The two-day National Youth Centric Convention on, ‘Visionary Youth: -Ideas, Innovations and Institutions as Enablers’ was held at the Pilar Pilgrim Centre, Pilar on the 22nd and 23rd of March 2024. The convention aimed to bring together youth from Institutions of Higher Education across the nation and their educators and mentors to discuss, deliberate and brainstorm on how to make our institutions of higher learning powerful in shaping visionary youth with the capacity to ideate and innovate for a developed India.
The event was a collaborative initiative of Carmel College of Arts, Science & Commerce for Women, Nuvem, Goa (Department of Economics and Commerce), in collaboration with Fr. Agnel College of Arts & Commerce, Pilar (IIC, Departments of Sociology & Commerce) and the Xavier Board of Higher Education in India, Bangalore. It was organized with the support of Department of IT, E & C, Government of Goa.
At the inaugural function, Principal of Fr. Agnel College, Fr. Fredrick Rodrigues welcomed the gathering which was followed by prayer and a symbolic gesture of watering a budding plant by the dignitaries. The Chief Guest, Mr. Manguirish Salelkar, Founder of the Umang Group was introduced by Ms. Sajani D’Costa, co-convenor of the convention. Mr. Salelkar spoke to the youth on smart. thinking with self-belief and using available resources effectively to forge ahead in the entrepreneurial field. Prof. Dr. R.Venkata Rao, Vice Chancellor, India International University of Legal Education and Research, Sancoale-Goa, delivered the keynote address. Referring to the works of Mother Teresa and Abdul Kalam, Prof. Rao stressed that the world needs more human rather than artificial intelligence. The concept note on the relevance of the theme of the convention was delivered by Dr. Sr. Teresa CSST, Secretary General, Xavier Board of Higher Education in India, Bangalore. Dr. Sr. Maria Lizanne AC proposed the vote of thanks at the inaugural function.
The guest speaker sessions began with Dr. Vishnu Tunuguntla, Professor, Operations and Information Technology at Goa Institute of Management Goa conducting an interactive session on, ‘Digitalization of Higher Education and AI- Benefits, Pitfalls and the Road Ahead’. Mr. Clement D’Souza, Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, St. Joseph’s University, Bangalore, provided his insights on the topic ‘Critical Thinkers or Passive Learners? What are we producing in our educational institutions?’ He summarized the attributes of critical thinkers vis a vis passive learners. Mr. Manoj Louis, Assistant Professor, Government First Grade College, Mangalore, spoke on how innovation and entrepreneurship can be fostered in institutions of Higher Education.
In the next session, students competed in two different competitions. ‘Sparklers: Brighten Tomorrow with Great Ideas Today’ was an ideas presentation competition. 15 teams vied for the top honours in this competition. The judges were Dr. Robert Clive, Vice-Principal, Crossland College, Udupi and Prof. Joy Chowdhury, Vice-President, Herald, New Initiatives. The winners of Sparklers were :1st place – Natasha M.R and Manasa of Mount Carmel College, autonomous, Bangalore, 2nd place-Pratik Wankhade and Ramita Mehta, College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai and 3rd place-Samastha and Anna, Christ University, Bangalore.
‘Trailblazers: Leading with innovation’ was a campus innovation presentation competition. Dr. Anson Albuquerque, Assistant Director, DHE and Mr. Sanjay Mulvi, Head, Seed Fund and Incubation, CIBA, Goa were the judges at the competition. Again 15 teams competed valiantly in this competition.
The winners for Trailblazers were: 1st place –Humaira Jasnak and Tahira Ticlo, College of Home Science, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai, 2nd place-Ram Shende and Sneha Suryawanshi, College of Social Work, Mumbai and 3rd place-Craig Aleston Pinto and Shivam Sutar, Rosary College, Navelim-Goa
Day 2 of the convention featured a panel discussion on ‘Institutional Transition from Degree Producers to Visionary Youth Enablers-Plans and Strategies’, moderated by Prof. Dr. Manoj Kamat, Principal of DCT’s SS Dempo College of Commerce and Economics, Panaji-Goa. The panelists for the session were Mr. D. S. Prashant, CEO of the startup and IT Promotion Cell in the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications in Goa, Mr. Hemant Madegowda, CSR Head of Bangalore International Airport Ltd, Mr. Sudeep Faldessai, Project Officer, Goa State Innovation Council, Mr. Ashutosh Kharangate, Founder and Managing Director of MARC, Dr Radhika Nayak, former Principal of Dempo College of Commerce and Economics, and Prof. Joy Chowdury, Vice President, Herald Group, New Initiatives. In an engaging and energetic discussion, the panelists gave interesting insights into how institutions can channelize youth energies into productive ideas and innovations and converged on the point that knowledge is not power but application of knowledge is.
At the Valedictory and Prize Distribution Ceremony, the Chief Guest was Fr. Joseph Fernandes, sfx, General Councilor & Central Delegate Superior, Society of Pilar. The manager of Carmel Society, Sr. Maria Shanti A.C., also graced the occasion. Prof. Joy Chowdhury, special invitee gave a powerful presentation on skill building initiatives. Fr. Fernandes also shared his words of wisdom with the delegates. Prizes to winners were handed over by Fr. Joseph Fernandes and Prof. Joy Chowdhury in the presence of Dr. Frederick, Sr. Maria Shanti AC, Dr. Sr. Teresa, Secretary General, XBHEI and Sr. Noella Dias, Western Region President, XBHEI.
Cultural performances by Fr. Agnel College students featuring an instrumental band and local dance forms enthralled the participants. The different sessions were ably anchored by faculty, Ms. Rivya Dias and Ms. Nicole Coutinho and students, Ms. Zenia Maria, Ms. Aastha and Ms. Leora.
Dr. Anna Rovina Fernandes, Convention Convenor, proposed the final vote of thanks.
The convention included an experiential learning field trip to the Rapid Prototyping Laboratory of Goa State Innovation Council and to FIIRE, Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda.
This well-organized gathering which had participation of over 200 participants of students and faculty representing different colleges and Universities across India showcased the power of collaboration in conducting such events. Herald lent its support as media partner and Herald Universe of Creativity as the knowledge partner.
In total 18 colleges, namely Mount Carmel College (Autonomous,) Bangalore; College of Home Science, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai; Holy Cross College (Autonomous) Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu; Carmel College of Arts, Science and Commerce for Women, Goa; College of Social Work (Autonomous) Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai, Dayanand Sagar Academy of Technology and Management, Bangalore; St. Joseph’s University, Bangalore, St. Aloysius deemed to be University, Mangalore; St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam; St. Claret College, Bangalore; MES Vasant Joshi College of Arts and Commerce, Vasco-Goa; Don Bosco College, Panaji-Goa; St. Agnes College Autonomous, Mangalore; Providence Women’s College, Calicut; Rosary College of Commerce and Arts, Navelim; Christ University, Bangalore; Fr. Agnel College, Pilar-Goa and Nirmala Institute of Education, Panaji-Goa.