Mangalore: Engineers imporant to nation's prosperity - Dr Aatre at SJEC graduation day
Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Nov 16: The graduation ceremony of St Joseph Engineering College, Vamanjoor was held in a grand manner on Saturday, Novemeber 16 at the college premises.
Padma Bhushan Dr V K Aatre, Indian scientist and former head of DRDO was the chief guest of the occasion. Adrian D’Souza, MD and CEO, Deccan Group of Companies, Bangalore was the guest of honour. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore presided over the event along with other administrators of the college.
The certificates to the graduates were presented by Dr Aatre. As many as 492 qualified engineers, 59 budding managemnet professionals, 61 software experts and 19 masters of technology graduates were administered the oath.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Aatre said, "We are living in an era where science and technology seem to determine and control everything we do. Our health and medical needs, and our transportation are equally dominated by systems and equipment of sophisticated technology."
He added, "It is quite clear that education plays a key role in the prosperity of a country, indicating that knowledge and know-how determine how well off countries are. Additionally education of engineers becomes crtical to every nation to ensure prosperity for the nation and its citizens. The standard of living of any country depends on its ability to educate innovative engineers.
"The twentieth century saw several jewels of technology like micro-electronics, lasers, supersonic aircrafts, GPS, cell phones, internet and World Wide Web etc. Clearly, technology has created wealth, prosperity and comfort. Yet when we look down the 21st century, humanity still faces many challenges like shortage of water recourses, population growth and ensuing food and energy insufficiency and security, adverse impact on climate and the real dangers of global warming, and many health care related issues. There is a need for the world’s cadre of technologies and engineers to put knowledge into practice to meet these challenges.
"A country can build wealth only through technology. Technologically strong country can be economically, politically and socially strong. It takes all the running you can do to keep in place. If you want to get to somewhere else, you must run twice as fast as that," he said.
In his advice to the students, Adrian D’Souza said, "Take care of little things in your life and the bigger things will take care of you. We can’t be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out of it, you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean. Holding onto something that is good for you now may be the very reason why you don’t have something better."
He added, "Have a plan and direction to your life and career and know well who you are. If you are not in the drivers seat of your life, your life will drive you. Don’t be afraid. Fear has two meaning - Forget Everything And Run, or Face Everthing And Rise.
"It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education, than to have education without common sense. Surround yourselves with people who will fill your cup till it runneth over and over. Always thirst for knowledge with a passion for excellence," he added.
The toppers of each branch received special honours from the chief guest.
In his presidential address, Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza called upon the graduates to reflect on precious academic years gone by and contemplate about the challenges that is awaiting. "The Alam Mater is proud to dedicate all the graduates to our motherland and to the world. You are our ambassadors and being here for so long, you have imbibed the spirit of St Joseph Engineering College namely “Service and Excellence”. You are engineers with a difference, your supervisors, employers, collegues should discover that uniqueness in your namely the technical excellence guided by the ethical values," he said.
"Today we are proud of you, you are proud of yourself. You are happy that your parents, wellwishers are seeing you as an accomplished person. It is your parents who have motivated you, your teachers who have been your mentors who have trained and guided you," he told the students.
"A man whose motto is “work is worship” will always be considered a blessing. Be such a blessing to your employers, the one who meets you, with your words of kindeness, with your smile, with genuine friendship and clear conviction that you can make a difference in your life and the world," he said.
Fr Joseph Lobo, director, Dr Joseph Gonsalves, principal, Dr Rio D’Souza, vice-principal, Dr Vincent Crasta, cooridinator, Prof Dr Pius Pinto, EnE HOD, Prof Nithyananda, EnC HOD, Prof Thirumaleshwar, Mech HOD, Prof Shrinath Acharya, IS HOD, Prof Sunitha Guruprasad, CS HOD, Prof Dr Prakash Pinto, MBA HOD and Prof Anushree Raj, MCA HOD were also present on the dais.