It is not often that women and hacking are used in the same sentence. Encouraging female students to take up research and development, the department of computer science, Pondicherry University, Karaikal campus hosted the second international Women’s Hackathon organised by Microsoft Inc this last weekend. The students had to develop a Microsoft or Android-based application on safe driving which targeted the youth. R. Brindha, research scholar, and her team, guided by post-graduate student Dinesh Kumar won the competition. Their application will now be competing in the international competition hosted by Microsoft Research, according to Dr. S. Bhuvaneswari, head, department of computer science, Pondicherry University, Karaikal campus.
Asking students to broaden their minds by exploring the ‘excitement of inter-disciplinary research’, renowned writer and critic Prema Nandakumar said that she found that many scholars were excellent in their own fields but had a narrow-minded approach when it came to other areas. She was speaking at the 25 Centre Day celebration programme of the Kanchi Mamunivar Centre for Postgraduate Studies, Puducherry. Ms. Nandakumar talked about how she learnt a variety of subjects while a student of English Literature at Andhra University.
Also present at the programme was novelist Gowthama Neelambaran who asked students to read widely and study different languages but not forget the richness of the Tamil language. He chided the use of SMS which eroded the quality of language. Extolling the virtues of learning, P. Malathi, director, directorate of higher and technical education said, “Education unites different sections of society and gives freedom and self-empowerment”. Prizes were given to students who had won different competitions and Dr Swaminathan, director, KMCPS, presented the annual report.
Many students after graduation are looking at potential career choices and travel and tourism is one of the most coveted fields in which to search for a job. Tourism is the second largest growing industry in the world, Manager of the Tourism Department Baskaran said.
There are a number of job opportunities in the industry, which is still growing in many places around the world. In the future, the entire industry is expected to be revamped, especially in India, he said speaking at the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Arts College in Kalitheerthalkuppam. A lecture was also delivered to BBA students.
A student’s first offer letter is one of her most treasured possessions. It is for this reason that the 257 students from the Manakula Vinayagar Institute of Technology were handed their offer letters with full ceremonial honours by Chief Executive Officer of ICT Academy M. Sivakumar during the Fruition 14 ceremony held here recently.
The students have been placed in companies like TCS, CTS, WIPRO, L&T Infotech, CSS Corp and Sutherland. Chairman of the Sri Manakula Vinayagar Educational Trust Dhanasekaran and Vice Chairman S.V. Sugumaran were also present.
(Contributions from Annie Philip, Kavita Kishore)
