar Card Registration and Updation Drive on the university campus on Aug 22, 2024. It provided an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to update their Aadhaar details on campus conveniently.
Prevoyance’24: National Level Technical Fest
The Electronics and Communication Students Organisation (ECO) of the Institute of Technology, hosted the National Level Technical Fest, ‘Prevoyance’, on Aug 3-4, 2024 with over 700 participants from 30 colleges across India. The fest featured technical and semi-technical events, including Robo Sumo, RC Soccer, Line Follower, Code Velocity, Quiz Odyssey, Escape Room, and a Drone Workshop. The total prize money awarded to winners was Rs 75,000. Participants hailed from institutes such as IIT Gandhinagar, Chandigarh University, DAIICT, AU, PDEU, Sri Sairam College, SRM Institute, Welingkar Institute, NMIMS, MIET, among others. The fest commenced with an inauguration ceremony graced by the Chief Guest, Mr Bharat Goyal, Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs, and a Nirma University alumnus. A Drone workshop was conducted by industry experts from Prothapan, a company renowned for designing aerial systems.
Foundation Day
Institute of Law celebrated its 18th Foundation Day on Aug 20, 2024. Prof Bhavani Prasad Panda, Former Vice Chancellor of Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai graced the event and highlighted the pivotal role of legal education in addressing societal struggles.
Field Visits
Adventure Camp
The Students’ Welfare Board, Nirma University, organised an adventure camp at Manali-Beas Kund-Kasol from June 3 to 11, 2024. Fifty-six students participated in the camp featuring a variety of activities, including zip lining, rappelling, river rafting, river site camping, and visits to spectacular locations such as Jogini Waterfall, Vashishta Temple, Hadimba Temple, Mall Road, Manali Market, Beas Kund, Solang Valley, Atal Tunnel, Kasol, Manikaran Sahib and the Kasol Market. As part of the camp, a Yoga workshop was hosted on June 6, 2024 at Manali-Beas Kund, Himachal Pradesh.
Field Studio in Mauritius
Institute of Architecture and Planning organised an international field studio in Mauritius with second and fourth-year students from June 3 to 18, 2024. The field studio was an extension of the collaboration with ENSA, Mauritius. The students worked in groups on the Live Metro project of Mocha, Mauritius, filled with expert lectures and discussions with professionals and academicians.
Related Study Programme
As part of the Related Study Programme (RSP), 36 BArch students travelled to the European cities of Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Prague, Munich, and Zurich from July 16-28, 2024 to gain insights into the international practices of architecture and city design. The group visited famous monuments and sites in all these cities, such as cathedrals, castles, palaces, parliament, and other buildings such as museums and universities, public plazas, historic bridges, markets, train stations, stadiums and waterfronts. These showcased exemplary architectural styles and urban design from varied historical periods, such as medieval, Renaissance, post-industrial and contemporary works of famous architects.
Another batch of students participated in an exploratory RSP programme that extended from Chandigarh to Kashmir from July 17 to 29, 2024. Students studied Chandigarh’s urban planning concepts, including its grid layout, public areas, and institutional structures. In Kashmir, they travelled to numerous locations to investigate traditional Kashmiri home styles, ancient temples and current advancements. Students examined how the region’s architecture was influenced by its climate, cultural customs, and historical context.
Students also embarked on an enriching RSP in the Union Territory of Leh-Ladakh from July 16 – Aug 5, 2024. The programme was highlighted by a workshop with the renowned scientist and founder of the Himalayan Institute of Technology, Mr Sonam Wangchuk known for his innovative work in sustainable development and climate-resilient technologies. The students also had the opportunity to learn under the guidance of Prof Gerhard Bosman, Chair of the UNESCO Earth Architecture programme.