Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology bags DST Purse – 2023 Award

In a resounding celebration of academic and research excellence, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology has been honoured with the prestigious DST Purse Award. The award, bestowed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of India, recognizes the institute's exceptional contributions to research and innovation across various disciplines. This esteemed accolade is a reflection of the institute's dedication to fostering a culture of innovation and research excellence. The institute's multidisciplinary approach to research and its collaborations with industry and other academic institutions were highlighted as key factors contributing to its success.The DST Purse Award includes a grant of Rs. 21.51 crores, which is the highest amount awarded to any institute/university in this round of selection.

This financial support will enable the university to invest in state-of-the-art facilities and new research projects that hold the potential to revolutionize various fields and benefit society, at large. This grant will enable TIET to establish a state of the art high-resolution transmission electron microscopy lab and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy lab. The title of the approved project is “Development of technologies for converting waste to wealth”. Through this project, TIET aims to develop a set of technologies that will convert bio, agro and industrial waste into energy by converting them into hydrogen or alcohol. This program is well aligned with the objectives of the several national missions of Government of India like National Mission on Waste to Wealth, National Hydrogen Mission, National Mission on Water and Clean Energy, Self-Reliant Atma Nirbhar Bharat Mission and Start-up India Mission. The processes proposed to be developed under this program will not only help country in becoming self-reliant in energy but also help tackle issues related to air, water and industrial pollution by minimizing their uncontrolled discharge in environment. In addition, technologies develop through this program will help country in saving precious foreign reserve and minimize dependence on foreign nations.

Prof. Padmakumar Nair, Director and Prof. Ajay Batish, Deputy Director led the defense of the proposal before the program management board of DST, which was held at Guwahati University. Prof. Bhaskar Chandra Mohanty is the coordinating the project with Prof. AnoopVerma, Prof. Amit Dhir, Prof. Amjad Ali, Prof. BN Chudasama, Prof. Bonamali Pal, Prof. HaripadaBhunia, Dr. Jayant Kolte, Prof.Kulvir Singh, Dr. LK Brar, Prof.MS Reddy, Prof.Naveen Kwatra, Prof.OP Pandey and Prof.SoumenBasu as lead investigators.

Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET) recently launched a comprehensive 360-degree virtual tour of its stunning university campus. This cutting-edge initiative provides an immersive and interactive experience to prospective students, parents, and other stakeholders, allowing them to explore the campus from the comfort of their homes.

This project was a result of collaborative efforts from esteemed faculty members and our talented students. Prof. Maninder Singh, Dean of Academic Affairs, served as the project lead, whereas Dr. Vinay Arora, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, served as the team lead. Two of our 3rd year Computer Science & Business Systems students, Shubhankar Sharma and Lakshay Gupta contributed as the developers for the project. The dedication and technical expertise of the whole team were instrumental in capturing and rendering the stunning visuals that breathe life into the virtual tour.

This virtual tour has revolutionized the way TIET presents its campus to the world. Prospective students and parents can now explore the campus, get a feel of the vibrant university life, and make informed decisions about pursuing their education at TIET. It stands as a shining example of collaboration, innovation, and excellence. As we move forward, this initiative will continue to serve as a beacon of progress, reinforcing TIET's commitment to embracing technology and enhancing the educational journey.

Ajayinder S Jawanda serves as the Chief Industry Engagement Officer (CIEO), specializing in fostering strong ties between the institute and industry. He plays a pivotal role in initiating and nurturing industry relationships, ensuring robust opportunities for student internships and placements.

We are proud to share the achievements of our two alums who have actively worked in the recent Chandrayaan-3 mission. Mr. Manish Gupta (M.Sc. in Physics, Batch of 2014-16) and Mr. Mohit Sharma (ECE, Batch of 2020) were chosen as pivotal team members in the prestigious Chandrayaan-3 mission by ISRO. For this mission, they brought their experience, dedication, and technical proficiency to the forefront. Their involvement reflects the trust and confidence that ISRO places in their skills and knowledge.

This journey also serves as an inspiration to aspiring scientists and engineers, demonstrating the possibilities that await those who are passionate about space exploration and scientific discovery.

In today's digital age, we have increasingly relied on Intelligence (AI) for our day-to-day tasks, often without even realizing it. AI infuses various aspects of our routines, from personalized streaming recommendations and social media algorithms to voice assistants managing our smart homes. Even dating apps are recommending the persons to whom we can date. AI has seamlessly integrated into our lives and is controlling a lot of our decisions. Not only this, AI is making crucial decisions in life-critical applications like healthcare, finance, transportation, and emergency services. Since AI makes vital decisions in our life, it is equally important to understand why AI is making a particular decision. But sadly, most AI algorithms act like a black box, and even the developers do not know why the model is making a particular decision. While traditional AI systems are designed to be highly accurate and efficient, it cannot be easy to understand how they arrived at a particular decision. This lack of transparency and accountability can lead to distrust in AI systems and hinder their widespread adoption. The solution to solve this is Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI).

XAI is a collection of methods that can explain how the AI model works internally. It is a subfield of Artificial Intelligence (AI) focused on developing systems that provide clear and understandable explanations of their decisions, actions, and results.

The main objective of XAI is to increase the transparency and accountability of AI systems, especially in high-stakes domains such as healthcare, finance, and criminal justice, where the impact of AI on people's lives can be significant. With XAI, AI practitioners aim to design systems that are accurate, efficient, transparent, and trustworthy.

As discussed below, XAI is very important for end users, AI developers, and Regulators.

• XAI for end users

  XAI offers valuable insights to end users; let us consider a case of healthcare. When an AI model predicts a high likelihood of stroke, individuals may want to understand the underlying reasons and the necessary steps to mitigate the risk. XAI can provide detailed explanations, such as attributing the high stroke chances to factors like age, BMI, and hypertension. Furthermore, XAI can offer counterfactual explanations, illustrating how modifying certain factors can impact the prediction. For instance, reducing the body mass index to 25 could lower the stroke prediction from 90% to 70%, highlighting the potential for positive change. Similarly, in the case of loan rejections, XAI can provide counterfactual explanations, suggesting specific improvements such as increasing annual income by $10,000 or adding one more year of credit history, which could enhance the likelihood of loan approval.

• XAI for Developers

  XAI plays a crucial role in assessing the performance of AI models and ensuring they operate according to their intended design. To illustrate this, consider a case study involving a dataset (Figure 1) for classifying images of husky dogs and wolves. Data scientists trained a machine learning model for this task, and during accuracy testing, an image of a husky dog was misclassified as a wolf. To investigate the cause of this misclassification, XAI was employed.

  

  Figure 1: Dataset for classification of Husky Dog and Wolf

  As depicted in Figure 2, XAI provided insights that revealed the AI system was basing its decisions on the presence of ice in the background of the images rather than considering the distinguishing features of husky dogs and wolves. This finding highlighted the need for corrective measures, such as gathering additional images or removing the background during the pre-processing stage to address this issue.

  

  Figure 2: XAI explanation for misclassification

• XAI for Regulators

  XAI plays a crucial role in ensuring the compliance of AI models with rules and regulations. Since the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has granted individuals the right to receive meaningful explanations regarding the logic and data used in AI models that automate individual decision-making. XAI plays a vital role in providing these explanations to users.

Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) has diverse applications across fields:

• Healthcare: XAI enhances patient outcomes by providing doctors with clear explanations for AI-generated diagnoses and treatment plans, improving decision-making and patient trust.
• Finance: XAI ensures transparency in financial applications like credit scoring and fraud detection, offering clear explanations for decision-making and reducing bias.
• Criminal Justice: XAI increases transparency in predictive policing and risk assessment, providing clear explanations for decision-making and preventing discrimination.
• Customer Service: XAI improves customer trust by offering clear explanations for responses generated by chatbots, enhancing understanding and confidence in the technology.
• Manufacturing: XAI optimizes manufacturing processes by providing clear explanations for decision-making in quality control and predictive maintenance, reducing errors and improving efficiency.

These applications demonstrate the versatility of XAI, and as the field continues to advance, we can expect its utilization in various domains, enhancing transparency, accountability, accessibility, and trustworthiness in AI systems.

Explainable AI can be classified based on its agnosticity, scope, data type, and explanation type, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: XAI Categorization

Let us discuss XAI Categorization based on these four types.

• Agnosticity: Model-specific explanations are designed for specific types of models, while model-agnostic explanations can be used with any black-box model, providing flexibility and wider applicability.
• Scope: Local explanations focus on specific instances, explaining the behavior of the AI system in a particular context. Global explanations provide an overview of the AI system's behavior, helping users understand its general decision-making process.
• Data Type: XAI models can be tailored to different data types, such as tabular data, text data, or image data, allowing for specialized explanations based on the specific data format.
• Explanation Type: Explanations for AI models can take various forms, including visual representations, feature importance rankings, individual data point explanations, and surrogate models that simplify complex models for better understanding.

By considering these different factors, XAI can provide tailored and interpretable explanations, making AI systems more transparent and understandable to users.

Several algorithms are commonly used in Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) to provide clear and understandable explanations for AI decisions and outcomes. Some of the most commonly used algorithms include:

• LIME (Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations): LIME is a model-agnostic algorithm that can be used to explain the predictions of any black-box model. It works by approximating the behavior of the black-box model locally around a specific instance and using this approximation to generate an explanation.
• SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations): SHAP is a model-agnostic algorithm that can be used to explain the predictions of any model. It works by calculating the contribution of each feature to the final prediction and using these contributions to generate an explanation.
• Layer-Wise Relevance Propagation (LRP): LRP is an algorithm that can be used to explain the decisions of neural networks. It works by propagating the relevance of the output prediction back through the layers of the network and using this relevance to generate an explanation.
• Counterfactual algorithms: Counterfactual algorithms are used to generate explanations for AI decisions by showing how a specific decision would change if a certain feature or input value were altered. This allows users to see the causal impact of individual features on the final decision, making it easier to understand the reasoning behind the AI's choices.

These algorithms are just a few examples of the many techniques that can be used for XAI. The choice of algorithm will depend on the specific requirements of the XAI system, as well as the type of model being used and the data it is operating on. Using the right algorithm, XAI systems can provide clear and understandable explanations for their decisions and outcomes, making them more accessible and trustworthy.

Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) is a rapidly growing field attracting increasing attention from researchers and practitioners alike. There are several promising research directions in the field of XAI, including:

• Interpreting Black-Box Models: One of the main challenges in XAI is understanding the behavior of complex and highly nonlinear models, such as deep neural networks. Researchers are developing new methods for interpreting these models, such as saliency maps, layer-wise relevance propagation, and decision trees, to provide more insight into how they work.
• Explainable Decision Making: One of the key applications of XAI is to explain decisions made by AI systems, such as medical diagnoses, loan approvals, and criminal justice outcomes. Researchers are developing methods for generating explanations for these decisions that are both accurate and understandable.
• Explainable AI for Safety-Critical Applications: In safety-critical applications, such as autonomous vehicles and medical devices, it is essential to understand how AI systems make decisions. Researchers are developing methods for explaining the behavior of AI systems in these applications to ensure that they are safe, trustworthy, and reliable.
• Explainable AI for Fairness and Bias: Another important research direction in XAI is to develop methods for detecting and mitigating bias in AI systems. This includes developing algorithms for detecting unfairness and discrimination in the training data and techniques for generating fair and unbiased explanations for AI decisions.

These are just a few of the many exciting research directions in the field of XAI, and there is much more work to be done to develop more transparent, reliable, and trustworthy AI systems. As the field continues to grow, new and innovative approaches will likely emerge to advance XAI's state of the art.

In conclusion, Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) is a rapidly growing field that aims to develop algorithms and techniques that can provide transparent, understandable, and verifiable explanations for the decisions and outcomes of AI systems. The field of XAI is important because it can help to build trust in AI systems, improve their usability, and make them more accessible to a wider range of users.

The future of XAI is bright and holds tremendous potential for making AI systems more trustworthy, reliable, and accessible. With the rapid growth of AI in various domains, such as healthcare, finance, and transportation, the demand for XAI will only increase. As AI systems become more complex, it will become increasingly important to develop methods for explaining their behavior and ensure that they are making decisions fairly, transparently, and responsibly. Thus, we can conclude that XAI has the potential to play a critical role in shaping the future of AI and its impact on society.

TIET organised a two-day National Conference on Outcome Based Education - Perspectives & Practices on the 17th and 18th of April 2023 at its Patiala campus. The faculty members trained from Trinity College Dublin under the Train the Trainer initiative of TIET designed and organised the conference with international participation. It provided a platform for TIET faculty from different departments and regions to deliberate on Outcome Based Education (OBE) in higher education technical institutes.

Professor K.K. Aggarwal, former Chairman of the National Board of Accreditation and Founder Vice Chancellor of GGS Indraprastha University, Delhi, was the chief guest of the inauguration ceremony. The meticulously planned inaugural event ensured participation from the industry. Mr. Apoorve Aggarwal, Head - IT, Tata Consultancy Services, was the guest of honour. The dignitaries, along with Prof. Padmakumar Nair, Director-TIET, Prof. Rajesh Chakrabarti, Director- Dera Bassi Campus, Prof. Ajay Batish, Deputy Director- TIET and Dr. Gurvinder Kaur, Organising Secretary of the conference, inaugurated the event by the lighting of lamps. In his insightful keynote address, the chief guest, Professor K.K. Aggarwal, stressed the need to replace the old academic content with new and relevant one to match the pace of changing technology so that students acquire contemporary employment skills. Emphasising the faithful implementation of OBE, he stressed the need to develop a road map for the students from entry to exit in an institute and giving freedom to choose the courses as per their carrier interests. The audience cherished his address, especially in light of the examples he quoted during a 45-minute session. In his speech, Mr. Apoorve Aggarwal, guest of honour, drew an analogy of the OBE with the customer’s experience. He referred to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in the IT industry as analogous to the old teaching style while adopting customer experience evaluation equivalent to OBE. The audience applauded his appreciation for the teaching fraternity embracing the change to online learning during the pandemic. Earlier, Prof. Nair enlightened the gathering about the challenges of measuring the outcome of education. He suggested including empathy and excellence while measuring outcomes scientifically rather than scientistically. Prof. Batish, while describing the background of the conference, apprised the dignitaries about the practices followed at TIET to measure the outcomes of programs and courses. He thanked Mr. Rajat Sikka, Head of Academic Relations, North India, TCS, for making it to the event despite his busy schedule. The inaugural event concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Manmohan Chhibber.

NDP Showcase: The New Directions Program (NDP) equips each faculty member joining TIET with various tools of education technologies like Bloom’s Taxonomy, effective classroom teaching, group learning, making and using rubrics in evaluations etc. The NDP, each season, concludes with a showcase event where participant faculty members highlight interventions used during their teachings. The NDP continued online during the pandemic, but the showcase event could not be held. The organisers consciously coincided the event with OBE 2023, where two NDP batches presented 19 posters.

The poster entitled “Consistent And Never-ending Improvement Approach for Education System” short named CAN-I by Sonu Lamba (CSED), Rajesh Dayal (SOM), Kuntal Choudhary (CSED), and Ram Kishan Devaank (ECED) was adjusted best poster for session 2020-21. For session 2021-22, the poster entitled “A Novel Brain-Function Based Design of Curriculum and Pedagogy (Brainaculm) - A New Education Approach of 21st Century by Amit Kumar Trivedi (CSC), Deba Prasad Dash (EIE), Neha Singh (ECED), Niloy Kumar Chakraborty (TSLAS) and Pragya Ranjan Rout (DBT) were awarded the best. The judges appreciated the quality and depth of content in almost all posters and later shared with organisers the challenging task of singling out one best poster.

Technical Sessions: The response to the conference was encouraging; Seventy-eight abstracts were received and segregated into six technical sessions, with two parallel sessions on both days. In his invited talk, Dr. Nizar Chatti, Head of Pedagogical Innovation, University of Angers, France, shared experiences of the initiatives from his institute back home.

On the sidelines of the conference, he appreciated the initiative TIET took in organising OBE 2023 and proposed the possibility of holding the next event as an international one hosted by his institute. In another invited talk, Prof. Kaustav Roy, TSLAS-TIET, cautioned the teachers, mentors, and administrators to keep the spirit of teaching and learning intact while making output measurable by posing three thought-provoking questions. Prof. Padmakumar Nair, Director-TIET, also attended both sessions and participated in discussions. Prof. T.P. Singh, LMTSOM, and Dr Sandeep Sharma, MED, jointly conducted a workshop on measuring outcomes desired by the NBA and other accrediting bodies. The workshop generated much interest among young faculty members with engaging discussions during tea breaks. The technical sessions saw participation by faculty members from all domains and departments. Experienced and young faculty members, deans, former deans, and even students presented their interventions enthusiastically. All presentations extended beyond their allocated time due to active participation by the audience in the form of queries and suggestions. However, all the session chairpersons meticulously managed time to conclude the events within working hours.

Preparation: The conference idea was conceived almost nine months back and was encouraged by Mr. Sanjay Sen, Member – BOG TIET, and Prof. Ajay Batish, Deputy Director, by granting logistics, infrastructure, and staff support. Dr. Gurvinder Kaur, SHSS, took the initiative to lead the conference, actively supported by conveners Dr. Gagandeep Kaur and Dr. Parag Nijhwan. Dr. Anoop Kumar, SEE, volunteered for publicity, outreach, and hospitality, actively supported by Mr. N.P.Singh, Head – Commercial and Dr. Subash Chander Bose, SHSS. Prof. T. P. Singh and Dr. Amanpreet Kaur undertook the daunting task of reviewing the conference abstracts and responding in time. Their editors, Prof Manmohan Chhibber, Dr. Meenakshi Rana, and Dr. Karminder, through Dr. Gurvinder Kaur, supported the duo. On the conference day, Prof. Rajesh Khanna, Dr. Loveleen Kaur Brar, Dr. Nishu and Dr. Karminder methodically organised back and front-stage activities for a perfect start to the conference. The conference could not have succeeded without the support of many other faculty and staff like DD’s team and others who made themselves available whenever their support was anticipated.

Team Fateh, a Formula Student Team of TIET, brought laurels for Thapar Institute in the National Level competition SAE SUPRA 2023 with 5 trophies and Rs. 2 Lakhs in cash awards. They were also declared the best performers of the competition. The team's efforts in designing and developing their formula-style race car have not gone unnoticed, as they also clinched the top spot in the Engineering Design category.

Their total achievements:

Despite facing unfortunate breakdowns, the team's determination and resilience were unwavering. Their ability to overcome challenges and still emerge as winners is a testament to their teamwork, problem-solving skills, and dedication to their craft. They have not only brought glory to TIET but have also showcased their ability to excel on a national stage.

Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology organised Phase 4 of the Advance (Faculty) Development Program. The program aims to elevate the teaching experience and foster a culture of continuous learning and growth among faculty members.

This phase was focused on Higher Order Abilities in Bloom's Taxonomy and Teaching Philosophy. It commenced with an enlightening inaugural talk titled “How we teach and How we should teach” by Dr. Jayanti Dutta, DD, UGC-HRDC, Punjab University.

The Program featured engaging sessions on the Teaching Philosophy Statement and the application of higher-order abilities in teaching and learning in accordance with Bloom's Taxonomy. Trinity-trained faculty members, including Dr. T P Singh, Dr. Kaustuv Roy, Dr. Chhibber, and Dr. Meenakshi Rana, led the discussions, encouraging active participation and fruitful exchanges of insights among the forty-two faculty members from various departments.

In another exciting endeavor to enhance the teaching experience, Trinity College-trained faculty members of Thapar conducted two inspiring training sessions on "Course Design." Prof. Rajesh Khanna and Dr. Subhas Chander Bose, eminent experts in their fields, led the interactive program, delving into the essential prerequisites, procedures, and sequences involved in designing new courses or revitalizing existing ones.

The Advance (Faculty) Development Program provided a fertile ground for exchanging ideas, best practices, and collaboration among faculty members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence in teaching.

TIET took immense pride in hosting the prestigious International Symposium on Optimization Theory & its Applications (ISOTA-2023) from April 13th to 15th, 2023. ISOTA-2023 attracted distinguished experts from across the globe in optimization theory and related fields, including Applied Mathematics, Computing, and Engineering. With over 100 enthusiastic participants, the symposium facilitated knowledge exchange, research sharing, and valuable networking opportunities. During the symposium, attendees immersed themselves in cutting-edge discussions, gained insights from leading researchers, and networked with peers from around the world. The international presence enhanced the event's significance and fostered global collaboration for optimization theory.

Dr. Prasenjit Basak and Dr. Soumen Basu secured a prestigious project grant from DST-SERB, New Delhi, for their innovative project entitled, ”Development of Natural Ester Oil-Based Nanofluids by Varying the Size and Shape of Nanoparticles as Liquid Insulation with Enhanced Dielectric Properties for Power Transformer Applications.”

Their research aims to develop natural ester oil-based nanofluids with varying nanoparticle sizes and shapes as liquid insulation for power transformer applications. These nanofluids are expected to exhibit enhanced dielectric properties, making them promising alternatives to mineral oil in transformers.

With a focus on recycling and environmental concerns, ester oil-based insulating fluids offer excellent electrical, chemical, and thermal properties. The project holds great potential in advancing transformer technology while promoting sustainability.

We have an achievement in the field of Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs). A patent has been granted for the innovative topic, "An advanced system of all-digital voltage reference ladder for analog-to-digital converter."

This remarkable invention is the brainchild of Ashima Gupta during her Ph.D. under the guidance of Dr. Anil Singh (Assistant Professor, ECED) and Dr. Alpana Agarwal (Professor, ECED). Their relentless dedication and novel approach have addressed a long-standing design challenge in the VLSI industry.

The financial support provided by MeitY (Govt of India) through the SMDP C2SD project has been instrumental in facilitating this groundbreaking research.

The voltage reference ladder plays a crucial role in ADCs like Flash ADC, generating different voltage levels. Traditionally, this circuit relied on passive components, which were susceptible to PVT variations, requiring analog fabrication processes and consuming significant power.

The proposed all-digital voltage reference ladder circuit introduces digital CMOS technology and exclusively uses digital gates, making implementation easier and power consumption more efficient.

Dr. Ravneet Kaur, Assistant Professor in CSED, has achieved a remarkable milestone in her career journey. She was appointed the Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) at the Center of Excellence on Advanced Manufacturing Technology at the renowned Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar.

This esteemed appointment stands as a testament to Dr. Ravneet Kaur's exceptional expertise in the field of Machine Learning. Her significant role in adding the ML aspect to shaping the future of advanced manufacturing technology research at IIT is truly commendable.

Ms. Anmol, research scholar in School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, was invited by Prof Hisaaki Mihara, a biotechnology professor, at Ritsumeikan University, Japan for the collaborative studies under the Indo-JSPS program. During her twenty two day visit, she worked on selenium nanoparticles and presented her research in 2nd Symposium of Integrated Bio-metal Science, Keio university, Yokohama. Her poster was entitled “Synthesis and stabilization of tellurium nanoparticles with soap nut extract as a capping agent."

International Academic Collaboration and Fulbright Professor Visit at Thapar

Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology was honored to welcome Dr. Francesco Travascio, Associate Professor from the esteemed University of Miami, USA, as a Fulbright Professor from 3rd June to 12th July 2023.

To leverage Dr. Travascio's expertise, an engaging Faculty Development Program (FDP) was thoughtfully organized on "Soft Tissue Biomechanics and Bio-Transport" from 15th June to 30th June 2023. The FDP witnessed active participation from our faculty, gaining insights into cutting-edge research and advancements in the field.

There’s also a plan underway to establish an orthopedic research center in collaboration with the esteemed National Institute of Sports. This research center is envisioned to be a hub for groundbreaking research and innovations in the domain of orthopedics, addressing critical challenges and enhancing healthcare solutions.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Francesco Travascio for his valuable insights during his time at TIET.

Successful Collaboration between Samsung Prism and Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology Celebrated with Gratitude and Appreciation

In a remarkable display of talent and innovation, second and third-year students of computer science and engineering at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology have been recognized for their outstanding work on 24 distinct projects in collaboration with Samsung. As a token of appreciation for their dedication and achievements, the students were awarded rewards worth ₹3500/- each, signalling the beginning of a fruitful partnership between the prestigious institute and the technology giant.

The students' accomplishments were celebrated during a special event held at the institute, where their commendable efforts in successfully completing the Samsung projects were acknowledged. Each project represented a significant milestone in bridging the gap between academia and industry, allowing the students to gain invaluable practical experience.

Furthermore, the event provided a glimpse into the bright future that lies ahead for these talented students. The collaboration between Thapar Institute and Samsung Prism has promised forthcoming elite projects, each carrying a substantial financial benefit of ₹2 lakhs. This exciting development has sparked enthusiasm and anticipation among the students, who are eager to take on new challenges and continue pushing the boundaries of innovation.

The elite projects, which are currently in the pipeline, represent an unparalleled opportunity for the students to showcase their skills and make a lasting impact in the field of technology. The substantial financial benefits associated with these projects not only recognize the students' potential but also provide them with the necessary resources to further enhance their research and development capabilities.

The Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, in collaboration with Samsung Prism, has proven to be a nurturing ground for budding talent, fostering an environment of innovation and excellence. The institute's students have demonstrated their ability to rise to the occasion, undertaking challenging projects and delivering remarkable results. The ongoing partnership between Thapar Institute and Samsung Prism is poised to drive further collaboration, opening doors to limitless possibilities and empowering students to make a significant mark in the technology industry.

As the collaboration progresses, it is expected that the students will continue to showcase their exceptional skills, unlocking new frontiers of technological advancement. The institute and Samsung are committed to nurturing these talented individuals and providing them with the platform and resources needed to excel.

The event concluded on a high note, with students expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to work on Samsung projects and their excitement for the forthcoming elite projects. The partnership between Thapar Institute and Samsung Prism promises to inspire and empower the next generation of innovators and pioneers in the field of technology.

The Hon'ble Director, Prof. Padmakumar Nair, and Deputy Director, Prof. Ajay Batish of TIET highly valued the collaboration, which was led by Prof. Anil Kumar Verma, Head of C.S.E., Derabassi Campus, and Samsung Prism Coordinator Dr. Shruti Aggarwal, along with the faculty of Computer Science and Engineering at Derabassi Campus.

Professor Neeraj Kumar, from the Computer Science and Engineering Department at TIET, received the prestigious Shiv Nath Rai Kohli award in the Mathematical and Engineering Sciences category for the year 2019-2020 in the Punjab and Chandigarh Regions. This award recognizes his outstanding contributions and unwavering commitment to his field of expertise.

The award serves as a testament to Prof. Neeraj's exceptional academic achievements and his dedication to advancing knowledge in the realm of Mathematical and Engineering Sciences. His remarkable work has not only brought recognition to the university but also inspires and motivates fellow researchers and students.

Professor Dr. Kulvir Singh's exceptional work has been acknowledged and added to the prestigious Powder Diffraction File in the International Centre for Diffraction Data's database. This remarkable accomplishment stands as a testament to Professor Singh's expertise and the immense significance of his research in the field of X-ray diffraction. The inclusion of his data in the Powder Diffraction File bolsters the scientific community's access to invaluable resources for materials analysis and characterization, thereby enhancing research possibilities and scientific advancements.

1. Young Scientist Award

Harshpinder Kaur Brar, a Research Scholar in the Department of Biotechnology, received the Young Scientist Award for her Best Oral Presentation titled "Scalable Drying Process for Preserving Whole Guava Fruits with High Antioxidant Activity, Lycopene Concentration, and Nutritional Properties."

2. First position in Oral Presentation at International Conference

Sunidhi Sharma, pursuing Ph.D. in Nanotechnology at TIET, has won the 1st position in Oral Presentation at the International Conference on “Recent Trends In Biomolecules And Therapeutics” (RTBT-2023) under the supervision of Dr Diptiman Choudhury, Associate Professor, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Her presentation was on the topic "Albendazole-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles for enhanced anthelmintic activity in Haemonchus contortus.”

3. First position at event "Sentier"

Amber Abbas and Ayesha Gupta, students of UG II COBS and UG II COE, represented team "No Name" and excelled in the event "Sentier," organized by BITS Pilani Toastmasters. After three challenging rounds, "No Name" emerged as the winner, securing the first position and a cash prize.

4. Annual IEEE Delhi Section Student Award

Ms. Ritika Agarwal and Mr. Ajay Singh, from the Department of Electrical & Instrumentation Engineering, received the IEEE Volunteer Achievement awards. Ritika was honored with the Outstanding WIE Student Volunteer Award, while Ajay received the Outstanding Volunteer Award.

5. Second position in PixelMind AI competition at IIT Madras

Eishkaran Singh, a second-year COE student, secured the second position in the PixelMind AI competition held at Paradox 2023 in the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. He received a cash prize of 50K.

6. UNDERGRAD KAGGLE EXPERTS

Congratulations to our UG 21-25 Kaggle Experts:

7. CODE FOR GOOD Hackathon 2023

Three of our CSE students, Yashvardhan Arora, Mudrika Jain, and Himanshu Nagpal secured the winning position in the Code for Good hackathon organized by JPMorgan Chase and Co.

8. CODE 4GOVTECH

Our talented students Sidhharth Banga and Prabhav Chopra cracked the Code4govtech Program, which is India's first open-source mentoring program focused on building and contributing to Global Digital Public Goods!

9. Mentor at Worldwide AI Hackathon

Vansh Gehlot, a BE Mechatronics student at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, has been selected as a Mentor at the prestigious Worldwide AI Hackathon. This event gathers the brightest minds in AI from around the world to take on challenges presented by tech giants like Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, Oracle, and more.

10. Google Summer of Code

Thapar Institute students - Akshat Jaimini, Harishankar Kumar, Daksh Rathore, and Abhimanyu Raghuvanshi - have been selected for the prestigious Google Summer of Code (GSoC) program. They proved their ability in a program that received 43,765 applicants from 160 countries this year, with 7,723 proposals submitted.

11. ACM SUMMER SCHOOL

Arihant Tanwar and Sajeev Yadav, both CSE 3rd year students, were selected to attend the ACM summer school on Computational Biology at IIT Hyderabad.

12. NEO ACCELERATOR 2023

Shivam Dargan and his talented team members, Abhimanyu Raghuvanshi and Prabhav Chopra, all from COBS, have been invited to attend the prestigious Neo Accelerator 2023 scheduled in Sunriver, Oregon, USA, from 25th July to 28th July 2023.

13. Tech Startup - Connect & Grow

Yashika Garg was selected to attend the "Tech Startup - Connect & Grow" program under Punjab State Council for Science & Technology's SHE (Startups' Handholding & Empowerment) Initiative to promote women entrepreneurship in Punjab.

14. XROS Fellowship 2023

Deepanshi Sharma, a 2nd-year BE student from CSED, has earned a spot in the XROS Fellowship 2023. She has been selected for Fanisko in the Gaming Metaverse domain and will receive a stipend of Rs 4 lakh.

1. Priyam Ganguli

Priyam Ganguli, a talented second-year student in Electronics and Communications at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, has written a captivating book titled “The Town” published by Bluerose Publishers.

2. VIRENDER VASHISHT

Virender Vashisht, a fourth-year Computer Engineering student at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, has written an exceptional book, "From Solitude to Salvation."

1. First position at UTSAV’23

Nox Dance Society of Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala, has emerged victorious in the "Tune to Dance" competition at the UTSAV'23 Fest organized by Chandigarh Group of Colleges Mohali. The competition witnessed participation from over 25 teams worldwide.

2. Champions at LE-FIESTUS'23

Nox Dance Society emerged as the champions at the LE-FIESTUS'23 festival hosted by JUIT Solan from 27th to 29th April 2023, which saw the participation of students from various colleges.

3. Second Position at UTKANSH 2023

NOX DANCE SOCIETY secured 2nd position at UTKANSH 2023, NIT Jalandhar's prestigious dance competition.

In the extensive chronicles of human history, there exists a treasure of extraordinary (or in some sense unique) inventions that time has covertly hidden away. The brilliance of these unsung marvels, incepted from the minds of inventors with daring visions which once held the promise of transforming our world, lie overshadowed by their positive counterparts and the inventor’s ambitions forgotten. Prepare to be astonished, as today we go on a journey to unearth and re-discover these bundles of unbounded creativity and ingenuity of human innovation.

The first chapter of our journey, we unfurl the invention which sought to defy conventional transportation norms, the Aerocar. Conceived in the 1950s by Molt Taylor, the Aerocar aimed to combine the sky and land, offering a forethought of impeccable manoeuvrability. It consisted of detachable wings, a pusher propeller, and a foldable tail, declaring limitless potential. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) even granted it certification. However, despite its functionality, this idea of ingenuity plummeted due to high production costs, lack of practicality and economic constraints. It was unable to gain commercial success and was dusted away in the realm of obscurity.

The second chapter, which we evoke by venturing further back in time, is the musical wonder Ondes Martenot. Invented in 1928 by Maurice Martenot was a cryptic musical instrument that aimed to (or in some testimonies, did) surpass traditional symphonies. It was an electronic wonder which created otherworldly sublime melodies by combining oscillators and a ribbon controller. It produced haunting sounds, ensnaring listeners with its unique tonal range. Although it found a following and place amongst the avant-garde composers and innovative musicians, it remained largely unknown outside these circles. Nevertheless, it contributed to the evolution of electronic music by serving as an inspiration for pioneers who would harness its essence to be responsible for the sonority of future generations.

Parsing through the same decennium of time, we stumble upon our third and penultimate chapter, the Dynasphere. A forgotten creation of Dr. J.A. Purves, who served as an inspiration to our previously met compadre Molt Taylor by daring to reimagine the future of transportation. The Dynasphere was a monowheel vehicle, a massive sphere housing the driver which was powered by an electric motor and incorporated gyroscopes for stability. However, mirroring his unknown future prospective successor, the Dynasphere failed to garner the momentum and bedding required for widespread adoption. Prototypes were built, but the dream of revolutionizing our roads by ‘rolling travels’ faded into obscurity and the abyss of time.

For our fourth and ultimate chapter, we dredge through the swamps of history to chance upon the anecdote of the Antikythera Mechanism. A bewitching relic from the ancient Greek world, which faced the fortunate lights of discovery in a shipwreck of 1901. It was a wonder of intricate craftsmanship and astronomical knowledge, an ancient analog computer which was designed to predict celestial positions and eclipses. Composing of a complex arrangement of gears and dials, it continues to astound even present-day researchers with its advanced engineering.

In our journey through the obliviated inventions of the past, we uncovered a tapestry woven with threads of ambition, vision and unhindered creativity. These creations give us a glimpse of what could have been and honour the process of progress as a complex web of inspiration, cooperation, and chance. The tales of these inventors beckon us to reawaken the spirit of exploration, break the boundaries of conventional thinking and believe in our own potential for brilliance.

How’s life going?

Well, I assume. Nothing loud going around; everything’s just at a good pace. You realize you are finally at a point where you have a person to be close to, an art to be passionate about, and a profession to aspire for—a self you sought yesterday.

“So, what would you like to change?”

The person, the art, and the profession we discussed so often came at a cost. No matter how much we try to be objective about it, by the time you read this prose of mine, a massive part of our life has been spent. A life that each of us manifested uniquely is bound to have its waves and trajectory. But isn’t there something that lurks in everyone’s minds, not so disruptive but still significant? “Regrets,” a voice in someone’s mind probably said.

Why are regrets more significant than “Happy memories”? It is Because deep down, I think we blame ourselves for this, “Maybe if I wouldn’t do that, this wouldn’t have happened, and everything could have been in an entirely different place” I seldom say this to myself.

Now that we are on to something, I present to you *drumrolls* ta-da, Mr. Morpheus. On the one hand, if you have to guess who he is and what he is doing, he holds a red and blue pill on the other and offers you a choice between both. The red pill lets you re-enact an event from your life, but it can go either way; the blue pill enables you to forget about a mistake or regret of your choice, no catch.

When I was first presented with this question, I had a clear picture of what pill I wanted, but over time the more I seemed to grow, the less I seemed to know. The reason wasn’t that I feared messing everything up after taking the red. If this were it, I would have just taken the blue to free me from my uncertainties. But no, that also didn’t sit right with me. I thought for days about an optimal answer. All this while, life still went on; days passed, and it kept going as usual little ups, little downs. I even knew what day to replay if I ever chose any pill, but which one?

Have you made up your mind yet? The answer was evident all along, and it just depends on how you read the first line.

If you are content with what you have, why would you throw it away and try the red pill? I am sure when presented with this choice, a day came to your mind when you would try the drug. What if I tell you, you already had a red pill on the day you are thinking so hard about and make a choice on that day? You just made it based on what felt right to you. Even if given the choice again, it will still be decided by your righteous judgment.

Taking the blue pill is the right choice. Well then, what will be left of you, left of your detours, and left of your perspective? It’s these choices in the first place which got us here. Yeah, regrets are one kind of nightmare. Even I faced the same dilemma and hoped the blue pill was the best choice. But would that have exposed you to your weaknesses or what you lack?

Each day presents us with an opportunity whose conclusion can go a different thousand ways, which means a thousand ways to start the next day. The game was just an illusion of choice, a little thought process that proved if you are content, you don’t need to change a thing, and if you are not, there are still ways to go around in this life of yours that only you can carve out. What I tried to present with this piece is that regrets are nothing but thoughts; they will take the shape of whatever you want them to be. They can be souvenirs or lessons learned hard, but they shouldn’t be thrown away. Even if you consider them nothing, they are your nothing, a part of you.

Life’s simple you make choices and don’t look back; this is what keeps us going with a new perspective, prepared for tomorrow, and just hoping to get where we truly desire and one day have a person to stay close to, an art to be passionate about and profession to aspire for.

"In the realm of the unspoken, where silence reigns, Lie the weighty echoes of unsaid words bound in chains. They dance on the edge of trembling lips, Yearning for release, but held in eclipse."

These marvellously written lines talk about how we hold on to our feelings and don’t express them.

We all have experienced how silence rules when our words are bound in chains. They are just at the edge, and we try to break the silence, but for some reason, we are struck, and our words are struck. Our unexpressed feelings are buried deep inside us along with our unsaid words and unexpressed emotions, and we let them encumber us; we all aspire to assert our thoughts and words and proclaim them to the world without judgment. With unexpressed thoughts, we are no less than birds without wings, and we cull to keep ourselves in darkness when we can go into the light by letting go of everything. Not expressing what we intuitively feel leads to many misunderstandings in our life, and we tend to grow apart from our loved ones. Our unsaid words are just like double-edged swords having the power to make or break everything. Still, in fear of losing anything, we must not be silent. We must set ourselves and everyone else free from vulnerability. We must have the courage to express ourselves as it brings inner peace and harmony. Expressing ourselves and speaking up about what we feel can save our relationships. We need to gather the strength once, break all the chains, and nurture ourselves and our relationships with love, tenderness, and affection without holding anything inside.

Alongside, some feelings are better unsaid, for instance, the sense of revenge; in such situations, we are willing to confront our thoughts to cause pain to another person or make him feel guilty. We need to learn the importance of knowing the situations to express ourselves. We must remember the importance of knowing how to express ourselves because people can misunderstand you quickly, and no one wants this to happen. Sometimes the situation is like we have a millennium of things to say but a million reasons not to talk about even one. We need to follow our hearts in these situations. If expressing everything gives us mental peace, and we feel safe and happy, we must do it to feel contented and satisfied. I want to conclude with the following lines, and I hope these lines will help someone procure something and bring even a minuscule positive change in their lives.

So let us break the chains that hold us back, Let our voices rise and emotions unpack. For in the symphony of spoken words, we’ll find, A tapestry of connection, tenderness, and kindness.

Current times have been exemplified by an abundance of conversations surrounding the “Humanities Crisis”.

Marked by an incessant decline in the number of degree takers in the humanities and social sciences, the Humanities Crisis has established a jarringly pitiable portrait of the humanities that has academics, and students from the humanities and social sciences all over the world rushing to its defense. Underlying this crisis are roots of deeper, and more central claims of the lack of utility of disciplines in the humanities.

The larger discourse surrounding the diminutiveness of the humanities and social sciences (HSS) seems to be concerned with pitting it against the sciences in terms of the validity of their explanations about the world but these two streams of knowledge are not as disparate as they seem.

Bodies of knowledge, even scientific knowledge, which concern themselves with explanations of the world around them, however absolute they may seem, are historically contingent.

The French philosopher Michel Foucault asserted the role of power in the synthesis of knowledge, and knowledge as a tool for power. Foucault’s work unearths implications important to ongoing discourses, and attitudes surrounding scientific knowledge. There are social, cultural, historical, and economic conditions and interests that make conducive the synthesis of particular forms of knowledge, and determine what forms of knowledge are more valid than others. Any pursuit in the sciences that seeks to deliberate the validity of dispensable knowledge is incomplete without a study of the larger structures it is embedded in which is precisely the task of the humanities and social sciences.

With the advent of the technological age, the role of the humanities, and social sciences in conjunction with the formal, and natural sciences becomes even more apparent. As avenues boasting the limitlessness of possibilities begin to bustle through the advancement of technology, and scientific innovation, larger implications of this “limitlessness”, and the effectivity of these advances are often left unconsidered. The products of scientific innovation, and technology are engineered by humans, and to be consumed by them but the intersections exploring whether or not these products justify their relevance, and competency in the social sphere that they actually operate in are suppressed in significance.

A prominent example of one such intersection comes with the emergence of fields in genetic engineering. While prospects arising from genetic engineering open up pathways for the research, and treatment of previously untreatable medical conditions through the modification of the genetic sequence in vitro attract much attention, the larger implications surrounding the consequences, limits, and ethics of the use of such technology is equally important. To deliberate the rightful use of such technology, and the limits of its regulation such that it benefits humanity without rescinding the welfare, and fundamental rights of any group concern a deeper analysis of the social, political, cultural, economic, historical, and psychological spheres it operates in which employs expertise from a multitude of disciplines from the humanities, and social sciences ranging from philosophy, sociology, psychology, political science to even literature.

Disregarding the significance of HSS disciplines is not only nescient but ultimately catastrophic. The Humanities crisis rages on at a point in time that necessitates the need for the proliferation of these disciplines more than ever. Any scientific endeavour undertaken to benefit humanity that proceeds without engaged understanding of society will ultimately fail people. Essential qualities of questioning, deliberating nuances, criticising, reasoning, tolerance and versatility inherent to disciplines in humanities and social sciences are indispensable now more than ever not only in a vocational sense but also for cultivating critical, aware, and considerate people.

The Chemical Engineering Department of Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology organized an industrial visit to National Fertilizer Limited, Panipat, on 7th April for the students. They got an opportunity to witness a world-class fertilizer industry and a high level of industrial automation.

1. FLT. LT. HarRaj Kaur

Flt. Lt. Har Raj Kaur was commissioned by the Air Force Academy in December 2019 and received the trophies for Best Women Trainee in Flying and Best in Course in OLQs. Recently, she had the privilege of airlifting an ISRO satellite to French Guiana, South America, and was actively involved in humanitarian and disaster relief missions like Op Dost after the Turkey earthquake and Op Kaveri for the evacuation of the Indian diaspora from war-hit Sudan. It's an immense honour and a moment of pride for her to be the first and only woman pilot in India to fly the colossal C-17 Globemaster.

2. Pragya Madaan

Our alumnae, Pragya Madaan, has been honored as an eminent Indian-UK delegate at the prestigious HPAIR 2023 conference held at Harvard University, USA.

3. Manoj Ahuja

Our alumnus, Mr. Manoj Ahuja, reviewed preparedness with the Agriculture Working Group of the G20 Summit for the second Agriculture Deputies Meeting to be held from 29th to 31st March 2023. He has previously served as the Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education, Ministry of Education, in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.

4. Anurag Verma

Mr. Anurag Verma has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Punjab. Throughout his career, Mr. Anurag Verma has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, strategic vision, and a strong commitment to public service. His contributions and achievements have earned him recognition and respect in both government and public spheres.

The BE Mechanical Engineering Department recently conducted an alumni outreach program, which brought together accomplished graduates from diverse fields. The Alumni Outreach program aims to foster connections and networking among graduates, inspiring current students and creating a supportive global network.

This time, our Director Prof. Padmakumar Nair interacted with three distinguished alumni, Mr. Rajesh Uppal, Mr. Hardeep Brar, and Mr. Amandeep Gupta.

Mr. Rajesh Uppal is a member of Maruti Suzuki's Executive Board; his journey from the engineering department to leadership exemplifies success and innovation in the automotive industry.

Mr. Hardeep Brar, the Vice President of Kia India, has driven his company’s remarkable growth in the market through his leadership.

Mr. Amandeep Gupta is the founder of The Sherpas and has made his organization a trusted name with his passion for leadership development.

The SAIC team organized an Apprenticeship program that brought alumni and students together. The event’s aim was to select passionate students from various branches and academic years to work on a project chosen by the alumni. This collaborative event turned out to be a great success, fostering an exceptional learning environment for everyone involved.

The Chemical Engineering Department of TIET organized a distinguished talk session on "Disaster Management and Safety" in April. The invited speaker, Mr. Kulwant Sarangal, was honored for his remarkable 30 years of service as a Member of the Indian Police, encompassing extensive experience in rural and urban policing and intelligence. During the session, Mr. Sarangal shared valuable insights and expertise in disaster management and safety, providing the audience with invaluable knowledge on handling crises and ensuring public safety. His expertise and experience served as an inspiration to the attendees, enriching their understanding of disaster management and safety practices. The event proved to be an enriching experience for all participants, furthering our commitment to fostering knowledge exchange and promoting community safety.

Dr. Rajeev Mehajan, the renowned Scientist 'G' & advisor at SERB, graced Thapar Institute with his distinguished presence on May 10th, 2023. Delivering a captivating guest lecture on "India S&T Canvas and Research Ecosystem," Dr. Mehajan shared insights from his illustrious four-decade-long career across various organizations and leadership roles. His expertise in science administration, strategy development, and talent enablement has left a profound impact on the nation's STEM landscape. As an esteemed motivational speaker, he has also shared his wisdom on global platforms, including TEDx. TIET was honored to host such an accomplished personality, and his talk proved to be a source of inspiration for the academic community, enriching our understanding of India's scientific research landscape.

The Thapar Institute Counselling Cell at TIET has made efforts to achieve its objective of eliminating social stigmatization related to mental health. Along with providing one-on-one counselling support, the cell organized a range of sessions and workshops for the TIET community, offering important knowledge and insights regarding mental well-being.

To assist students in recovering from and overcoming common issues and challenges in their daily lives, Dr. Sonam Dullat led a variety of group therapy sessions.

A few of these sessions included: The session on ‘Identifying Emotional Triggers’ was conducted on March 28, 2023, from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the G-Block Common Room. The session centred around comprehending emotional stimuli, acknowledging unfulfilled requirements, the impact of trauma on suppressed emotions, recognizing unhealthy aspects in relationships, and implementing techniques to effectively handle and regulate emotions. Another group therapy session on 'Embracing our Individuality' held on April 13, 2023, from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in TAN 104. The session focused on understanding our individuality, acknowledging our unmet needs, and the significance of embracing our individuality to improve our mental well-being. Embracing individuality involves practicing acceptance, not only of our preferred aspects but also of our less preferred ones, recognizing that they contribute equally to our identity. Another crucial aspect of embracing individuality is comprehending that individuals possess diverse viewpoints and preferences.

The cell conducted numerous Let’s Talk sessions that were open to the student community at TIET. These sessions focused on various subjects concerning the enhancement of mental well-being. The topics covered included strategies and approaches aimed at improving mental health.

Some of these sessions are listed below: ‘Let’s Talk Session: Anger Management’ on March 27, 2023, from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. in Tan 102: The session aimed to provide knowledge to the attendees about the nature of anger, its identification, and the various ways individuals react to different situations. Additionally, it focused on offering strategies for effectively managing anger.

Conducted by MHSA’s (Avantika Garg and Rupal Singh), Dr. Sonam Dullat, and Ms. Samira Singh. ‘Let’s Talk Session: Rejection and How to Deal with It’ on April 5, 2023, from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in C-Hall: The objective was to provide the audience with an understanding of what rejection entails and effective techniques for managing it. Recognizing that rejection can be distressing and difficult to navigate, the session aimed to empower participants to handle such experiences and emerge stronger. The intention was to provide valuable insights and tools that would assist the audience in effectively coping with and overcoming rejection.

Conducted by MHSA’s (Palkin Gupta and Ambas Abaas), Dr. Sonam Dullat, and assisted by Ms. Samira Singh. ‘Let’s Talk Session: Body Image’ on April 12, 2023, from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in LT302: The objective of this session was to raise awareness about body image and the associated challenges that impact an individual's mental well-being. The session aimed to facilitate a deeper comprehension of one's connection with their body, highlighting the connection between emotional expression and the development of eating disorder behaviours and impulses. The session aimed to address these issues and promote a healthier perspective on body image. Conducted by MHSA’s (Sristhi, and Aditya Chaudary), Dr. Sonam Dullat, and assisted by Ms. Samira Singh.

The Thapar Institute Counselling Cell expanded its technological capabilities and organized a more comprehensive and impactful series of workshops called the Bootcamp Series.

Conducted by the Technical Department of TICC, these workshops took place from April 4 - 13, 2023, in Tan -104. The primary focus of these workshops was to enhance the cell's software development practices, promote automation and collaboration among team members, and improve the overall user experience for students accessing their resources. Apart from positively impacting the mental health and well-being of individuals involved, these counselling cell workshops fostered a supportive and productive work environment, promoting a sense of community and inclusivity. Ultimately, this training equipped the counselling cell with the necessary tools and skills to offer more effective and easily accessible mental health support to students.

• UI/UX: Omisha Gupta and Rimjhim Mittal from the MHSA presented this workshop on April 4.
• Devops: MHSA Gunjeev Singh gave this workshop on April 7.
• Intro to Development: MHSA’s Abhinav Garg, Uday Beswal, and Rimjhim Mittal delivered this workshop on April 11.
• Hands-on frontend development: Utkarsh Tripathi and Alisha Chauhan from MHSA presented this workshop on April 13.

In collaboration with the Creative Computing Society (CCS), the Thapar Institute Counselling Cell (TICC) organized an Internship Talk on April 19, 2023, in C-Hall from 5.30 p.m. to 7.45 p.m. The purpose of this talk was to provide support and clarity to students from CCS and TICC who had been offered internships and were about to begin their internships, addressing their conflicting feelings and providing guidance. The talk focused on both technical skills and emotional intelligence.

The event featured a panel of students, including Pranjal Arora, Sidharth Bahl, Surabhi Mishra, and Divija Arora (JP Morgan and Co.), Gunjeev Singh (LinkedIn), Divija Arora (Samsung), Harkirat Singh (Texas Instruments), Abhinav Sehgal (STOA), and Surabhi Mishra (Arcesium). These panellists were interviewed by Rimjhim Mittal and Rohan Varshney from the Mental Health and Student Ambassador (MHSA) team, shedding light on the essential factors for securing internships at prestigious organizations.

During the interview, the panellists were asked about fundamental aspects that would help students acquire good internships, such as skills to develop, considerations while applying, time and stress management techniques, effective approaches to reaching out to recruiters, and the desired profile presentation. Following the interview, the panellists engaged with the audience during the live questioning segment, where students had the opportunity to address their doubts regarding internship applications and learn effective methods to excel in internship tests and interviews.

The session concluded with a brief speech by the TICC Lead Mental Health Ambassador and the MHSA Technical Head, under the guidance of Dr. Sonam Dullat. The speech emphasized the importance of emotional intelligence in navigating the internship or placement process, highlighting the significance of managing one's own emotions as well as understanding and responding to the emotions of others.

Overall, the session provided students with valuable insights into profile building, internship applications, and strategies for regulating and coping with their emotions throughout the process.

To commemorate World Healing Day on April 29, 2023, the Thapar Institute Counselling Cell (TICC) organized a visit to the Government Senior Secondary Smart School in Model Town, Patiala. Guided by the belief that small acts of compassion, love, and kindness by a community can make a difference, the TICC delegation aimed to promote mental health awareness and healing among the students.

A team of 20 Mental Health Student Ambassadors (MHSAs): Mannandeep Sondh (Lead Ambassador), Nitin Sehgal (Lead Ambassador), Uday Lomesh (Vice-Lead Ambassador), Kirtveer Kharoud (Content Head), Maanavi Arora (Content Head), Tanya (Design Head), Udita Lamba (Lets’ Talk Head), Nanki Singh (Head of Magazine Department), Sezalpreet Kaur (Head of Magazine Department), Asavri Kaur (Research and Advocacy Head), Jasveen Kaur (Research and Advocacy Head), Devansh Verma (Social Media Head), Yuvraj Gupta (Social Media Head), Abhinav Garg (Head of Technical Department), Uday Beswal (Head of Technical Department), Ananta Sharma (Design Head), and assisted by MHSA’s Rudhir Pratap Singh, Saranya Aggarwal, Tushar Gupta, Alisha Chauhan, Nusaibul Hasan and Hardik Pawar from TICC along with Pancham Aggarwal, Harsh Malhotra and Armaan Garg who helped in covering our event. They all engaged with students in the 11th and 12th grades. The MHSAs employed various techniques to teach essential skills such as time management and goal setting. They utilized skits and art therapy to actively involve the students, enabling them to recognize their strengths and weaknesses. To address stress and anxiety, guided meditation exercises were incorporated.

The delegation also discussed strategies for enhancing focus and study skills, emphasizing the importance of focused attention, goal setting, and self-awareness. These approaches collectively supported the students in setting realistic objectives and achieving desired outcomes.

Dr. Sonam Dullat, Manager - Student Counsellor at TICC, delivered a speech to the students, highlighting the significance of the mind-body connection, community collaboration, environmental sustainability, self-care, and self-compassion. The delegation received support from the school Principal, Mr. S. Balbir Singh Jaura, in their efforts to promote healing and introspection among the students.

The impact of this initiative was evident through the students' happiness and contentment, which cannot be adequately expressed in words. The TICC remains committed to undertaking similar endeavours in the future, continually striving to make a positive difference in the lives of students.

The Centre for Training & Development organized a one-day training program on 'Pastoral Care Training' for caretakers on June 9, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Lp 109. Module IV of the program aimed to develop Psychological First Aid (PFA) skills and enhance the ability to handle distressing situations. Dr. Sonam Dullat, Manager (Student Counsellor), conducted concept and application sessions during the program. These sessions covered various aspects of Psychological First Aid (PFA), equipping participants with essential skills to provide immediate and compassionate support to individuals in emotional distress or crisis.

The training included educating participants about understanding emotional distress and the core principles of PFA. The impact of trauma on mental health was emphasized, along with the importance of providing non-judgmental and compassionate support. Participants were encouraged to be mindful of cultural beliefs, practices, and norms that influence individuals' experiences of distress and trauma.

The program focused on teaching participants how to assess the immediate safety of individuals in crisis and guide them in creating safety plans. It also highlighted the significance of recognizing warning signs, identifying potential risks, and supporting individuals in developing effective coping strategies during critical situations.

The training utilized role-playing to enhance its effectiveness. Additionally, the program emphasized the importance of fostering partnerships between pastoral workers and mental health professionals. This interdisciplinary approach facilitated ongoing collaboration, knowledge exchange, and supervision, thereby improving the quality of support provided to individuals in distress.

Creating a culture of empathy and understanding within the pastoral community was highlighted as crucial for the well-being of individuals experiencing emotional distress or trauma. The Mental Health Student Ambassadors Jaisika Bhatia, Sanchit Nanda, and Devansh Verma provided assistance during the training session as well. 38 caretakers attended the session in two batches from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.

The Dean Outreach Office organised the Educators for Excellence-Counsellors' Conclave, which took place at TIET from June 21 to 22, 2023. The topic for open discussion was "Bridging the Gap: Preparing Students for Life in University/College" which took place on June 21, from 2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the CILP Seminar Hall.

Dr. Sonam Dullat, the Manager (Student Counsellor), shared her views, focusing on thoroughly understanding the specific needs and concerns of students as they enter college. She highlighted how TIET is implementing comprehensive strategies that cater to their diverse backgrounds, aspirations, and learning styles. These strategies encompass various initiatives such as academic support programs, mentoring, fostering a sense of community, and providing extensive mental health resources backed by technology. Dr. Dullat emphasized the importance of the Thapar Institute Counselling Cell (TICC) and the Mental Health Student Ambassadors in aiding transitioning students. The Thapar Institute Counselling Cell (TICC) plays a vital role in offering professional mental health counselling services and assistance to students who may face challenges not only during the transition phase but also in the subsequent years. Meanwhile, the Mental Health Student Ambassadors act as peer mentors, offering guidance, empathy, and a relatable perspective to help fellow students navigate the challenges they may face during this period. Together, these initiatives create a comprehensive support system to ensure the well-being and successful transition of students at the Thapar Institute. She further explored the range of actions undertaken by TIET, sharing best practices and real-world examples that demonstrate the remarkable efforts and positive outcomes achieved in making the lives of transitioning students more manageable, sustainable, and enriching.

Dr. Ankush Pathania, the Associate Dean of Student Affairs (ADoSA), highlighted the importance of societies, clubs, and chapters in the personal and social growth of first-year students. These faculty-student-led organizations provide valuable platforms for individuals to explore their interests, develop new skills, and forge meaningful connections with like-minded peers. By actively participating in these extracurricular activities, students can expand their horizons, gain leadership experience, and enhance their overall development outside the academic realm. Dr. Pathania emphasized the transformative role these societies play in nurturing well-rounded individuals and creating a vibrant and inclusive campus community at the Thapar Institute.

Dr. Ashish Purohit, the Coordinating Warden, emphasized the positive influence of hostel life on nurturing autonomy and encouraging healthy decision-making. He highlighted how residing in hostels empowers individuals to become more conscious of making choices that contribute to their overall well-being. Dr. Purohit acknowledged the collective efforts of hostel wardens, administrative officers, and caretakers who work collaboratively to provide assistance and ensure the welfare of all hostel residents. Their support plays a crucial role in creating a conducive and secure environment that fosters personal growth and a sense of belonging within the Thapar Institute community.

The Centre for Training & Development (CTD) conceptualizes, creates, and delivers various programs to aid students in building employability skills. The Centre also plans training for employees to ensure greater workplace productivity. The centre took the following key initiatives in April – June 2023:

CTD organized a series of ‘Aptitude Building’ workshops in April 2023 to equip students with the quantitative and verbal skills to crack the general aptitude section of various companies participating in campus placements. The workshops were structured to develop logical reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills through engaging exercises and interactive sessions. The strategies and techniques shared during the workshops were aimed at bracing the students with the skill and confidence to perform well in the aptitude sections of company placement tests. From time management tips to effective approaches for different question types, students gained valuable insights into maximizing their performance.

CTD also organized ‘SUMMER SCHOOL 2023’ in June 2023, a special learning & development program for students preparing to participate in campus placement/internship interviews this year. The five-week program included extensive concept, application, and practice sessions on various employability-related topics. Students participated in day-long workshops and immersion exercises led by experts with extensive industry/training experience. Interview workshops addressed difficulties in structuring a successful introduction, directing the panel, answering inquiries about one's career goals, and creating a connection between one's personal objectives and roles mentioned in the job description.

Sessions on group discussions provided students with inputs on how to work together, build strong arguments, and balance individual excellence and group performance. In guesstimate exercises, students learned to make informed guesses and leverage data to make decisions. Classes on case studies helped students to develop capabilities and approaches for analyzing case studies and discussing them meaningfully. The students were prepared for verbal and quantitative ability tests in aptitude lessons. Special one-on-one sessions were conducted throughout for resume-building and career counseling. Additionally, CTD and TICC collaborated to provide personalized therapy sessions. The participants praised the program as an excellent tool for experiential learning and a must-attend program before the onset of the placement season.

To ensure that caretakers, administrative officers, and security guards possess the necessary skills and knowledge to create a safer and more compassionate environment, CTD conducted a comprehensive ‘Pastoral Care Training’ program for them in May - June 2023. This training covered areas like caretaking basics, managing disruptions, medical emergency response, firefighting basics, and psychological first aid. Through this training, CTD aimed to empower these frontline professionals to provide exemplary care and support in their respective roles.