Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Nov 2: Nitte (Deemed to be University) will confer degrees on 3,325 graduands at its 16th Annual Convocation, scheduled to be held in three ceremonies on November 6 and 7 at its Mangaluru and Nitte campuses. The university will also recognise academic excellence by presenting 57 gold medals and 159 merit certificates to outstanding students.
Announcing the details at a press meet held at Hotel Ocean Pearl, Mangaluru, on Monday, Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) M S Moodithaya said the convocation would celebrate the academic achievements of students across a wide range of disciplines, reflecting the university's commitment to quality education, research and professional excellence.
The first convocation ceremony will be held on November 6 at 10 am at the University Grounds, Deralakatte, Mangaluru. Prof (Dr) Vivek Lal, Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, will deliver the convocation address.
The second session will take place on November 7 at 10 am at the Nitte Off-Campus Centre, Nitte, for undergraduate graduands of NMAM Institute of Technology (NMAMIT). Dr Prahlada Rama Rao, Pro-Chancellor of S-VYASA (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, and former Vice-Chancellor of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune, will be the chief guest.
The third session, scheduled for November 7 at 4 pm at the Nitte campus, will cover PhD scholars, postgraduate graduands of NMAMIT and JKSHIM, and undergraduate graduands of Dr NSAM First Grade College and Nitte Institute of Professional Education. Shashi Shekhar Vempati, Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and former CEO of Prasar Bharati, will be the chief guest.
All three ceremonies will be presided over by Nitte University Chancellor Vishal Hegde. Pro-Chancellor Prof (Dr) M. Shantharam Shetty and Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) M S Moodithaya will also be present.
Of the total 3,325 graduands, 1,455 are from the Mangaluru campus and 1,870 from the Nitte campus. The degrees will be awarded across diverse disciplines, including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, physiotherapy, allied health sciences, mass communication and journalism, biological sciences, architecture, engineering and technology, computer applications, business administration, commerce and management, among others.
The university will present 39 institutional gold medals and 18 endowment gold medals, along with 159 merit certificates. Among the graduands are 1,148 BTech students, 347 medical students, 220 pharmacy students, 181 MCA students, 180 MBA students and 140 biological sciences students.
New academic programmes in emerging fields
Outlining the university's future academic vision, Prof Moodithaya highlighted plans to expand its programmes in emerging and interdisciplinary fields, keeping pace with rapidly changing global trends and industry requirements.
Emphasising the growing significance of the One Health concept, which recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal and plant health, he said the university was planning to introduce a new academic programme in this area. He noted that a deeper understanding of the relationship between these three aspects of health was increasingly important in addressing emerging global challenges.
The university is also looking to strengthen its presence in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), while exploring opportunities in the semiconductor industry. Through its Centres of Excellence, with participation from government and private-sector partners, Nitte plans to introduce specialised and customised programmes aimed at equipping students with skills relevant to these rapidly evolving sectors.
NITTE Future Space to drive innovation and research
A major highlight of the university's expansion plans is NITTE Future Space, a new academic block spanning approximately 1.8 lac square feet, dedicated to emerging technologies.
The facility will accommodate seven Centres of Excellence established with industry participation, including collaborations with companies from Japan. These centres are expected to provide an integrated platform for research, industry engagement and experiential learning. Students will have opportunities to undertake internships and gain practical exposure, with potential placement opportunities in partner companies.
Highlighting the university's infrastructure development, Prof Moodithaya said a large amphitheatre with a seating capacity of nearly 4,500 people was being developed at the Nitte campus. A new indoor stadium and amphitheatre are also being constructed at the Mangaluru campus as part of the university's development commitments for the year. Similar infrastructure initiatives are planned for the Bengaluru campus.
The university is also exploring academic programmes in aviation and space technology at its Bengaluru campus, recognising the growing potential of these sectors.
Stressing the importance of industry-oriented education, the Vice-Chancellor said the university intended to leverage the expertise developed across its campuses and its strong industry connections, particularly in Bengaluru, to introduce contemporary programmes that meet evolving professional and technological demands.
He added that the institution's focus would remain on strengthening academic excellence, expanding research opportunities, fostering industry partnerships and creating an environment where students can translate their aspirations into meaningful achievements.
Registrar Prof Dr Harsha Halahalli and Controller of Examinations Prof Prasad B Shetty were present at the press meet.