Chitkara University: Latest News, Events, Photos & Campus Reports

Chitkara University assures to provide a world-class education to its students. It truly defines the meaning of teaching with excellence. Every day is a new and fresh day at Chitkara, as the campus is always buzzing up with new happenings or events here! Read on.

Chitkara University bags 2nd Rank in ARIIA Rankings Released by Govt. of India

Date: January 14, 2021

Established in 2020, Chitkara University is a private university approved by NCTE, COA, PCI, INC, and UGC. Chitkara is a high-ranking university in North India. The university was recently ranked 2nd by the prestigious Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements 2021 (ARIIA 2021). Chitkara University achieved this rank mainly due to its best campus facilities, incubation infrastructure, start-ups, various investments and awesome collaborations. 

ARIIA is designed to systematically rank all the higher educational institutions across India. It focuses on the evaluation of the institutions on various parameters such as academic courses, IPR, and start-up activities. Their main function is to promote and support innovation & start-ups on the campus. It focuses on the establishment of pre-incubation and incubation infrastructures and facilities available on campus. It considers the facilities available on campus, successful innovation, start-ups emerging from campus, investment, collaboration, and partnerships with ecosystem enablers. It also considers the research outputs, publications, and intellectual properties generated; and technology transfer and commercialization efforts.

On the occasion, Dr. Ashok K Chitkara, Chancellor, Chitkara University said, “It is the hard work of our students, staff, and faculty that resulted in securing this achievement. Chitkara University's Research and Innovation Network (CURIN) encourages our students to become innovative leaders and contribute to nation-building by developing indigenous solutions.” Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor of Chitkara University, while congratulating the students, said, “This milestone is an outcome of Chitkara University’s relentless focus on fostering innovation, and encouraging students to solve real-world problems.”

Chitkara University genuinely deserves the 2nd rank of ARIIA as it has a scientifically-driven pedagogy, strong industry collaborations, and more than 120 associations from various schools across the world. It attracts the finest students from all over the nation as it has its seamless placement support that provides students with the best placement opportunities.

Chitkara University hosts culinary demonstration with Chef Sambhavi Joshi, Le Cordon Bleu - London alumna and Founder, Casareece Artisanal Pasta

Date: December 14, 2021

Chitkara University, Punjab organized a culinary demonstration on December 9th, 2021 for the students of Hospitality and Culinary Arts with Chef Sambhavi Joshi, an alumna of Le Cordon Bleu - London and Founder, Casareece Artisanal Pasta. She was accompanied by Ms. Saima Siddiqui, Sales and Marketing Manager – India, Le Cordon Blue. Le Cordon Bleu, founded in Paris in 1895, is one of the world's largest network of culinary and hospitality schools, with more than 35 institutes in 20 countries. Le Cordon Bleu's certifications, diplomas, bachelor's and master's degrees blend innovation and creativity with tradition.

Chef Sambhavi Joshi trained in Classic French Cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu, London. In 2019, under the coveted Bahaman Samandari Scholarship. Sambhavi returned to Europe- Paris to study the nuances of culinary management. She got accepted at 3 Michelin restaurant by Chef Alain Ducasse at Le Meurice for her internship. During her time at Le Cordon Bleu London Campus, she was first introduced to a pasta recipe – Open saffron lasagne with lobster and the joy of rolling her very first batch was an exhilarating experience for her. It was during her stint at 'Le Cirque', New Delhi that she truly fell in love with artisanal pasta of all varieties and flavours. During the lockdown, she started hand-rolling pasta. She realized that the majority of the pasta served in Indian restaurants today is Italian-made and store-bought. This gave birth to her homegrown brand ‘Casarecce’, meaning ‘homemade’. 

Casarecce is an amalgamation of traditional methods of making pasta with global flavours and the best of Indian grains, all nurtured with love. Sambhavi has curated the brand and has worked and customized artisanal pasta for top-notch restaurants The brand works with a variety of grains and flours, ranging from semolina, whole wheat, and khapli flour to indigenous millet, rice and quinoa. Everything is sourced right from the farmers to make sure that the ingredients are fresh and organic. She is currently also working with pasta which is gluten-free and vegan. Her journey till now is peppered with inspiration, perspiration and a whole lot of determination. She said, “It’s the constant process of experimenting and learning that inspires me every day.” )The workshop witnessed the enthusiastic participation of the students. During the workshop, Chef Sambhavi passionately talked about experimenting with flavours, ingredients, presentation and colors. She demonstrated how to make Black Pepper Fettuccine with Mushrooms and Parmesan. She interacted with the students and discussed the various types and techniques of making pasta. Talking about her experience with Chitkara University, she said “It was an absolute delight interacting with the students. Their vigour to learn is unmatched. They are so passionate about what they are doing and that is what sets them apart.” 

It was Ms. Saima’s third visit to Chitkara University. Reminiscing her 2019 visit she said “It is always a pleasure to be back at Chitkara University. We visit every year for Chef Demonstrations. But, this is our first event post-Covid 19 pandemic. We are happy to be back here. Everyone at Chitkara University is so supportive. It’s good to see a lot of changes here every year. This year, their collaboration with George Brown College will ensure that students get a truly global experience.” 

Chitkara University makes relentless efforts to ensure that students are exposed to the best learning experience. It is the strong academic heritage of the University that has seen it grow from strength to strength in such a short span of time.

BAJA SAEINDIA 2022 commences its 15th edition Virtual Round at Chitkara University

Date: December 14, 2021

SAEINDIA, a professional Society of Automotive Engineers, today announced the start of the Virtual Rounds of the 15th edition of the much-awaited BAJA SAEINDIA series (Digital Event). This year also, Chitkara University is hosting the Virtual round of BAJA SAEINDIA 2022 at the Punjab campus.

203 entries across 185 engineering colleges in India were received for BAJA SAEINDIA 2022, out of which 130 teams are registered for conventional m-BAJA and 73 teams are registered for the e-BAJA event. Teams across 25 cities have registered along with 2 international teams, from North America and Nepal. BAJA SAEINDIA tasks the students to conceptualize design, build, test and validate a single-seater four-wheeler. The 15th Edition of BAJA SAEINDIA has been divided into 3 phases, the preliminary round, which was conducted in September; the virtual round, and a physical round, in the month of February and March 2022. All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) to take part in a series of events, being conducted in three phases this year, giving the teams an opportunity to participate virtually in PHASE-1 & 2 or physically in PHASE-3 or both.

Upon successful conduction of the Preliminary round in September, the virtual round is ready to begin in full swing. Embracing the current pandemic challenges, this round will be held on a digital platform involving static as well as dynamic events, considering the health concerns of all stakeholders involved.

This round will incorporate Virtual Dynamic events with the help of Automotive Simulation Software, IPGCarMaker, combined with Digital Static Events for 2022 edition, similar to BAJA SAEINDIA 2021. This includes the Virtual Static Events Evaluation such as Design, Cost, Manufacturing & Sales Presentation as well as the Dynamic Events such as Acceleration, Brake, Gradeability, Suspension & Traction, Manoeuvrability, and All-Terrain Performance held virtually through IPG CarMaker software.

Speaking on occasion, Harshit Merchant, Convener, BAJA SAEINDIA expressed his pleasure on how BAJA SAEINDIA has been working diligently to get past the Covid challenging times, and able to achieve greater heights. He said that there are significant numbers of teams participating in the event this year from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Delhi, Punjab in addition to teams from Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Himachal, Odisha. Furthermore, intending to expand the spectrum of learning, the 15th edition of BAJA SAEINDIA introduced the participation of International teams also till PHASE-2, for both mBAJA and eBAJA in which we received participation from Nepal and North America as well. He also acknowledged the sponsors of the 15th edition of BAJA SAEINDIA who have seen the value of this student evaluation and continued to be the pillars of strength for this event. He welcomed all the teams and wished them the best to prove themselves with hard work. Dr Madhu Chitkara – Pro-Chancellor, Chitkara University, Punjab added, “At Chitkara University, we believe in building a skillful society and promoting research, innovation in collaboration with industry and academic institutions. The vision of BAJA SAE INDIA and our university is in sync. We joined hands in the year 2015. As the host institute of Virtual BAJA SAE INDIA for the last 6 years, we feel proud in supporting this program.”

BAJA SAEINDIA is an educational pursuit for engineering college students, an out-of-classroom-education system, where engineering students can participate as a team, giving them pragmatic exposure to real-world challenges as faced in the industry. Originally started in the USA by the SAE International as Mini BAJA SAE, today it is being organized in several countries. In India, it is being organized as BAJA SAEINDIA. A student-level competition in which teams from universities all over the country, conceptualize, design, analyze, fabricate, validate, and run an all-terrain vehicle. This is evaluated during a series of static, dynamic, and endurance events.

Over the years, BAJA has grown in numbers and has become a bigger event nationally, signifying increasing popularity. It serves as a platform for young engineering talent to showcase their skills and acquire real-life experience while overcoming obstacles and challenges- something that is critical for their long-term success.

BAJA SAEINDIA is being led by Dr Pawan Goenka as the Chairperson of BAJA SAEINDIA Steering Committee. We thank our sponsors ALTAIR, Anand Automotive, ANSYS, ARAI, ATS, AVL, BPCL, Briggs and Stratton, Chitkara University, Cambridge Group of Institutions, Cummins, Hero Moto Corp, Hexagon-MSC Corporation, IPG CarMaker, Mahindra, MathWorks, Michelin, NATRiP, Power Equipment, Varroc, Vitesco Technologies for their continued passion and support towards building future-ready engineers through BAJA SAEINDIA. It is also supported by SIAM, ACMA, ASDC, FISITA & AICTE.

Chitkara University, situated near Chandigarh (India) has emerged as the most vibrant and high-ranking university in North India. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, scientifically driven pedagogy, strong industry collaborations, and 120+ working associations from schools across the world, Chitkara University not only attracts the finest students from across the nation but with its seamless placement support, it is also able to help them carve high growth careers.

 

Chitkara University bags A+ NAAC Accreditation

Date: September 10, 2021

Chitkara University has been awarded the rating of A+ by the prestigious National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), which places it among the 5% of higher education institutions (HEIs) in India to be granted such a coveted grade. The University scored a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.26 on a 4-point scale.

The Peer Team visit was completed between August 30th, 2021 and September 01st, 2021. The detailed score along with the grade card was issued by NAAC on September 07th, 2021 after the 81st Standing Committee/Executive Committee of NAAC. Chitkara University has been accredited with an A+ grade for five years upto September 2026.

The University has been awarded 3.8-grade points for Curricular Aspects, 3.06 for Teaching Learning and Evaluation, 2.71 for Research, Innovations and Extension, 3.56 for Infrastructure and Learning Resources, 2.85 for Students Support & progression, 3.62 for Governance, Leadership and Management and highest grade point of 3.95 for Institutional Values and Best Practices. The overall grade awarded to the University is 3.26 on a 4-point scale with an A+ grade.

The university has been praised for three major features by the Peer Team. They are: good infrastructure for educational innovation and research; a neat and clean, green, and well-maintained campus; and the location of the institute is in a well-developed urban area with good placement opportunities.

On the occasion, Dr. Ashok K Chitkara, Chancellor, Chitkara University said, “It is the hard work of our students, staff and faculty that resulted in securing this recognition. Moreover, the university has a well-defined research promotion policy which has resulted in the development of state-of-the-art advanced facilities. CURIN has multi-disciplinary advanced facilities supported by research funding from government agencies such as DST, DRDO, etc. to the tune of 37.24 crores. The research scholars and faculties are provided seed money for undertaking research and filing patents.”

Dr. Madhu Chitkara expressed her sincere thanks to all stakeholders and said, “The curricula are developed following standardized procedures and are revised at regular intervals by taking feedback from all our stakeholders. The local, regional, and global developmental needs regarding employability and entrepreneurship are considered while designing the course. Experimental, participative, and project-based learning are in practice through blended learning. We have adopted a flexible CBCS system that gives freedom to the students to undergo a multidisciplinary approach. The assessment process is well defined to evaluate the attainment level in critical thinking and problem-solving skills through program-specific learning.”

Established in 1994, NAAC is an autonomous body of UGC which assesses and accredits Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). NAAC has identified a set of seven criteria to serve as the basis of its assessment procedures: Curricular Aspects; Teaching-learning & Evaluation; Research, Innovations & Extension; Infrastructure & Learning Resources; Student Support & Progression; Governance, Leadership & Management; and Institutional Values & Best Practices.

By studying in an institution that is NAAC accredited, students get a chance to learn in a cutting-edge environment and earn a degree that will have global recognition. They get instant recognition as an alumnus of a credible institute and get better placement opportunities as the industry prefers hiring with higher-graded institutions.

The university, through NAAC accreditation, gets to know its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities through an informed review process. The higher NAAC Grade of the university promotes various Intra & inter-institutional interactions.

Dr. Archana Mantri, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University said, “The university practices Global Week for students and faculty exchange programs with foreign academic institutions. Various dynamic collaborations have been established through internationally funded research projects, international conferences and cultural immersion across the campus. This best practice has had a significant impact on a large number of global experts (250) and students (25000), several value-added courses (100) have been introduced through this best practice.”

Dr. K. K Mishra, Director, Accreditation & Quality Assurance Cell, said “According to the old scheme, which was followed till 2017, the whole evaluation was based on an overhauled visit by a peer team, and under the current process, 70% of the evaluation is based on data from the institution and university that is evaluated by a third party. That makes it even harder to be accredited. The NAAC accreditation will create new avenues for the university and its students”.

Chitkara University ties up with the University of Windsor for academic mentorship in B.Com

Date: August 16, 2021

Chitkara University on Friday announced a new international collaboration with the University of Windsor to support transnational education and student mobility. _The agreement was signed by University of Windsor president and vice-chancellor Dr. Robert Gordon and Chitkara University pro-chancellor Madhu Chitkara.

Under the new academic mentorship agreement, the Chitkara faculty will be mentored by the Odette faculty, while fostering a connection with students in India who will transition to the University of Windsor after completing the first two years at Chitkara.

As a part of the arrangement, students in the first two years of the program will pay a domestic tuition fee. Students will also be co-taught as a part of the curriculum by the Canadian faculty.

Transferring Chitkara students will earn a University of Windsor bachelor of commerce (honours) degree at the end of their study and will be eligible to apply for a three-year post-study work permit.

Speaking at the event, Madhu Chitkara, said, “At Chitkara University, we are continuously innovating our program offerings and with the prevailing pandemic challenges such innovative hybrid programs will help students keep their study and career aspirations on track. The agreement with the University of Windsor will definitely go a long way in helping the students from the region gain international exposure at one of the leading Canadian Universities. It is a step forward in our mission to bring the best global opportunities for our students. ”

“International education brings important benefits that lead to a successful and secure future for all involved,” said Chris Busch, assistant vice-president, enrolment, University of Windsor. This unique program provides participants with the opportunity to develop a broader worldview, strengthen communication skills across languages and cultures, and build crucial international connections.

Chitkara University Recognised as District Green Champion by Government of India

Date: July 30, 2021

In a major feat, Chitkara University, Patiala, has been recognised as the ‘District Green Champion’ for Patiala district for the academic year 2020-21 by the Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education (MGNCRE), Ministry of Education, Government of India.

The award was presented to Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor of Chitkara University, in the presence of Kumar Amit, Deputy Commissioner, Patiala.

This award is given to colleges that have actively participated in keeping their campuses clean and sanitised, and making progress towards a ‘Swachh Bharat’.

It was reviewed that Chitkara University, Patiala, successfully managed to set up the Swachhta Action Plan Committee, adopted and implemented best practices in the areas of sanitation, hygiene, waste management, water management, energy management and greenery management.

On receiving the honour, Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor of Chitkara University, said, “Along with technological and educational advancement, Chitkara University acknowledges the importance of the environment and puts in concerted efforts towards achieving best practices. This award is a testimony of the university’s commitment to social responsibility and sustainable development. I congratulate all the students and staff members for this honour.”

The Higher Education Department of India had initiated the Swachhata Action Plan to generate a health competition among higher educational institutions for maintaining hygienic campuses so that a clean environment is created for students to study in, leading to higher thinking.

Chitkara University Students’ Artwork makes it to Tokyo Olympics 2021

Date: July 29, 2021

In a proud moment for Chitkara University, the artwork of seven artists (Ph.D. scholars, Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) students and Faculty Members) have been selected for the virtual art show “Olympia”, initiated by the Indian Contemporary Artist Association. The works will be exhibited during Tokyo Olympics 2021.

The art show’s reel video will be displayed at Tokyo Olympics Memorial Gallery, Chuo-ku, in Japan, from July 23 to August 8, 2021. Out of the total 52 selected participants, seven are from Chitkara University.

Piyush Anand and Diksha Raghav from BFA, Painting, painted ‘The Winner’ and ‘Moods of Glory’, respectively, in mixed media.

Alisha Sharma, a Ph.D. Research Scholar, Art & Design, painted ‘Olympic’ using watercolour. Abhijit Kumar Mohanty and Rakesh Kumar Chaudhary, also Ph.D. Research Scholars, Art & Design, made ‘Light of Hope’ and ‘Running for Glory’ using the digital medium.

From the faculty, Dr. Arjun Kumar Singh painted ‘The Runner’ using charcoal as the medium.

Moreover, Dean of Chitkara Design School, Prof. (Dr.) Ranjan Kumar Mallik’s creation “Me & My Olympic 2021” was also selected. It was made on a digital medium. “The artworks are humble contributions from Chitkara University to motivate the athletes who will be participating in the Olympics,” he said.

Expressing her happiness and congratulating the artists, Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor, Chitkara University, said, “Our students and faculty have made us proud with their magnificent achievement. Chitkara University has the vision to support creativity and boost innovation. We like to encourage our students as well as the faculty to explore their full potential while providing them with the best global opportunities. I would like to extend my congratulations to the artists who made their mark on this international platform.”

Chitkara University’s Dr Charu Khosla wins Greenpreneur Award 2021 

Date: June 11, 2021

Dr Charu Khosla, Assistant Dean, Office of International Affairs, Chitkara University, Punjab, won the prestigious Greenpreneur Award 2021 organised by FICCI in association with the Punjab government for exemplary work in ‘Energy Management’.

The Greenpreneur Awards 2021 were organised by Startup Punjab in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI FLO) Amritsar to honour Punjab's finest entrepreneurs in Energy Management, Water Management, Waste & Material Productivity, and Innovative Practices in Sustainability. FLO is the women wing of the FICCI, which has its headquarters in New Delhi, with 17 chapters covering different geographical regions of India.

Dr Charu Khosla is the founder of BB OORJA Pvt Ltd, which has been incubated by Chitkara University. The startup uses clean and green fuel through agro-waste management for its smokeless cooking stove, a unique product for households and hotels.
On receiving the award, Dr Charu said, “I am thankful for receiving this honour. I am also thankful to Chitkara University for giving me the right wings and the right platform.”The winner was chosen after witnessing a spate of nominations, from topmost and established industries from all over Punjab competing for this coveted recognition for building a sustainable future.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor, Chitkara University, said, “Chitkara University has the vision to support entrepreneurship & innovation while acknowledging efforts & creativity. We like to encourage our faculty to explore their potential and expand their horizons. It is a proud moment for all of us at Chitkara University and we congratulate Dr. Charu Khosla for this brilliant accomplishment.”

The winner was declared by Alok Shekhar, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, and Rajat Agarwal, IAS, CEO Invest Punjab, in a virtual ceremony on World Environment Day.Speaking at the Greenpreneur Awards 2021, Rajat Agarwal, said that the state government is providing seed funding support to outstanding entrepreneurs of Punjab.

Chitkara University and CDAC join hands to promote Research 

Date: May 15, 2021

Chitkara University, Punjab, and Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C DAC), Mohali signed an MoU to provide a fillip to research and innovation here  today. The MoU was signed during the Virtual Commemoration of 33rd Foundation  Day of CDAC. Dr VK Saraswat, Member, Niti Aayog presided over the function.  

Dr P K Khosla, Executive Director, C-DAC, Mohali while signing the MoU stated, “The  thrust areas at C-DAC, Mohali are Cyber Security, Healthcare technologies, Agriculture  Technologies, Artificial Intelligence and Embedded Systems. After visiting Chitkara  University campus and meeting the leadership team there, I was sure of the synergy  that C-DAC and Chitkara University share. I also visited the research labs and other  Centres of Excellences at the University. I was impressed with the work going on in the  cutting-edge research areas – especially the Immersive and Interactive Technology  Lab, CoE in VLSI Design, CoE in Cyber Security and IOT.” Collaborative working in the  domain of Cyber Security and IoT is the need of the hour. 

Dr Archana Mantri, Vice Chancellor, Chitkara University was ecstatic on this  momentous occasion. She said, “The only way we can take giant steps forward is with  collaboration. At Chitkara University, we want to contribute to the Nation’s Intellectual  worth and help the young generation to bring out innovations which can positively  impact lives of people. This MoU is one step in that direction.” 

The MoU was signed by Dr Madhu Chitkara, Pro Chancellor, Chitkara University and Dr  PK Khosla, Executive Director- CDAC, Mohali in a virtual ceremony. While signing the  MoU, Dr Chitkara announced, “We are filing the 700th Patent and incidentally today our  70th patent has been granted. Today we are crossing the 1800 Scopus indexed  publication mark.” She considered this signing of MoU as a positive step forward for the  research fraternity. 

The Ceremony was attended by the top leadership of Chitkara University and C-DAC.  Going forward, the MoU will facilitate joint development of technologies as well as joint  supervision of Masters and PhD scholars. The MoU will also augment knowledge  generation, dissemination and exchange in the areas of Cyber security, Agritech,  Healthtech and Cloud computing. 

SOT sanction grant to Chitkara University

Date: May 06, 2021

In a major boost to Chitkara School of Pharmacy’s global initiative to create a safer and healthier world, the Society of Toxicology (SOT) has sanctioned a grant of US $4,000 (Rs 300,000) under SOT Global Initiative Funding 2021.SOT is a professional and scholarly organization of scientists dedicated to creating a safer and healthier world by advancing the science and increasing the impact of toxicology.

The grant will help students of Chitkara School of Pharmacy to experiment activities consistent with the Society’s global priorities. SOT encourages proposals to represent collaborations between the Society, SOT Component Groups, SOT Committees, and other toxicology organizations. SOT serves the needs of the scientific discipline to enhance human, animal, and environmental health; life-long learning and intellectual scientific stimulation; diversity of representation in all activities of the Society and integrity.

Dr Nitin Verma, Principal, Chitkara School of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh, had applied for this funding. He explained that the grant will be utilized to conduct the conference on the theme ‘The Science of PFAS: Chemistry, Public Health, Multimedia Measurements & Environment’ in August 2021, as one of the priorities under Sustainable Development Goals: Clean Water and Sanitation and Climate action. Experts from the USA, Canada, Australia and other parts of the world will participate in this conference.

“It is designed to provide assessment practices as well as in the latest methods in chemical, pharmaceuticals, pesticide, cosmetics and medical devices risk assessments. The participants will learn all aspects of risk assessment and will receive a certificate documenting their successful completion of the course,” said Dr Ashok K Chitkara, Chancellor, Chitkara University, Punjab and Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh.

Mahindra BAJA SAEINDIA 2021 successfully concludes Leg 2 of its 14th Edition at Chitkara University 

Date: April 26, 2021

The 14th edition of the much-awaited BAJA SAE 2021 series concluded with much fanfare at Chitkara University at Rajpura here today. For the first time, the event was held in the virtual format amid the disruption caused by the pandemic wherein the teams participated from their respective regions.

• In the conventional m-BAJA Team Piranha Racing from Dr.Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, Pune was declared as the winner and Team Predators Racing from D.Y Patil College of Engineering, Akurdi stood as the first runner up.

• In the e-BAJA event Team Concept Green from KLE Technological University, Hubli was declared as the winner and Trident Racing  from Shri Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management, Nagpur stood as the first runner up.

Two hundred entries across the Engineering colleges in India were received for BAJA SAEINDIA 2021, out of which 150 teams were registered for conventional m-BAJA & 50 teams are registered for e-BAJA event. While Chitkara University has been supporting the BAJA SAEINDIA since 2015, it is the principal sponsor and host for the 14th edition of the BAJA SAEINDIA 2021 event. BAJA tasks the students to conceptualize, design, build, test & validate a single-seater four-wheeled All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) to take part in a series of events.

The BAJA SAEINDIA 2021 event has been conducted in 2 legs. The first leg i.e. Preliminary round of BAJA SAEINIDIA 2021 was conducted in December 2020, wherein teams were asked to submit the Design Report of their buggy along with Automotive/Rulebook quiz and evaluation. This evaluation was not an elimination round, but the score obtained by teams will be added to final scores of the team.The second leg will consist of Static Events done on personalized video conferencing software. Followed by this, the Dynamic events will be held virtually through IPG CarMaker. The virtual dynamic events will include Acceleration performance, Brake performance, Gradeability performance, Maneuverability performance, Suspension and traction performance & All-Terrain Performance.

BAJA SAEINDIA 2021 is about ‘Embracing Challenges’ by converting barriers into opportunities. As the world faces a test of survival and simultaneously, the automotive industry adopts trends like electrification of vehicles, stricter emission and crash norms, BAJA SAEINDIA presents a challenge to the budding engineering leaders to embrace this scenario and spark path breaking ideas to lead a new and exciting future of recreational Off-road All-Terrain Vehicles.

The objective of the competition has been to put forth real-world engineering design projects and provide a platform to overcome related challenges.  BAJA Chitkara 2021 was about ‘Overcoming Challenges’ to achieve the sole aim of survival and simultaneously of the automotive industry. Each team’s goal was to think upon for a safe, easily transported, easily maintained and fun to drive prototype without any direct involvement from professional fabricators. To test the patience of the teams, restrictions including speed limit to 60 kmph.

The Dynamic Evaluation Round tested the vehicles for acceleration, sledge pull, maneuverability and Suspension & Traction. Durability Evaluation Round witnessed vehicles undergo endurance tests of four hours of BAJA. The Endurance Event assessed each vehicle’s ability to operate continuously and at a speed over rough terrain containing obstacles in any weather conditions.

Speaking on occasion, Dr Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor, Chitkara University said, “Our association with the BAJA SAE INDIA started in the year 2015 and has been growing ever since. I congratulate all the winners and appreciate the efforts put in by other contestants to give a tough fight. As the world fights with a crisis, participants of this event have immense courage to showcase their talent at one of the nation’s best platforms. I also appreciate the Organising Committee for raising the bar of the event”.

Speaking on occasion, Mr. Harshit Merchant, Convener, BAJA SAEINDIA 2021, said, “This year we face an exceptional trial in keeping the spirit of BAJA alive. Our theme of ‘Embracing Challenges’ accurately embodies this. Social distancing and health safety of all individuals has taken centre stage throughout the World; and this has been foremost in our minds while conceptualising the format this year.”

Speaking on occasion, Mrs. Rashmi Urdhwareshe, President SAEINDIA, said: “BAJA SAEINDIA is inspired by the values, ethos and it provides an opportunity for thousands of engineering students to put the skills they have picked up into practice. The competitive atmosphere at BAJA, always put learning at the front and nurtures the growth of an individual right before they enter the competitive environment of the industry. The competition enables them to grapple with a real-life application and improve their skills related to design, validation, marketing, project management, teamwork, etc., which boosts their self-confidence and teaches them leadership skills. Indeed, all of this will help BAJA SAEINDIA contribute to building yet another generation of readymade engineers. I wish all the participating teams at BAJA SAEINDIA 2021 the very best.”

Chitkara University climbs up the rankings order in the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) IMPACT Rankings

Date: April 26, 2021

Chitkara University from Punjab has been ranked among the top 10 Indian universities in the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) IMPACT Rankings -2021 for achieving the individual Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The worldwide ranking of THE IMPACT rankings placed Chitkara University in the coveted rank slab of 401-600 in the list that witnessed 1,115 institutions from 94 countries.

Additionally, Chitkara University has also been ranked among the Top 100 globally in the 'Affordable and Clean Energy' category of the SDG. The university also excelled in the 'Partnership for the Goals' category of SDGs by attaining an impressive 301+ ranking among the 1154 participating institutions. The university achieved an impressive worldwide ranking in the 'THE IMPACT' ranking, owing to its institution-wide fulfilment and adherence to all the criteria set out by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

"Only a few Indian Universities were able to make it into the prestigious 'THE IMPACT' world ranking; witnessing Chitkara University feature highly in these rankings is indeed a matter of immense pride for Chitkara University and the people of Punjab and Chandigarh. The university has always strived to provide the knowledge and learning-centric platform to our students, a work-friendly and progressive environment to our faculty and an inspirational platform for the society, with an intent to nurture the future and make this nation proud," said Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro Chancellor, Chitkara University.     

About the Rankings

Under the Impact Ranking, THE assesses universities against the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the third-ranking released in this series. Under the Impact Rankings 2021, universities were assessed across 17 parameters listed as SDGs including, no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace justice, and strong institutions, and Partnership for goals.

Chitkara University Confers Mr Sunil Sethi with The Degree of ‘Doctor of Literature’

Date: February 23, 2021

Mr Sunil Sethi, a stalwart in the ‘Indian Fashion’ industry, an entrepreneur extraordinaire, and a luminary who has helped bring Indian fashion to the global stage was conferred with Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) Honoris Causa by Chitkara University. Mr Sunil Sethi arrived at New Delhi venue to grace the event where he received an Honorary Doctorate from Chitkara University, on February 09, 2021. He was received by Dr Ashok K Chitkara, Chancellor, Chitkara University and offered a traditional welcome by Chitkara University staff and management.

Chitkara University presented Mr Sunil Sethi with an Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) Honoris Causa, in honour of his unparalleled and invaluable contribution to ‘Humanity, World Peace and Education' owing to his inspirational journey as a role model business leader and his stellar role in creating significant impact in the domain of 'Business of Fashion' and community outreach.

Mr Sunil Sethi, is the current President of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), an accomplished fashion industry businessman and an eminent thought leader in the Indian fashion industry. Under his leadership, FDCI has been committed to taking Indian fashion to a global level by promoting the 'Business of Fashion'. Since he accepted the role of President at the FDCI in 2008, it has grown to represent 350+ designers. His previous professional engagements include Senior Vice Presidentship at the Li & Fung Group, a multinational company with an extensive global presence and an operating sourcing network with 70 offices across 40 countries, and setting up Alliance Merchandising, a sourcing and buying company in 1988, having worked with premium global brands including Armani Casa, Crate & Barrel, and Anthropologie among its clients. Mr Sethi has also been credited with pioneering a host of successful 'India-centric’ promotions in countries like UK, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Moscow, London, New York, Tokyo and Paris.

Since 2002, Sunil Sethi has taken more than 25 Indian fashion designers on to the global stage. He has done his best to propagate the 'Made in India' brand all through his career. In 2005, he was felicitated with the Lifetime Achievement Award by EPCH at the 14th Export Award Function, and in 2006, with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Carpet Export Promotion Council, both sponsored by Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. 

The convocation ceremony was inaugurated with the lighting of the lamp by Dr Ashok Chitkara (Chancellor, Chitkara University), Mr Sunil Sethi, Prof. Cavita Taragi (Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University), Mr Rajesh Chandran (Director, Career Advancement Services, Chitkara University), Prof. Manpal Setia, (Dean, Chitkara University), and Mr Gopal Meena (VP, Strategic Initiatives, Chitkara University).

Following the ‘lamp lighting’ ceremony, Mr Rajesh Chandran shared the university laurels, introduced Mr Sunil Sethi, followed by introducing FDCI. Taking the ceremony further, Prof. Cavita Taragi invited Dr Ashok K Chitkara and Mr Sunil Sethi on the stage where Mr Sethi was conferred with 'Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) Honoris Causa’ by Dr Ashok K Chitkara on behalf of Chitkara University. 

Dr Sunil Sethi delivered the valedictory speech, wherein he expressed gratitude and shared, "I'm delighted to be a recipient of this coveted honour, second to none other than His Holiness The Dalai Lama. I would like to thank Dr Chitkara and his team for giving me this award; I'm humbled. My work in the space of fashion and product design has always been passionate, as it drives me towards excellence. I hope the students of the University can take a slice from my life experiences of chasing one’s dream and making it happen.”

On occasion, Dr Ashok K Chitkara shared that, "The University is honoured to have Dr Sunil Sethi amidst us today – a stalwart of India Fashion Industry, an Entrepreneur extraordinaire, and a luminary who has helped bring Indian fashion to the global stage.  He has paved the way for young, ambitious designers to aspire for a global career. His work has and will continue to strengthen the Indian Fashion Industry through his role of a mentor, and President of FDCI. The University has previously conferred the degree to luminaries like Mr S. Ganesh Mani, His Holiness 'The Dalai Lama', Dr D.S Rana, Prof. Josef M. Ullmer, Mr Manish Sharma, and Mr Kailash Khatkar, and now including Dr Sunil Sethi in the list of luminaries is a delightful moment for us."

Chitkara University hosts North Zone NSS Pre-Republic Day Parade Camp

Date: November 26, 2019

Chitkara University hosted the North Zone Pre-Republic Day Parade Camp, at its Punjab Campus. The event was organized from November 15-24, 2019. The Parade Camp, which was organized under the aegis of NSS Regional Directorate, Chandigarh; and the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, GoI, aimed at selecting the best NSS volunteers to take part in 2020 Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath, New Delhi. 

The 10-Day Pre-RD Parade Camp was managed entirely by the NSS Officials, student volunteers, and contingent leaders, and included activities like Shramdan, Yoga, Community Singing, Parade Practice, Academic Lectures, Debate and evening Cultural Programs, planned for the participants. Additionally, NSS volunteers also took part in hospitality assignments on different days of the camp involving volunteers of different states one by one. 

The last leg of the Camp included selection rounds where NSS officials & selection committee members - Mr. Ravi Kumar Sinha, Under-Secretary, GoI & CPIO GoI, Dept. of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, N. Delhi; Dr. C. Samuel Chelliah, Assistant Program Adviser, Directorate of NSS, N. Delhi; and Dr. Ashok Kumar Shroti, Regional Director, NSS, Regional Directorate Lucknow & Additional Charge, Bhopal; assessed the NSS Volunteers for discipline, march past and cultural activities. 

A Panel Discussion on 'significant initiatives taken for the youth of the country, by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India', with selection committee members & senior officials, was also broadcasted live on Chitkara Radio 107.8FM. The talk was moderated by Dr. Neelam Verma who looks after NSS activities at Chitkara University. 

Congratulating the NSS Volunteers, for their keen efforts and enthusiasm during the Parade Camp, Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University, said, "We believe that the real success of education is to apply knowledge, and NSS symbolizes the same. The youth of a nation shapes and moulds its present and paves the way for its future - and together, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India; and the National Service Scheme, play a pivotal role in linking the student with the nation, and securing the future with its dynamic youth."

The Camp concluded on a high note with breath-taking cultural performances and a glittering valedictory ceremony for the participants. Chief Guest for the day - Mr Charu Dutt Singh, Deputy DGF Central, Deputy Director General Forest, Northern Regional Office, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, Chandigarh; and Guest of Honour - Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University; congratulated & honoured the NSS Volunteers for their dedication, hard work and enthusiastic participation. 

Chitkara University brings Global Education to its Students

Date: October 24, 2019

Chitkara University celebrated its 11^th Anniversary of the Global Week recently. It hosted over 55 distinguished Guest Professors representing about 39 prestigious Partner Universities from 22 countries across the six continents, who jointly set an outstanding benchmark and phenomenal precedent much in the true sense and essence of Internationalisation.

Unlike other universities that have classrooms surrounded by four walls, we at Chitkara literally bring a 'world of infinite possibilities' to our students each year by hosting Global Week. The event is a one-of-a-kind global engagement event in North India — a celebration of diversity through cross-cultural exchange, knowledge transfer, industry linkages, and phenomenal networking opportunities, to boost collaborated teaching through blended learning across the borders.

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Welcoming Dignitaries and our International Guests, Hon'ble Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University; declared the event open. Addressing the audience, Dr. Chitkara said, “The University is delighted to be back with Global Week, Season 11. We are committed to preparing our students to be 'world-ready' by providing a unique educational experience that gives the views of the world from every classroom and learning space. The  Global Week has, over the years, grown into one of the largest 'WorldClass TNE-TeamTaught' platforms to extensively elevate the crucial mandates of promoting blended learning, through collaborated teaching across borders for our deserving students,” she added.

Chef Vikas Khanna shares the ‘Recipe of Success’ with Chitkara University students

Date: October 22, 2019

From winning the "OSCAR of International cooking - the Michelin Star" for his 'Junoon', to authoring books, hosting TV shows, directing films and building India's first Culinary & Kitchen Arts Museum; Chef Vikas Khanna has done it all, and is still going strong! On October 19, 2019, Chitkara University was honored to welcome Michelin-starred celebrity Chef Vikas Khanna, to its Punjab campus.

Greeted with traditional Punjabi-style welcome, complete with hugs & food (and a live stall to serve his favorite snack ‘desi bhutta’!), Chef Vikas Khanna was given a grand heartwarming reception by eager & excited Chitkara University Hospitality & Culinary students, who packed the auditorium beyond capacity. 

Delighted to receive the world-renowned chef, Hon'ble Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University; said, "We are honored to welcome Chef Vikas Khanna at the University. Our students are fortune as a personality of his caliber and standing is here to share his knowledge and experience with them. I am sure his visit will offer a huge inspiration and great exposure to our students." She added, "At Chitkara University, we bring renowned & accomplished Industry professionals to our students for immersive learning and industry connections, and ensure that our students are future-ready to lead in the kitchen, the boardroom, or simply anywhere they aspire to be."

Following the session, Chef Vikas Khanna joined Dr. Madhu Chitkara and senior delegates, for a special scrumptious lunch prepared in his honor. The chef was mighty impressed by the elaborate, carefully-selected Punjabi specialties prepared by Chitkara Culinary students, especially appreciating the desert ‘lahsun ki kheer’, giving it a big thumbs up - for adding soul to the ‘Benami desert from Mughal Era’ and making it “simply irresistible”! Over lunch, Chef Vikas had a quick yet fruitful discussion on pedagogy with Culinary & Hospitality faculty members of Chitkara University and spoke of ‘engaging the senses through experiential learning’ - presenting them with fresh new perspectives on teaching & learning.

Chitkara University Honours The 14th Dalai Lama with Honorary Doctorate 

Date: October 16, 2019

His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama arrived at Chitkara University Punjab campus amidst rapturous welcome through a sea of students & staff waving recently. His Holiness was received by Chitkara University Chancellor Dr. Ashok K Chitkara and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Madhu Chitkara and offered a traditional welcome by Tibetan students studying at Chitkara University. 

The University presented him with an Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) Honoris Causa, in honor of his unparalleled and invaluable contribution to Humanity, World Peace and Education, and in recognition of his outstanding achievements in promoting peace globally and for inspirational spiritual guidance and leadership. His Holiness also opened Chitkara University’s Global Week 2019 by a traditional lamp lighting ceremony and inaugurated the “Centre for Student Happiness” which will work towards increasing the quality of the students’ experience at the University. 

His Holiness addressed the gathering on “The Need for Universal Ethics in Education” and stated that “Modern education is oriented towards material goals with little scope for inner values. When modern education began to emerge about 200 years ago religious institutions ensured a sense of inner values, but as the influence of those institutions has declined. We need our education establishments to take responsibility for fostering values like compassion, kindness, and concern for others.” 

After the insightful talk, His Holiness left the floor open for students & delegates to interact with him, ask questions, and even welcomed suggestions. Taking questions, His Holiness could be easily caught chuckling as he heard some questions and glanced at the expressions on some of the students’ faces and answered them with a smile. 

Talking about preserving the mental health for a joyful life, His Holiness said, “Since kindergarten, physical hygiene is commonly encouraged to preserve physical health, but we need a sense of ‘emotional hygiene’ - the means to tackle destructive emotions like anger, jealousy, and fear. The ancient Indian culture was replete with knowledge of how to do this, and we must find a way to inculcate this back into the modern education system,” encouraging everyone to delve into further details for insights. 

Describing the visit an absolute privilege and a deeply humbling experience, Hon’ble Dr. Madhu said, “We are honored to have His Holiness The Dalai Lama amidst us today - one of the world's most revered teacher, thinker and peace messenger. We believe that the values of His Holiness are the same as ours, and we aspire to inculcate and deeply imbibe his teachings not only with our students but also with our international partners in 34 countries across six continents.”

Also, present at the occasion were 55 International Delegates from 39 Universities in 22 Countries across 6 Continents, who were deeply moved by His Holiness’s words.

Chitkara University holds a 2-Day National Festival ‘Rangrezz’

Date: September 30, 2019

Intriguing storyline, invigorating performances, fascinating forms, and distinctive voices – Chitkara University's National Theatre Festival, Rangrezz-2019, had the perfect blend of these, and more. The 2-Day National Theatre Festival was held on September 27-28, 2019, at Chitkara University, Punjab campus, with over 140 teams participating from 20 states across the country. This year's theme for Rangrezz was 'Light to Enlighten'.

In a traditional lamp lighting ceremony, Hon'ble Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, CU; declared the National Theatre Festival – Rangrezz 2019 open, along with Guests of Honour - Mr. Vishal Batra, Retail Business Head - North, ICICI Bank; Mr. Rajnish Sharma and Mr. Maninder Singh. 

Speaking on the occasion, Hon'ble Dr. Chitkara, said, "Chitkara University's National Theatre Festival - Rangrezz, aims to provide a National-level platform to the next generation of budding performers, to showcase their artistic abilities, while at the same time ensure artistic enrichment by cultivating a connect with our rich cultural heritage." Adding to that, “We believe complementing extra-curricular activities with education, goes a long way in helping students develop a well-rounded personality.”

India's prominent theatre personalities, including Ms. Shinjini Kulkarni, Kathak Dancer & granddaughter of Kathak Maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji; Mr. Robin Das, Eminent Actor, Director & Professor, National School of Drama; Mr. Chintamani Biswal, Theatre Artist and Actor; Mr. Manoj Singh Tiger, Eminent Theatre Artist; Mr. Sandeep Bhardwaj, Film Actor & Theatre Artist; Mr. Anshuman Singh, Theatre & Film Artist; and Mr. Rajan Arora, Theatre Artist; were in attendance for Rangrezz-2019, to enjoy the performances and judge the participants. 

Talking about the University’s unique initiative to encourage and promote Performance Arts in today’s ‘digital’ times, Mr. Singh, said, "I believe each one of us has talent – but to get a huge platform like Rangrezz to display it, is a huge advantage. Back in our days, I wish we had a National-level platform like Rangrezz, where we could be recognized or encouraged for our talent. Congratulations to Chitkara University for bringing to us this truly unique initiative, year after year.” 

Day-1 concluded on a high note with students grooving to hit Punjabi numbers of renowned Punjabi singer-actor Ranjit Bawa, as he set the stage on fire at the university campus. His electrifying performance charged hundreds of students & faculty with energy as he sang hit numbers - 'Yaari Chandigarh Waliye', 'Jean', 'Dollar Vs Roti', 'Ja Ve Mundya', 'Jatt Di Akal', leaving everyone dancing into the late hours! 

Speaking about the unique selling proposition of theatre, Mr. Biswal, said, “Theatre is, of course, a reflection of life. The plight, sorrow, helplessness exhibited by the performers on stage sometimes end up closely mirroring our life – sometimes giving us a very important social message or hitting us with hard facts.” He added that the performances he reviewed at Chitkara University were “each a masterpiece in its own respect”. 

Rehearsing their street play while waiting for the judges to visit, students of one the participating team explained what theatre spells for them. "Drama is a platform that allows you to be who you are not, and adds something new to your personality each time you perform a different character! A sweet mix of creativity and talent,” the enthusiasts exclaim. 

Student performances continued all day long on Day-2, culminating in a grand show splashed with live performances by India's prominent theatre personalities and Rangrezz judges. The highlight of the evening was a very special Kathak dance live performance by Ms. Shinjini Kulkarni, Kathak Dancer & grand-daughter of Kathak Maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj ji. It was a treat to watch her weave magic on stage with swift twirls, rhythmic foot movements, expressive motions, and elegant stances. Next, Mr. Robin Das, Director & Professor, National School of Drama; addressed the students about the importance of Performing Arts in personality development; while theatre artist Mr. Chintamani Biswal created a live painting; and actor & theatre artist Mr. Anshuman Singh performed a moving act. 

The National Theatre Festival – Rangrezz 2019, concluded with a glittering prize distribution ceremony where Hon’ble Dr. Chitkara, gave away the prizes to the winning teams and honored the judges for their valuable time and contribution to Rangrezz. The first prize-winners, included, Stage Play category - Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) , Moga; Street Play category - Team Mukhauta from Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Science, Delhi; Fringe Theatre category - Kudrat, Parth & Mohit from Chitkara University, Punjab; Monologue category - Prasann Juneja from Shaheed Sukhdev College, DU; and Stand-Up Comedy category - Nishant Kumar  from State Institute of Engineering & Technology, Nilokheri. 

In her closing address, Hon'ble Dr. Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University; said, “This year, 140 teams from 20 states across India were a part of Chitkara University’s Annual National Theatre Festival Rangrezz – and we are absolutely delighted to be able to provide this platform to our budding artists. I would like to congratulate everybody for putting up a spectacular show."

George Brown College and Chitkara University deepen partnership with new Academic Mentorship Agreement

Date: September 4, 2019

George Brown College, Toronto, Canada, and Chitkara University, Punjab, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), recently, to deepen partnership with a new Academic Mentorship Agreement. The new agreement establishes opportunities for teaching and learning mentorship, curriculum development, and applied research.  

When it comes to Hospitality and Culinary education, George Brown College in Toronto-Canada leads from the front in setting ideal benchmarks in Hospitality education in North America. It welcomes student diversity from all corners of the world who aspire to take leadership positions in the hospitality and culinary sectors. 

The wide-ranging new agreement between the two will hugely benefit the students from India who are looking for a stellar International program in Culinary management. This new agreement between GBC and Chitkara University establishes opportunities for teaching and learning mentorship, curriculum development, and applied research. 

The agreement will provide students with academic mentorship from George Brown faculty who will help Chitkara University to curate and co-deliver their curriculum. Students will be exposed to applied international pedagogy and Canadian socio-cultural context closer to their homes when they have just come out of their schools. Besides, students will save more than half of the international fee component when they start at the university and then opt to transfer to GBC after two years of study at Chitkara University, based on academic eligibility and other statuary conditions. 

Student learning shall be recognized with transferrable credits to receive advanced standing into the third year of the George Brown Honours Bachelor of Commerce – Culinary Management degree in Canada. Launched in 2016, the degree is tailored specifically to the culinary field. Developed with input from industry, it includes two work placements and combines management theory with advanced culinary courses, preparing students to enter the culinary industry with a strategic approach to operations and greater depth of insight in regards to food and cooking and the management of culinary operations. 

Ms. Mia Yen, Consul General for Canada in Chandigarh was present at the event and reiterated the long term vision of PM Justin Trudeau “Canada looks forward to further strengthening our relationship, and working together in a broad range of areas, such as encouraging trade and investment, supporting innovation and education, promoting peace and security, and tackling the climate crisis, to create new opportunities for Canadians and Indians alike.” And this new arrangement between Chitkara University in India and George Brown College in Canada is a step forward in realizing that vision.

“We’re very pleased to deepen and expand our collaboration with Chitkara University,” said Ms. Anne Sado, President, George Brown College, who traveled to India to sign the agreement. “We share a commitment to preparing students for a diverse and global workplace. We are also united by our sense of responsibility to the industry, as we strive to deliver exceptional graduates who will become tomorrow’s industry leaders.” 

Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University, comments, “This will be a more intense form of our current relationship with George Brown College where we can expose our students to International and accomplished faculty from GBC where they can learn from the best including different cuisines, thus setting themselves up to work and live in any part of the world. This will enable our students to develop international skills sets and become employable or start their own culinary ventures anywhere.”

Chitkara University organizes sessions on Performing Arts, invites eminent film & theatre artists

Date: September 2, 2019

Chitkara College of Education (CCE) welcomed the prospective teachers on the first day of their journey to become the alpha teachers, on September 2, 2019, at the campus. To make the occasion even more special, CCE invited renowned and eminent Indian film & theatre artist, Mr. Vikram Gokhle; and Master Storyteller & Curriculum designer, Ms. Simi Srivastava; to conduct expert sessions on Performing Arts. 

Hon'ble Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University; and Dr. Niyati Chitkara, Principal, Chitkara International School; welcomed the guests to the campus. Following the lamp lighting ceremony, the experts interacted with students and later conducted sessions on Performing Arts, and conditioned the prospective teachers to use Performing Arts as a classroom pedagogy - restructuring tool, through highly enriching and engaging sessions on 'Bringing Theatre into Classroom' and 'A sneak peek into the world of Storytelling'.

Theatre and Performing Arts are powerful tools, which not only engage the creative side of the brain but also provide an ideal balance in students’ patterns of study. It’s easy for children to become swamped in a sea of theory, which is why subjects that offer practical learning are essential to rejuvenate and engage students, iterated both the speakers while sharing the objective behind conducting these sessions for prospective teachers. 

Mr. Gokhle and Ms. Srivastava also praised Chitkara University for developing such a "powerful and revolutionary B.Ed. program which is in sync with the industry and caters to the demands of the present generation’s learning style".

Addressing the new batch of alpha teachers at the Orientation Program, Dr. Madhu Chitkara; said, "It is very important to keep pace with the latest educational trends and techniques when teaching the millennial and digital natives. The students these days have a very short attention span, and it becomes very challenging for a teacher to conceive engaging lessons for these learners. Inclusion of Performing Arts in education provides the learner with the opportunity to engage their mind, body, and emotions into a collaborative expression. Pedagogy maestros - Mr. Vikram Gokhle and Ms. Simi Srivastava, have beautifully depicted the same in their expert talk and workshop."

World-famous designer Wendell Rodricks interacts with Chitkara’s budding designers

Date: August 29, 2019

A famed name in the fashion industry, Wendell Rodricks visited Chitkara University recently. He interacted with the budding designers and spoke about following one's passion - and how he followed his. Wendell studied Hotel Management and worked in the hospitality industry for six years, before studying Fashion Designing in the U.S. and France from 1986 to 1988. He returned to India in 1993. “I was a bright student. My mother wanted me to become a doctor or a dentist! But I said a big No. So I joined the catering and hospitality industry as it was very glamorous, but later discovered my passion in the fashion industry.”

The flavors of Goa, coupled with Indian geometry, define Wendell Rodricks. Goan at heart and ‘by design,’ Wendell feels there's an inspiration at every corner - an open field, a coconut palm, the ripple of water, or the swaying of trees. Talking about his design philosophy, he said, “My design philosophy is based on ‘minimalism’ inspired by Indian Geometry, Yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian Gods.” He suggested that the students take inspiration from “their roots” - traditions & culture, celebrate Indian-ness, and bring out their ‘soul’ in the collections. “No one could get better the essence of Kashmir other than Rohit Bal, West Bengal than Sabyasachi, and Goa than Wendell Rodricks!” he added. During the all-engaging talk, Wendell also divulged some of his management strategies & tips for the budding entrepreneur. He also spoke about the need to create a social impact through work. 

Hon’ble Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University, said, “We’re delighted to welcome Wendell Rodricks to Chitkara University. Our students are fortunate to get an opportunity to interact and learn from the original vanguard of Indian fashion - a mentor and teacher to several youngsters, and also an author on fashion history, who takes inspiration from his own culture, heart, and soul, to stand out from the rest of the world.” She added, the University takes special care to invite prominent industry experts, to give the right direction and inspiration, to get our students future-ready. 

Ambitious students were super excited to meet the multi-talented designer, and were spotted posing questions down to - how to create an impressive portfolio, what are the skills required, apt training, technical knowledge, networking – all relevant to their future career goals. As a true advocate of fashion democracy, Wendell finished with encouragement for students to be their stylist and enjoy fashion. “Use your DNA, work originally, work for your country & state,” he said. On a more personal note, Wendell shared that he makes it a point to practice charity for three hours every week - in any way, shape, or form.

About Wendell Rodricks

The designer is the world’s most admired name in fashion design. He is also a fierce activist for social causes, an eco-warrior, and an author. Meet, Wendell Rodricks, Padma Shri Awardee, 2014; and recipient of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters), 2015; who was recently at Chitkara University, Punjab campus, to interact with students on August 29, 2019. Both a pioneer and a revivalist, the couturier is one of the rare fashion designers who have been bestowed with Padma Shri.

Wendell has made more than a mark on the fashion industry. His first collection from Goa earned him the title ‘Guru of Minimalism,’ and his following collection in 1995 pioneered the concept of ‘resort wear’ and 'eco-friendly' garments at a time the words were not yet coined in India. A designer with an international presence Wendell has presented his unique garments, inspired by Goa and India, at major fashion events. Wendell has the honor of being the first Indian designer to be invited to show at the World’s largest garment fair IGEDO in Germany in 1995, followed by many other prestigious fashion events. Wendell has also, been a part of the Khadi Movement, and even promoted it at the world's largest organic fair, BioFach, at Nuremberg, Germany, in 2011.

Chitkara University goes ethnic, replaces ‘colonial gown’ with traditional wear

Date: August 23, 2019

Replacing the British-era gowns and caps with traditional Indian attire, Chitkara University observed its 14th annual convocation ceremony with students donning traditional Indian outfits - complete with the pride of Punjab - Phulkari, and white kurta-pyjamas (boys) and kurta-churidars (girls). Even the faculty members joined in to encourage and don the same dress code. In the absence of caps, the students unfurled their Phulkari stoles after receiving the degrees. 

Several dignitaries, industry stalwarts and leaders graced the prestigious occasion, and felt honored to witness this unique change, which is a small step yet substantial in ‘bringing our culture closer to the heart.’ They hailed the UGC’s idea and congratulated the University for taking the lead on this change with grace and enthusiasm.

Recently, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had asked all universities to adopt "ceremonial robes made out of handloom fabrics which would not only give a sense of pride of being Indian but also be more comfortable in hot and humid weather." Chitkara University was one of the first universities in North India to follow suit. 

Hon'ble Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University; said, “When I saw the students in their traditional attire, I felt immense joy and pride. We believe, educational institutions are temples of learning, and the education system is incomplete without emphasis on history, heritage, culture, traditions, values, and ethos of India. This is a very positive step by UGC.” 

Students found this move as a welcome change - adding that it felt fantastic to receive degrees wearing traditional attires. Why not have attire reflecting our culture when we are graduating from an Indian university, they exclaimed.

Students of Chitkara University designs Country's first 3-D Smart Traffic Signal

Date: August 5, 2019

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, Mohali traffic police have launched 3-D Smart Traffic Signal devised by the students of Chitkara University Incubated Start-up. The wireless system, called 'Intelights', has been installed at the traffic crossing near Quark City on Airport Road, on a pilot project basis, and will regulate traffic signals with a smart bird's eye view wireless sensor system. The system was launched by Sharad Satya Chauhan, ADGP – Traffic, on August 2, 2019. 

The system, which was devised by the students of Chitkara University over three years of intensive research, was in the test trial phase for the last eight months before its final launch. A team comprising Gaurav Goyal, Dr. Vinay Kukreja and Dapinder Singh Virk of Chitkara University Incubated Start-up - Anukai Solutions; along with Navdeep Asija, Punjab Traffic Advisor; Arbab Ahmad, Project Manager - Punjab Vision Zero; and Charanjit Singh, Road Safety Engineer, Mohali; and Chitkara University students - Rahul Goyal, Karamdeep Singh Bami, Rohan Sharma, Arihant, Ekansh Garg, Karanveer Singh, Hardeep Singh, Sumit; worked to develop one-of-its-kind, real-time solution for defending 'Green Corridors' for ambulances, while controlling the movement of vehicles on roads.

Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University; said, "Chitkara University's Centre for Entrepreneurship Education & Development (CEED) has taken upon itself to ignite young minds to nurture the Nation's vision of 'Startup India - Stand up India and Earn While Learn'. We are proud of our partnership with Mohali Police and deeply indebted to them for taking the time to encourage and work alongside our students to come up with this unique and innovative solution. The university aims to encourage original thinkers, with skills and resources, to help make a real difference in the everyday lives of people."

Memorandum of Understanding to conduct research and development in the area of IT and Computation for Traffic Police with the start-up Anukai Solutions of Chitkara University was signed in the month of September 2018, and immediately after that team was assigned to this mammoth task. 

Intelights proposes a 360^O solution to curb the rising problem of traffic congestion. One of the major reasons for traffic congestion is the inefficient working of traffic signal timers installed at intersections. Presently, the timers of traffic lights display a preset value which leads to a waste of time. For instance, consider a scenario where green light of ‘20 seconds’ is displayed but there is no vehicle present at that particular intersection – thus leading to unnecessary waste of time. To tackle this issue, 'Intelights' proposes an Intelligent Traffic Timer Control; which uses dynamic signal control technology to adjust the timers of red, yellow and green lights according to the traffic density at an intersection. The system uses existing CCTV cameras to gather live traffic video feed, and automatically evaluates the traffic density using Artificial Intelligence (image processing), and sets the signal timers accordingly. This process is repeated for every cycle of traffic lights to keep traffic flowing smoothly.

Nilambar Acharya, Nepal’s envoy to India; graces Chitkara University, celebrates academic achievement

H.E. Mr. Nilamber Acharya, Ambassador of Nepal to India; believes a “New Asia” can be built with the contribution of young minds, and that only when we "love and nurture these young minds, will we see glory and success".  

Chitkara University was honored to host H.E. Mr. Nilamber Acharya, Ambassador of Nepal to India; who visited the University's Punjab campus recently. He was formally welcomed by Hon'ble Dr. Ashok K Chitkara, Chancellor; and Hon'ble Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University, at the campus. The Ambassador was accompanied by the First Lady Mrs. Sushma Acharya; Mr. Hom Prasad Luitel, Cultural & Education Counsellor, Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi; and Mrs. Radha Kumari Dhungel. This is His Excellency's first-ever public appearance after taking over as the envoy of Nepal to India.

Hon'ble Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University; said, "It is indeed a matter of great pride and honour that H.E. Mr. Nilamber Acharya graced Chitkara University with his visit. The University is dedicated to the mission of spreading the light of education - and serving the career-needs of a diverse & inclusive student community. We look forward to providing a strategic platform for Nepalese students to springboard their ambitions and catapult their aspirations." 

During the visit, the Nepalese delegates were overwhelmed with the impressive infrastructure and excellent academic facilities of Chitkara University. Hon'ble Dr. Ashok K Chitkara & Hon'ble Dr. Madhu Chitkara; had an interactive discussion with H.E. Mr. Acharya, for exploring possibilities - building a stronger relationship, implementing programs and boosting the performance of Nepalese students. H.E. Mr. Acharya praised Chitkara University's teamwork and amazing effort to work together toward a shared vision of spreading the light of education. He called the University, "A world-class University - a great example of devotion, dedication, and leadership". 

Taking an extensive tour of the campus, the Ambassador and esteemed dignitaries visited the Chitkara Innovation Incubator Foundation (CIIF), interacted with CIIF Startup entrepreneurs and Nepalese students studying at the campus. H.E. Mr. Acharya also presided over Chitkara University's 14th Annual Convocation Ceremony, where the University and students representing diverse academic and social backgrounds came together to celebrate their achievement, and conclude their journey of learning and co-creation. Noticing diversity and inclusivity at the campus, H.E. Mr. Acharya also expressed his deep appreciation for the healthy, multicultural environment at Chitkara University campus. 

During his keynote address at the Convocation Ceremony, H.E. Mr. Acharya motivated the graduates to be "determined & confident to excel in life and be responsible for themselves, their family, society & country, and carry forward the message of peace and harmony for South Asia”. He concluded his inspiring address by leaving them with the stirring words of Swami Vivekananda - 'Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached', and offered his best wishes for a glorious future to Chitkara University and its Founding Academicians - "May blessings shower upon you and may you continue to grow and transform young minds to greater success, and to serve their Nations".

Chitkara University Hosts Virtual Rounds for BAJA SAEINDIA 2020

Date: July 12, 2019

SAEINDIA, a professional Society of Automotive Engineers, and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. have announced the commencement of the redesigned Virtual Round of BAJA SAEINDIA at Chitkara University, Punjab campus. The Virtual Round also flags off the 13th edition of the much-awaited BAJA series with Mahindra as the title sponsor. 

The BAJA SAEINDIA series is a well-known competition among engineering students, who participate in the event with great zeal and passion. With around 280 teams from various engineering colleges of India, 25 students from each team, totaling over 6,000 students, the battlefield is all set for participants to come up with their innovative ideas. 

The teams registered for this season are spread across 24 different states, including 4 teams from Punjab. This year, a total of 225 teams have registered for the conventional format of the event i.e. mBaja; and 55 teams have opted for the electric version of BAJA SAEINDIA i.e. eBaja.

About eBaja:

During the course of Virtual Baja, the registered teams will be scrutinized for their knowledge, creativity, concepts, virtual design and capability to participate successfully in the main event. The teams at the Virtual BAJA will make a presentation on their design, followed by an Online Test which will carry equal weightage in their final selection. 

The teams would be judged on various parameters in the virtual BAJA like knowledge of the rulebook, the concept of the buggy, the project plan, the design methodology, CAE Analysis, the Design Failure Mode & Effect Analysis (DFMEA) and Design Validation Plan (DVP), college workshop facilities and team formation. The Online Test will check every participant’s knowledge of Rulebook and general Mechanical and Automotive Engineering. Chitkara University

Based on the performance in Virtual BAJA, the teams will be selected for participation in the main event, scheduled to be held in NATRAX facility of NATRIP, Pithampur near Indore and Chitkara University, Punjab. Eminent personalities from the automotive and engineering industry will serve in the panel for the latest edition of BAJA SAENDIA.

Each team is tasked to create a vehicle known as ‘Buggy’, an All-Terrain Vehicle, which has to comply with multiple parameters & technical inspection before it is allowed to compete in the dynamic events and final endurance race. Students are expected to design Buggy having the best suspension, steering & brakes with a strong roll cage, considering the New Product Development (NPD) Cycle with all quality and safety aspects. Many teams target weight of the buggy to be less than 125kg.

A remarkable feature unique to BAJA SAEINDIA is the adoption of a new theme every year. This year the theme for BAJA 2020 is ‘Breaking Conventions’. 

Comments by notable speakers:

Hon’ble Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University; said, “As the host institute for Virtual BAJA SAEINDIA for the last 3 years, we are proud to support this program. Quality competitions from SAEINDIA, like BAJA, are improving the engineering skills of young graduates and providing them with a platform to learn in a real environment with a project-based approach. Each year, the growing number of teams in eBAJA is a testament to the fact that we are moving in the right direction towards sustainable mobility for the future.” 

Mr. Subodh Morye, Head Marketing & PR, BAJA SAEINDIA; mentioned, “BAJA SAEINDIA has been improving year on year since its inception in 2007 by reloading the enthusiasm in teams and has finally reached to a stage where it can break conventions. Every year, we see active participation from the Organizing and Alumni Committee to shape this event into an extraordinary competition. The support from the Steering Committee headed by Dr. Pawan Goenka, MD of M&M; has been pivotal in driving the event towards a promising future through wisdom and vision. We will continue supporting the teams and encouraging them to adopt innovative ways to cope up with the challenges which await them in the future of the Automotive Industry.”

Post Event:

The finale will be held at the NATRAX facility of NATRIP at Pithampur near Indore, from January 23-26, 2020, followed by HR meet on January 27-28, 2020. The 2nd part of the 13th edition of BAJA SAEINDIA 2020 is scheduled to be held at Chitkara University, Punjab; from March 5-8, 2020, followed by HR meet on March 9, 2020. 

As for eBAJA, more and more teams are getting ready to participate and learn eMobility technology, which is moving very fast in the country. To promote electric mobility and develop human resources for working in this area, SAEINDIA has declared financial support of INR 50,000 to all the new eBAJA teams.