Convocation Brochure V3

CONVOCATION 2021 December 12, 2021

ABOUT THE CONVOCATION The 1st convocation of National Rail and Transportation Institute is a key milestone in its journey. It celebrates the achievement of the founding batch of students who have completed the requirements for Undergraduate studies and are conferred the degree of Bachelors in Business Administration and Bachelors in Science by the Institute. ii NRTI 2021 - 2022

HON’BLE PM’S MESSAGE I am really delighted to know that National Rail and Transport Institute (NRTI) is celebrating its first convocation. NRTI was crafted/ created out of an innovative and futuristic idea in 2014 to set up universities by the Indian Railways to cater to the needs of highly empowered professionals in the domain of rail transport. More than just another university, NRTI envisions to be a globally leading agency of transformation in India’s transport ecosystem based on cutting edge research. As the nation today is poised to celebrate the spirit of Azadi with the resolve to build a resurgent and Atmanirbhar Bharat, a new spirit of nation building must animate the thoughts and actions of our country’s younger generations. Convocation (dikshanta) combines three cardinal values; damyata (control your senses); datta (give according to your capacity); dayadhvam (be compassionate to all creatures). The graduating students of institutions like NRTI should realize that they have a citizenly responsibility to usher India into a new regime of technology, development, reform, policy and progress. Further, they should inculcate the spirit of antyodaya which underlies the idea of Bharat in order to work for the poor and the marginalized. Our Aitareya Upanishad teaches us about charaiveti which means to “move on” and keep moving to serve the universe. Ceaseless motion enables us to attain immortality. The New India today embarks on a robust journey invoking the values of Gati Shakti, the power of speed. The journey aims at transforming the quality of life, infrastructure and services by putting in place multi-modal connectivity across transport sectors. I am sure NRTI would be the pioneering laboratory for such thought-experiments! I wish the first convocation of NRTI, Vadodara, Gujrat all success. Prime Minister Narendra Modi iii



MR’S MESSAGE The Ministry of Railways is proud to have sponsored the country’s first transport focused university, The National Rail and Transportation Institute (NRTI). The establishment of NRTI was envisioned by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji as an initiative to build a high-quality institution of advanced studies in rail & transportation technology and management. The NRTI provides professional upgradation for the current workforce to embrace new technologies and developments, and catalyses the skilling of youth across the country for the sector by leveraging digital technologies. Indian Railways has embarked on a transformational journey which involves introduction of new high-speed trains, dedicated freight corridors, modern stations, and other technological advancements while increasing efficiency, service and safety. This transformation will also require a modern approach to employment and training. NRTI will act as an engine for growth for Railways by providing a highly qualified and talented workforce to usher India in a new age of transport. NRTI is poised to grow and flourish, and will help in achieving the aim of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in the sector of transport Technology and Rail education. Shri. Ashwini Vaishnaw Minister of Railways Communications & Electronics and Information Technology Government of India

ABOUT NRTI A VISION REALISED 2 NRTI 2021 - 2022

A National University focused on NRTI offers a distinctive learning creating, up-skilling and development experience, both on campus under the of talent for the transformation of the guidance of its globally accomplished transportation sector on one hand, faculty and off it with the Indian and drive research and development Railways as an experiential environment, for innovation and finding solutions to to transform graduates into responsible India’s challenges in the sector on the nation-builders. It aims to be the other, was envisioned by the Hon Prime world’s leading university focused on Minister. Indian Railways realized this the transportation industry, creating opportunity and established National and imparting knowledge across the Rail and Transportation Institute (NRTI) fields of engineering & applied sciences, as a de-novo, deemed to be University humanities, management, planning and and a pioneer in the field of transport design. education in India. The 55-acre campus is a wooded On December 15, 2018, Shri Piyush sanctuary enlivened by the calls of Goyal, then Union Railway Minister, peacocks and migratory birds and along with Mr. Vijay Rupani, the houses the Pratap Vilas Palace. The Chief Minister of Gujarat at that time, palace, designed by C.F. Stevens in the dedicated NRTI, India’s first rail and renaissance style, was built in 1914 AD transportation university, to the nation. and originally belonged to the Gaikwads of Vadodara. It is the first-of-its-kind university with a vision to develop a cadre of young Campus life in the sylvan surroundings graduates who are empowered problem- promises students the best possible solvers with an actionable understanding ambience for intellectual and academic of the transportation ecosystem. NRTI’s pursuits amid heritage and nature. path-breaking programmes have a The university campus offers modern unique pedagogical focus on experiential facilities with air-conditioned student learning and practice, and cutting-edge accommodation and more. research and innovation, through the lens of management and technology. 3

NRTI’S COMMITMENT NRTI is committed to providing an academia industry collaborations, and environment of excellence that nurtures rigorous experiential learning are the creativity, entrepreneurial skills and key elements of the academic degree a human-centered approach in young programmes. people, to develop them as influential leaders and intelligent nation-builders. The transportation industry is at the core of implementing innovative changes. NRTI is committed to developing talent Indian Railways, in particular, will and building capacity for contextual uniquely serve as a live and practical and systemic solutions to current and experiential learning laboratory for future problems in the exciting sphere of the student community as well as for transportation. faculty development initiatives. This unique integration creates a very The philosophy of NRTI is to ensure distinct character for the university that its students graduate not only — an institution where excellence is a with a solid grounding in their continuous endeavor. discipline, but also with a set of core values – dedication to nation-building, NRTI has forged academic partnerships commitment to innovation and academic with top-ranked global universities excellence, compassion towards people offering opportunities for student and and society and responsibility towards faculty exchange, joint research and the environment. learning. These include: NRTI’S PEDAGOGY 1. University of Birmingham, UK The pedagogy at NRTI reflects an 2. Cornell University, USA application- oriented and values-based approach to academic learning. It is 3. University of California Berkeley, based on the best practices across the USA world, while consciously enabling and equipping students to address Indian 4. Russia University of Transport problems with unique solutions. It (MIIT), Moscow, Russia reflects an application-oriented and values-based approach to academic 5. St. Petersburg State Transport learning. Innovation, multidisciplinary University, Russia research and teaching, relevant 6. Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute, Japan 4 NRTI 2021 - 2022

DEVELOPING CREATIVE CHANGE-MAKERS NRTI consciously welcomes problem- the perspectives of transportation solvers from diverse fields, be it arts, managers and others. science or commerce, to come together and nudge their peers to think broadly, At NRTI, students form some of the deeply, and holistically. NRTI students most enduring bonds with fellow spend their time in collaborative students, faculty and staff members, intellectual pursuits with some of the who will become your lifelong go- most passionate young people chosen to supports both professionally and through a highly competitive selection personally. process. They experience how, as an ideating and thinking mind, their opinions and observations can become more implementable, environmentally- sustainable, inclusive, contextually- relevant, and people-oriented – through 5

“ Congratulations to this young, first of its kind, Transport Institute for taking its first set of students to graduation.Congratulations to the first graduates of this institute. You will be the pioneers to be followed by generations of graduates in future. “Prof. Dr. Ashok Jhunjhunwala Institute Professor, IIT Madras, India President, IITM Research Park, IITM Incubation Cell and RTBI Member, Board of Management, NRTI “I am happy to see the impact with which NRTI, as a fledgling institution, is already making in education, training and research in the Indian transportation sector. It is clearly destined to “ become a leader in its field. Vinayak Chatterjee Chairman, Feedback Infra Member, Board of Management, NRTI 6 NRTI 2021 - 2022

“ I am sure the graduating students would have immensely benefited in their mission to acquire versatile knowledge and skill sets at NRTI, Vadodara. Desire to do well and lifelong learning should drive the young professionals to excel in their career. I wish them “ all success in their life. Sudheer Kumar Advisor to the Minister of Railways Member, Board of Management, NRTI 7

Convocation Programme Class of 2021 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm Ceremonial procession Welcome and introduction Address by VC Address by Chancellor Graduation ceremony Address by Minister Awards Vote of thanks by Registrar National Anthem and recessional march High Tea Venue National Academy of Indian Railways Lalbaug, Vadodara, Gujarat 8 NRTI 2021 - 2022

CHANCELLOR’S SPEECH Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur? incididunt ut labore et dolore magna At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu provident, similique sunt in culpa qui fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id quidem rerum facilis est et expedita est laborum. distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque natus error sit voluptatem accusantium nihil impedit quo minus id quod doloremque laudantium, totam rem maxime placeat facere possimus, aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis inventore veritatis et quasi architecto dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae consequuntur magni dolores eos qui non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci consequatur aut perferendis doloribus velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi asperiores repellat. tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis incididunt ut labore et dolore magna nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu 9

fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea est laborum. voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum natus error sit voluptatem accusantium fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur? doloremque laudantium, totam rem At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis inventore veritatis et quasi architecto praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia provident, similique sunt in culpa qui consequuntur magni dolores eos qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis 10 NRTI 2021 - 2022

VICE CHANCELLOR’S REPORT Hon Minister of Railways and Chief and celebrating their success. Guest of the Convocation, At the outset, I offer my heartiest Esteemed Chancellor, congratulations to each one of the graduates who is present here and those Members of the Board of Management, who could not attend but will be getting degrees in absentia for their hard work; Members of Academic Council parents and guardians for the sacrifices made and the faculty members for Faculty, staff and students of NRTI spending their time in mentoring them to complete their studies successfully Invited dignitaries and guests and timely. I also express my sincere appreciation to the staff of NRTI for and most importantly, The Graduating their role in establishing the University Class of 2021and their proud families: as a place of excellence and fine achievements.   I am delighted to talk about the progress I welcome you all to this auspicious the University has made. and solemn occasion of the first convocation ceremony of National Rail & The first batch of 99 students from Transportation Institute on this beautiful 20 states of India was admitted to campus in Vadodara. Inspired by the NRTI in 2018 into two undergraduate vision of our Hon Prime Minister, NRTI programmes, a BBA in Transportation was established in 2018, as a deemed to Management and a BSc in be university under de novo category, Transportation Technology. Over the with the purpose of creating a resource next three years, students underwent a pool of best-in-class professionals for schedule of courses and experiences as the transportation sector. It aspire to per a curriculum based on a modern and be a leader in transportation-focused experiential learning pedagogy. applied education, training and research, creating graduates and postgraduates All students undertook two internships who are uniquely qualified to pursue during the 3-year programme; a 6-week and excel in careers in transportation- internship in year 1 with the Indian related industries. Today, we are proudly Railways, and another 8-week industry awarding degrees to the first graduating internship in year 2 (in virtual mode class of students, the young deserving sons and daughters of this great nation, 11

due to pandemic) with leading private including not only classes, but also all organizations and Rail PSUs including seminars, special invited talks, and RITES, IRCTC, DFCCIL, Alstom, exams. Our students were also provided Hitachi, and Air India. free access to high quality online courses from leading Universities in the world to In its quest to emerge as a world-class supplement their learning. Our faculty university, during this period, NRTI and staff worked really hard to make forged academic partnerships with it happen. Can we have a huge round top-ranked global universities such as of applause for our dedicated team Cornell University, USA; University including many visiting faculty from of California Berkeley, USA; Russia leading Institutions who have been part University of Transport (MIIT), Moscow, of this journey. Russia;St. Petersburg State Transport University, Russia; Japan Transport and In AY 2020-21, NRTI launched seven Tourism Research Institute, Japan and new undergraduate and postgraduate University of Birmingham, UK. programmes with the addition of B.Tech., MBA and MSc courses. This NRTI also launched its first Centre includes of Excellence on Next Generation Transportation Systems in collaboration an M.Sc. in Railway Systems Engineering with the Birmingham Centre for Railway & Integration offered in partnership Research and Education (BCRRE), with the University of Birmingham, UK. the largest university-based centre The programme provides students the for railway research and education in opportunity to study in the second year Europe. The Centre is a focal point at UoB’s UK campus and earn a degree for developing new expertise through from there as well. research, driving technological innovations and disseminating  A total 305 (check) students were knowledge by offering education admitted for its various programmes programmes, hosting conferences and in AY 2020-21 bringing NRTI’s total events and other such activities in areas student strength to 504 (83 girls, 421 related to the rail sector. boys). These students come from more than 20 states across India giving it a AY 2020-21 was eventful in terms of truly national character. accomplishments but also continued to pose one of the biggest and  NRTI continued the building of faculty unprecedented challenges in the form cadre and administrative cadre with of the COVID 19 crisis. For most part of recruitment of full-time faculty and the year, we could not organize classes or staff. In view of limitations to cover other academic activities in campus due the specialisations required for all to pandemic. However, it is a matter of courses, in AY 2020-21, an additional great satisfaction that all our academic 48 visiting faculty were invited to teach activities continued uninterrupted, from premier Institutions including IIT 12 NRTI 2021 - 2022

Mumbai, IIT Chennai, IIT Kanpur, IIT cycle for the first batch of 41 BBA and 58 Guwahati, IIIT Delhi, IIM Ahmedabad, BSc students was successfully completed IIM Bangalore, ISB and other such and 71 students were placed in leading Institutions. Indian and multi-national organizations, including one at ISB’s Young Leadership In the past one year, faculty members Programme and one at IIM Lucknow’s published around xxx research papers in MBA programme. This result testifies to peer reviewed journals and around xxx the quality of faculty, inputs and training papers were presented in national and provided by NRTI, and the abilities of international seminars/ conferences, etc the students. Six students out of the (to be updated). graduating batch also sought admission to Masters programmes at NRTI. In the AY 2020-21, infrastructure was alsoupgraded to accommodate Campus celebrated major festivals, the addition of students to its existing national days and initiatives including BBA and BSc programmes, along Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti, with the admission of students to the Teacher’s Day, World Nature new undergraduate and postgraduate Conservation Day, and Azadi ka amrit programmes. mahotsav ….. (add). The Career Services Office was set  I would now change track and wish to up in AY 2020-21, and efforts were address the graduates. focussed on engaging with industry for supporting students with preparation First of all, please accept my hearty and forging relationships with recruiting congratulations to each one of you and organisation to advance the agenda of to your parents and family members. placements, internships, guest lectures Please remember the sacrifices that your and industry connect. Over the year, parents and loved ones have made for numerous placement activities were you to succeed. And in order to recall initiated, conducted, coordinated and and thank those sacrifices, can I ask all managed by the Career Services Office to the graduates to stand up, look towards assist with the placement of students in your parents and have a huge round of various organizations and institutions. applause. Despite the significant challenges,  I said earlier that students and alumni including non-familiarity of recruiters are our most important stake holders. with NRTI, delayed or curtailed hiring And if you are the most important stake plans by many corporate organizations holder, there is a huge responsibility on as a result of the prevailing economic your shoulders. Your conduct, under all sentiment and lockdowns, and the circumstances, must be above board. We inability of organizations to conduct will be proud of your achievements, but in-person interactions with students due we will be more proud, if you remain an to lockdowns, the campus recruitment ethical human being. 13

Your association with us is not getting over today. It is just the beginning of a new relationship. We would want to be in touch with you. We would like you to share your joys and sorrows. Do let us know when you get married, have kids, or change jobs, open a company, or cross any other important milestone of your life. And we will keep you informed of the activities on campus.  We would like your continuous and lifelong involvement with the Institute. We hope that you will help the Institute in all sorts of ways in future. For example, those becoming entrepreneurs or joining corporate world can help your juniors with placements and internships. Your juniors could also do with some mentorship. Visit your alma mater and share your experiences. And lastly, you should realize that you are the privileged lot. Only the top 1-2 percent of our youth can get quality education in India. And it puts an extra-ordinary burden on you to ensure that tomorrow’s India will be inclusive and not exclusive. When you develop technologies for example, take a step back and think whether this new technology will break the wall between India and Bharat,   Go ahead and be part of building a new India.   God bless you. Thank you ladies and gentlemen. Jai Hind. 14 NRTI 2021 - 2022

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GRADUATING STUDENTS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE 16 NRTI 2021 - 2022

GRADUATING STUDENTS BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 17