IIT-B holds virtual convocation for students amid pandemic using their digital avatars
IIT Bombay held a virtual convocation for its graduate students using digital avatars on Sunday. Its 58th convocation featured virtual reality (VR) avatars of the students and the dignitaries, who give away the certificates. This had been telecast on DD Sahyadri as well as on social media.
A statement released by the institute said: “The institute thought it best to arrange such a VR-convocation for the graduating students as we did not wish to put their health at risk but at the same time, we did not wish to deprive them of the sense of achievement and pride of passing out of India’s premier engineering Institute.”
Each graduate had their own personal avatar that received the degree certificate from the digital avatar of Director Subhasis Chaudhari. The medal winners had received it from the Chief Guest, Professor Duncan Haldane, a Nobel Prize winner in Physics for 2016, and a professor of Princeton University. All the recipients and attendees were digitally assembled after being video-graphed individually.
In his address, the guest of honour, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Blackstone, Stephen Schwarzman, said: “India occupies a unique position in the world today, especially when it comes to technology, where it has established global leadership through its talent. Of the 72 Indian-origin engineers who have founded unicorns across the world, 50 per cent are IIT alumni. IIT engineers are defining the global technology landscape and the newest alumni will be the next generation of future global leaders who will advance that mission. You, IIT Bombay graduates, must seize the opportunity to be leaders of impact who are a force for change — and for good — in this world.”
The convocation commenced in a traditional manner, with the institute’s theme song marking the commencement. It also had a virtual tour of the campus and hostels scheduled.
