The role of Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) in India is undergoing a foundational metamorphosis in training young minds to develop the skills and competencies required for a highly competitive globalized world. Further, the implementation of National Education Policy 2020 by Government of India provides tremendous opportunities for all HEI to focus on multidisciplinary education, technological integration and serve as potential enablers in the Indian innovation ecosystem.

Alliance has been at the centre for thoughtful innovation and excellence for 25 years and has always been forthcoming in taking up innovative initiatives and create an environment that supports high quality research with a vision to build a knowledge-based economy.

International Inter-School Techno fest (IITF) 2022 is one such unique and unconventional initiatives of Alliance College of Engineering and Design, an academic unit of Alliance University to provide a global platform to Senior Secondary students for showcasing their creative and ground-breaking thinking. It is an initiative to foster young minds and provide them with a platform where talent meets opportunity. It was conceptualized with a vision to encourage developing a scientific temperament, logical and critical thinking among children and make them responsible citizen.

The event was launched in November 2021 and received an overwhelming response from over 153 schools across India and abroad that attracted a participation of over 1000 students. A myriad of 11 topics of contemporary relevance was provided to these young minds so that they can showcase their creative solutions to the expert panel in the form of power point presentations. The participants were required to choose any one topic to exhibit their methodological approach with practical thinking and acquaint them with tomorrow’s world. The topics revolved around various contemporary issues such as:

• Water crisis – Innovative solutions
• What is the future of green buildings?
• Reducing carbon footprints
• Are electric vehicles an answer to sustainable development?
• Artificial Intelligence – boon or bane?
• Smart Cities – a solution to chaotic urbanization?
• The perils of advancement in unmanned aircraft/drones.
• Robotics as a futuristic technology
• Impact of technology on agriculture
• Agriculture and Industry – competitive or complementary?
• Future of gaming industry in virtual societies

IITF 2022 commenced with the grand inaugural held on 28^th January 2022 hosting almost 278 participants virtually from various schools. This culminated with the selection of Top 50 participants who proceeded to the next round in the competition. This was followed by Round 2 again held virtually which was the decisive round for shortlisting Top 5 participants. The finale was conducted on February 4, 2022, where the panel of judges comprising of accomplished faculty members of College of Engineering and Design, Alliance University and eminent Industry Experts evaluated the participants. The valedictory session marked the closure of the global event which witnessed the announcement of Top 3 winners. The winners of the event were Ms. Tejaswi Manoj, DPS Modern Indian School, Doha, Qatar, Mr. Rithul Sandeep, DPS, Bangalore East, India and finally Mr. Mayank Motwani, Indian Language School, Lagos, Nigeria.

The event was graced by the presence of dignitaries including Mr. Abhay Chebbi, Pro Chancellor of Alliance University, Dr. Anubha Singh, Vice-Chancellor of the University, two distinguished guest speaker  Dr. Reza N. Jahar, Professor at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Australia and Dr. Christian W. Omlin, Professor (Artificial Intelligence), Department of Information and Communication Technology, University of Agder, Norway during the inaugural and valedictory ceremonies.

Such events primarily focus on competence development and promoting young minds for social transformation through critical reflection, creativity, and problem-solving ability. Alliance University would continue with this core vision towards fore-sighted learning and education through many such transformative collaborations and events paving the way towards a positive and sustainable societal change.