Media Release

Udupi, May 29: The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), in association with the Faculty Chapter of the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE), Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Technology & Management (SMVITM), Bantakal, organised an enlightening invited talk on “Research Funding Opportunities and Prospects” on May 27.

The session featured Dr Ashok Rao, associate director (R&D), MIT, Manipal, as the distinguished resource person. Dr Rao, a prominent academic and researcher, shared valuable insights on the role of research in higher education and the critical need for faculty to actively engage in research despite their teaching responsibilities.

Highlighting that a PhD is only the beginning of one’s research career, Dr Rao urged faculty members to explore collaborative and interdisciplinary research ventures. He discussed in detail a spectrum of funding opportunities available through government and private agencies and offered practical guidance on drafting proposals and applying for research grants.

The session witnessed active participation from faculty members across departments, who greatly benefited from Dr Rao’s expertise and experience.

The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Dr Radhakrishna Aithal, CEO of SMVITM. He expressed sincere gratitude to the guest speaker, the principal, deans, HoDs, and the entire faculty for their involvement and support in making the event a success. The programme was seamlessly compered by Sowmya Bhat, assistant professor in the department of Electronics & Communication.