Guwahati: A common aim of any graduating student is to experience the convocation ceremony by walking up to the stage to receive the degree and the tossing of ceremonial hats in the air. But due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, such has not been possible for many universities and colleges.
However, students graduating from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay will experience the convocation ceremony in the form of their “avatars” receiving the degree from institute director in a virtual ceremony.
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In a first of its kind, all 2,714 graduating students of IIT Bombay will attend the 58th convocation ceremony virtually. Each of the students will receive the degrees via their virtual images created using their photographic details. The convocation will be held on August 23 and will be broadcasted on DD Sahyadri, YouTube, and Facebook from 1.30 pm.
The students will also be receiving their medals from the avatar of chief guest Nobel laureate professor Duncan Haldane of the Princeton University. Additionally, a synchronised pledge will also be taken by its students from across the country at the end of the ceremony. CEO of Blackstone Group Stephen Schwarzman is the guest of honour and will address the students online.
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According to Dr. Subhasis Chaudhuri- institute director, this has been a huge operation involving planning, technology development, and implementation. He added that no other institute has done it and that getting into and through IIT is a memorable event in itself. Hence they wanted to give their students something to remember.
Chaudhuri also added that this time students and their families can even take a virtual tour of the campus from 6 pm on Saturday. After the convocation ceremony, each department will hold online activities for their respective students from 4 pm to 6 pm after which the virtual campus tour will be enabled again. On top of this IIT Bombay has virtual created typical meeting points like hostels, departments, clubs, and other places where students will be able to join using ULS which will be shared with the students.
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Meanwhile, electronic copies of the degree certificate will be made available immediately after the event. The physical copies will be couriered to the students later.
