Alliance University welcomed the new batch of Ph.D. scholars for the academic year 2024. The onboarding highlighted the university's growth, commitment to academic excellence, and research's significant role in solving contemporary global challenges.

Welcome Remarks by Dr. Sheila Mahapatra

The Associate Director of Research in Academics, Dr. Sheila Mahapatra, commenced the event by welcoming the new batch, the esteemed guest, and the university's leadership team. She acknowledged the remarkable growth in the Ph.D. intake, noting that the number of scholars has doubled this year. Dr. Mahapatra attributed this increase to the rigorous selection process, with the success ratio of admissions being 1:5. She also highlighted that 45% of the current batch comprises female scholars, and 43 scholars have come from corporate backgrounds. In her address, she emphasized that the research projects will align with the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to create a positive societal impact.

Vice-Chancellor’s Address: The Importance of Research

The Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Priestly Shan, addressed the gathering by highlighting the university's recent achievements in the NIRF Rankings 2024. He noted that the Alliance School of Law secured the 18th position, while the Alliance School of Business ranked 71st. Dr. Shan emphasized the importance of incorporating social perspectives in research, explaining how this approach enables scholars to explore problems holistically and provide effective solutions. He cited the example of Google's origin to illustrate how research with a social angle can lead to significant innovations. Dr. Shan also stressed the importance of collaboration across disciplines, referencing the creation of Ziroh Labs as an example of the potential for innovative products and services that arise from openness to diverse ideas. He concluded by underlining the relevance of problem statements in research and the importance of translating doctoral theses into startups.

Insights from the Chief Guest: A Lifelong Commitment to Research

The Chief Guest, Dr. Ranjith TP, Head of Talent Acquisition at Volvo Group India, shared his insights on the lifelong commitment required for pursuing research. He emphasized the need for sincerity and a constant zeal to learn. Dr. Ranjith encouraged the scholars to focus on purpose-driven research that addresses larger societal problems, leading to transformational impacts. He also suggested utilizing tools and platforms such as Google Scholar, Research Gate, and Research Rabbit to facilitate their research efforts.

Encouragement from the Registrar-General

Ms. Surekha Shetty, the Registrar-General, encouraged the scholars to engage with various government organizations, including the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. She discussed the socio-economic and environmental challenges that need to be addressed for societal progress. Ms. Shetty expressed her gratitude to Dr. Ranjith, Dr. Shan, and the university leadership for their contributions to advancing the global movement in enhancing the educational landscape.

Conclusion

The onboarding event concluded with best wishes extended to the new Ph.D. scholars for their academic pursuits. The university reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a research environment that not only promotes academic excellence but also contributes to solving global challenges through innovative and impactful research.