Gunupur:(Correspondent) :-The 26th Annual ISTE Student Convention (Degree Stream) of the Odisha Section was successfully hosted by Gandhi Institute of Engineering and Technology University (GIETU), Gunupur on the 11th and 12th of July 2025. The event, sanctioned and sponsored by the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE), New Delhi, brought together students, academicians, and experts from across the state for two days of insightful discussions, workshops, and knowledge-sharing.
The inaugural ceremony was held in the MBA Auditorium of GIET University. The theme of this year’s convention was “India’s Artificial Intelligence Revolution – Towards a Vishwaguru.”
Dr. D. P. Agarwal, former Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), graced the occasion as the Chief Guest through a virtual address. He highlighted the rising applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in various sectors and discussed its growing influence on India’s technological and economic transformation. He encouraged the student community to be proactive in adopting AI tools to stay globally competitive.
Dr. Pravat Kumar Parhi, Chairman of ISTE Odisha Section, attended the event as the Special Guest. He emphasized India’s noteworthy strides in the AI domain and encouraged students to explore innovative approaches to solving real-world challenges using emerging technologies.
Dr. A.V.N.L. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of GIET University, spoke about India’s vision of becoming a Vishwaguru (Global Mentor) in the 21st century. He underscored the importance of academic institutions playing a leading role in technological innovation and global collaboration.
Adding to the academic discourse, Dr. Dulu Patnaik, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology, elaborated on the history, growth, and future trajectory of AI, underlining the necessity for students to stay updated with technological advancements.
The event saw the participation of several prominent dignitaries, including Prof. P. K. Singh and Dr. Ipsita Jena from ISTE Odisha Section, who provided valuable insights into the ISTE’s role in fostering technical education and professional development. University officials including Dr. N. V. J. Rao (Registrar), Dr. P. Vijay Kumar (Controller of Examinations), Deans of all Schools, Heads of Departments, faculty members, and students from various disciplines were in attendance.
Mr. Manas Ranjan Panda, Coordinator of the event, welcomed the delegates and outlined the achievements of the ISTE Chapter at GIET University. He also shared details of the planned technical sessions, keynote addresses, and competitions scheduled across the two-day event.
The ceremony concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Dr. Raghavendra Kumar, Co-Coordinator of the event, who expressed gratitude to all guests, speakers, and participants for their valuable contributions and enthusiastic engagement.
The convention was lauded as a significant step toward building awareness and capacity in Artificial Intelligence and reaffirmed GIET University’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and excellence in technical education.
