The 33rd Convocation of Bharathiar University was held on Tuesday at the Usha Kirtilal Auditorium located on the university campus. 97,169 students received their degrees at the ceremony.
Founder, Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University, Prof. Dr. R. Subbaiyan, the Special Guest of the day, was conferred with degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris causa) for his contributions to the university and the field of academia. 1,066 research scholars received their PhD degrees. 2 scholars from the Science stream were awarded D.SC and one scholar from the Social Science stream was awarded the D. Litt Degree.
Dr. Shashi Bala Singh Scientist and Director General (Life Sciences), Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) was the Chief Guest and she delivered the convocation address. Due to official reasons, Honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Vidhya Sagar Rao and Pro-Chancellor of the University and Tamil Nadu Minister for Higher Education, Mr. K. P. Anbalagan who were supposedly to chair the convocation did not take part in the event. Hence, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. A. Ganapathi presided over the function and presented a report on the university’s achievements in the past academic year.
Dr. Shashi Bala Singh in her convocation Address appreciated the University for achieving 14th rank at the national level by according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), Ministry of Human resource and development. In her speech she said “Researchers can collaborate with DRDO if they are passionate about matters of national security, The tripartite relationship between universities, Research and Development organizations and industries is essential for having innovation to blossom in our country.”
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ganapathi in his speech said that “The university has become the only university in the state to be eligible for the status of World Class University. Bharathiar University has the highest ‘h’-index with 38 points, according to Scopus data with 11,749 citations and 2011 publications. This is the highest among the universities in the State of Tamil Nadu,” he said.
He further added that “The university was awarded with Rs 17.5 crores based on the h index score, by the DST- PURSE Fund. Similarly, the university had bagged 136 projects with a total fund of Rs 16.30 crores. The state government has agreed to establish an internet center for Distance Recovery Management and a Technology Development Programme Centre on Data Analysis and Big Data Tools at the university with a total cost of Rs 1 crore” he said.
The Registrar-in-charge of the university, Dr. B. Vanitha, Members of Syndicate and Members of the senate also attended the convocation function.