Jagran Lakecity University's Annual Awards 2017-18

On being the proud institution nurturing the students who put in their heart and soul to bring laurels to the name of Jagran Lakecity University, an award ceremony felicitating these heroes was a must.

The JLU Annual Awards 2017-18 was an evening that witnessed proud parents and gratified faculties as their students emerged meritorious in their batch. The event started with Prof. (Dr.) Anoop Swarup, Vice Chancellor, Jagran Lakecity University, sharing with the audience ‘The journey so far.’ 2017 has been an amazing year for JLU with the University being bestowed with ‘University of the Year’ by the Federation of Madhya Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry for the fourth time in a row. Numerous partnerships have also been strengthened in the past year for providing the students with better job opportunities. Countless industry experts starting from Mr. Salman Khurshid, Mr. KTS Tulsi, Dr. Neva Cebron, Ms. Betty Wong and many others have graced the campus to enlighten the students in their specific field. The administrative team of JLU has left no stone unturned in pursuit of providing quality education to its students. Next, the students finishing their diploma in various fields were felicitated with certificates.

The Jagran Lakecity University had taken the Right to Education Act to the next level with the various Shiksha Kendras that give a chance to the underprivileged students to receive education, free of cost. The meritorious students out of them are then provided Chancellor’s Freeships that enables them to receive a 100% scholarship in Jagran Lakecity University. Numerous students have benefitted from this scholarship and have had a life changing experience credits to Shri. Hari Mohan Gupta, Chancellor, Jagran Lakecity University, who wished to strengthen the society from the grass root level.

Felicitating the students who excel in their batch in a particular year, scholarships and markers cup were awarded, also, the new batch of JLU was given a certificate of appreciation for their outstanding performance in the 12^th Board examination.

The event was made entertaining with the various classical dance performances that included the staging of ‘Shri Ramachandra Kripalu,’ a prayer by Goswami Tulsidas. Towards the end of the program, the students were awarded for their exceptional performance in various sports ranging from basketball, football, badminton and cricket. The Basketball and Football teams of JLU were felicitated for their unending dedication towards their home team and for the numerous laurels that they have bagged for JLU in the past year.

The ceremony was attended by all the dignitaries of JLU including Shri Abhishek Mohan Gupta, Pro-Chancellor, Jagran Lakecity University, Deans, Directors of various schools, and all the faculty members and staff along with proud parents of the meritorious students.

In Coversation with Padamshree Ms. Bhawana Somaaya

In a country like India where movies are made in huge numbers every year in over 20 languages, the audience does have a tough time deciding what to watch and what not to. Of course there arises a question of paying hefty amounts for a movie ticket that was totally not worth it, or missing a fantastic movie after being judgmental about the cast. Being an audience and making the right choice for a movie is no piece of cake. Luckily, the film critics here come to our rescue with their pin point conclusions about a movie that highlight all its pros and cons in a manner that makes it easy for the layman to choose.

One such woman has been making the lives of the Indian audience better for over three decades with her accurate reviews on the Indian cinema. Ms. Bhawana Somaaya started her career as a film reporter in 1978 and went to work with several film magazines for the next 20 years. Having written over 13 books on history of Hindi cinema and biographies of Bollywood stars including Salaam Bollywood (2000), The Story So Far (2003) and her trilogy, Amitabh Bachchan – The Legend (1999), Bachchanalia – The Films and Memorabilia of Amitabh Bachchan (2009) and Amitabh Lexicon (2011), Ms. Somaaya has an excellent insight on Bollywood. She was recently awarded with the fourth highest civilian honor of India, The Padma Shri in the year 2017 by the Hon’ble President of India, Mr Pranab Mukherjee.

In order to enlighten the students about the subtleties of the Indian Cinema and share her vast experience, Ms. Somaaya visited the Jagran Lakecity University on 19^th March 2018. She shared insights from her life along with her journey to becoming an acclaimed critic. The students enthusiastically participated in a Q and A session, and she very sportingly answered all of their queries. On being asked "What does it take to be a good film critic?" she answered, "Being unbiased is most important and objectivity is the key."

Unlocking the secrets of the past with Christopher C. Doyle

With the immense advancement in the field of science and technology, the human race now has answers to most of the mysteries of the Universe. However, there are some anonymities still unanswered by the science as we know today, like the Sphinx in Egypt that was thought to have been built in 2500 BC by the Pharaoh Khafre. It was only after the tests done by Dr. Robert Schoch (PhD in Systematics, Functional Morphology and Macroevolution of the Extinct Mammalian Order Taeniodonta, Yale University) did we find out that the weathering evident on the enclosure walls of the Great Sphinx was not caused by wind and sand, but, caused by prolonged and extensive rainfall flood. The astonishing fact here is that, it has not rained heavily in Egypt after 5000 BC, which dates back the Sphinx to 10000-5000 BC. Many such mysteries including the Great Pyramid of Giza, Bryn Celli Ddu and the Stonehenge, UK present questions that do not have any answers as of now. 

                                               

These intriguing mysteries have created an interesting genre for the IIM Calcutta alumnus turned author Mr. Christopher C. Doyle. He visited the Jagran Lakecity University campus on 4^thApril 2018 for an interactive session with the students. Having graduated with a degree in economics from the prestigious St. Stephens College, Delhi, Christopher went on to do his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta. Having had keen interest in the Mahabharata since childhood, the unexplained secrets from the past combined with his knack for storytelling, led to the creation of his first book ‘The Mahabharata Secret.’ The notable fact here being that in every book of his, Christopher creates a story around Mythology and a historical Character blended around the present day fiction.

Christopher engaged the students with a presentation that started with the difference between history and mythology and went on to state the various secrets from the past. The session was compelling enough to leave the students mesmerized in the aftermath. In the end, he revealed the first look of his upcoming book ‘The Pataala Prophecy: Son of Bhrigu.’

Exploring Cross-Cultural Stereotypes with Dr. Neva Cebron

The world that we live in today, differentiates immensely between being educated and being employable. Often, the skill set acquired by a student at graduate and post graduate level is not an exact match for the skill set required by the industry. The JLU Centre for Professional Skills has been established with the aim to focus on and impart skill development training in order to equip students and working professionals with job relevant set of skills that are applicable to their area of employment and consequently the skills gap between academia and industry is bridged. The Centre, headed by Dr. Rolii Ajay Khare organised its first Faculty Development Program on 15^th February 2018.

The resource person for the session was Dr. Neva Cebron from the University of Primorska in Slovenia (Europe).  She conducted the session on the topic ‘Aiming towards Building Global Readiness and Competency based on Non Essentialist Approaches’. She demonstrated and discussed how cultural stereotypes interfere with our understanding of and communication with others. The session was made interactive by use of videos showcasing how people behave when they have strong preconceived notions about other people’s appearances and supposed cultures. The video showcased an American man making typical assumptions about an Asian woman only to learn a few minutes later that she herself was born and brought up in the US! Another interesting video that Dr. Cebron played was a TED talk by the Nigerian author Ms. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, recorded at Oxford, England. Ms. Adichie herself had fallen prey to cultural stereotypes numerous times where she repeatedly encountered people who were familiar with  ‘just one story’ of a place. She went on to explain with an example where she said “Yes life in Nigeria was difficult, when I saw the rationing of milk, the jam jar disappear from the table, the hike in bread prices and when there were months when my parents weren’t paid their salaries. Yet, I was a girl who was brought up happy and content in a tight knit family, a girl who had education. The idea here is to understand the danger of a single story, it is not incorrect, it is incomplete.” Her talk beautifully illustrated the assumptions that all of us make for each other’s cultures.

The session particularly aimed at addressing the staff of the School of Engineering and Technology, School of Humanities and Arts, School of Management, Jagran Lakecity Business School, Jagran School of Journalism and Communication and the School of Education, with a view to training students who are expected to be globally ready for jobs and other encounters.

Certificates of participation were also given for this session.

En Su Punto: Mexican Food Festival at JLU School of Hospitality and Tourism

Bringing a little piece of Mexico in the heart of Bhopal, the JLU School of Hospitality and Tourism organized their annual food festival ‘En Su Punto’ on 28th March 2018. Mexican being the theme, as many as 27 Mexican delicacies were served to the guests at live counters. The dishes included everything starting from Pasole to Fajita to Quesadilla to Chicharrones with Hot Sauces, Soups, and Fresh Mexican Desserts prepared by amazingly talented and aspiring chefs of School of Hospitality and Tourism in a traditional Mexican set up & décor. The event had live music to lighten up the mood for the afternoon and was attended by many dignitaries including Prof. (Dr.) Anoop Swarup, Vice Chancellor, Jagran Lakecity University, Mr. Abhishek Mohan Gupta, Pro Chancellor, Jagran Lakecity University and Dr. Saumya Dwivedi.

Some of the main attractions were

Burritos- a Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla rolled round a savory filling, typically of minced beef or beans.

Fajita- is any grilled meat that is served as a taco on a flour or corn tortilla.

Pasole - is a traditional soup or stew from Mexico, which once had ritual significance.

Salsa- an Italian sauce made with olive oil, garlic, capers, anchovies, vinegar or lemon juice, and parsley served with grilled meat.

Veggie Quesadilla -   is flour tortilla filled with cheese, squash blossoms, or a spicy mixture, then folded and deep-fried.

National Seminar on India's Security Challenges in the light of changing global dynamics with special focus on Jammu and Kashmir

On March 31, 2018 the Two-Day National Seminar on India’s Security Challenges in the Light of Changing Global Dynamics with Special Focus on Jammu and Kashmir was inaugurated by the former Vice Chief of Army Staff Honorable Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Milan Naidu, Chairman, MP Private University Regulatory Commission Prof. (Dr.) Akhilesh Kumar Pandey, Executive Director of South Asian Institute for Strategic Affairs (SAISA) and Director, India Foundation Captain Alok Bansal, Shri. Ashutosh Bhatnagar, Sr. Journalist and Secretary, Jammu Kashmir Study Centre and the Honorable Vice Chancellor, Jagran Lakecity University Prof. (Dr.) Anoop Swarup. The Seminar was organized by JLU School of Law, Jagran Lakecity University in collaboration with Jammu & Kashmir Study Centre and Barkatullah University, Bhopal which consisted of plenary sessions addressed by experts of Geopolitical Matters and Jammu and Kashmir affairs.

During the inaugural session, Prof. (Dr.) Anoop Swarup gave his opening remarks on the issue to set the theme of the workshop. In his talk, Prof. Swarup talked about hostilities faced by India from its neighbors and crucial aspects to be explored while designing the diplomatic approaches in future to tackle such adversities. He emphasized on the challenges that India is facing on the economic front with the emergence of hostile neighbor alliances. Prof. Swarup invoked youngsters present in the audience to develop sensitivity on intricate details related to Jammu Kashmir issues.

The Guest of Honor, Captain Alok Bansal gave a detailed account of changing dimensions of geopolitical scenario as a result of assertion of ideologies. He talked about globalization because of which almost every region in the world is connected to another; that further creates a greater need to understand J&K from within. He also provided some valuable information about Jammu and Kashmir to develop a better exposure on the region and subsequently to understand the growing security challenges.

The Key Note Address was delivered by Honorable Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Milan Naidu, PVSM, AVSM & YSM, wherein he narrated the British strategy to exhaust resources of its colonies to equip themselves with control over many regions which later created many adversities for the Indian Sub-Continent region. He explained how economic supremacy has allowed China to take decisions that are creating limitations for many nations across the world. While providing the historical background of the Jammu and Kashmir issue, he categorically analyzed the strategies adopted by both India and Pakistan resulting in the current situation.

In the plenary session, Rashtriya Prachar Pramukh, RSS and an expert on J&K related issues Shri. Arun Kumar and Ms. Ayushi Ketkar, Researcher from New Delhi gave their presentations on the relevant topics and also took questions from the participants.

April 1, 2018 became a memorable day for the Jagran Lakecity University, JLU School of Law as Honorable Minister of State for External Affairs Shri. M.J. Akbar visited the University to deliver the Valedictory Address in the Seminar.

While addressing an impressive audience of retired army officers, bureaucrats, former diplomats, academicians, scholars, experts on J&K, and students, Shri M.J. Akbar gave a reference of colonial history which played its role in creating the environment of adversities. He talked about the changing definition of security matters as in the modern perspective it is not all about securing land but also protecting the wide spectrum of resources that can be targeted by enemies. He termed bilateral relationship between India and China as an example to be followed wherein despite having differences, both the countries have maintained maturity in their dialogue. He talked about the changes in Foreign Policy brought by the current Government to develop unprecedented ties with nations which were not approached sincerely in past. According to him, the same policy is paying dividends to the stature of India on the global stage.

Hon’ble Chancellor Shri Hari Mohan Gupta while commenting on unrest in the J&K region, talked about impact that quality education can have to improve the situation. He urged that the Government and social bodies must take steps to establish centers of higher education in the valley to sow the seeds of wisdom which has the power to transform the psyche for the betterment of society and help mainstreaming the J&K youth.

Senior Journalist Shri Ashutosh Bhatnagar gave a brief introduction of Jammu Kashmir Study Centre and its activities of spreading awareness on J&K. Director of India Foundation Captain Alok Bansal presented the gist of the Seminar and shared some important learning outcomes from the sessions held.

Honorable Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Anoop Swarup delivered the opening address earlier in the Valedictory Ceremony in which he talked about relevance of having a constructive discourse on security issues to find key areas of improvement. At last, the Chairman of Madhya Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Dr. Raghvendra Sharma delivered the vote of thanks.

Prof. (Dr.) Vivek Khare, Prof. (Dr.) Vinay Joshi Prof. (Dr.) Rajesh Yadav, Mr. Mohit Kamble, Prof. (Dr.) Yogendra Srivastava and faculty of JLU School of Law were present in the session.

Earlier in the day, during various plenary sessions, noted speakers like Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Syed Ata Hasnain, Pramukh Pracharak of RSS Shri. Arun Kumar, former top bureaucrat Ms. Prabha Rao, Ms. Ayushi Ketkar and others expressed their opinion on various matters related to national security.

From the Director's Desk: Dr. Trilok Singh Bisoniya, Director, JLU School of Engineering and Technology

Greetings from School of Engineering & Technology (SOET), Jagran Lakecity University (JLU), Bhopal! The SOET established in the year 2014, offers undergraduate degree programs in B.Tech (Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering) and Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA)

In its fourth year, SOET, JLU, Bhopal, is well-positioned to build on the glorious legacy of quality and accomplishment. We believe in incubating human values across its various members through formation and distribution of knowledge in the field of Engineering & Technology. Being constantly dynamic in our curriculum, we espouse flexibility to quickly respond to the rapidly changing globally advanced science & technology conditions and can efficiently adapt the best practices of leading Engineering & technology schools. Practical workshops and real industrial analysis, exposure makes our coursework, relevant to the reality of the changed world we live in now. The rich heritage of academic rigor SOET become a destination among world class Engineering & Technology schools creating global knowledge.

We facilitate holistic development of a student and nurture his learning curve as a true professional. SOET, JLU Bhopal boasts of a pantheon of highly qualified faculty, rich learning tools and contemporary teaching methods.  Our priority is to inculcate in our students a sense of dedication as engineers, and to expand their knowledge and their intellectual horizons so they emerge transformed and prepared to have an impact on the world of technology and society at large.

In the current scenario the majority of engineering pass outs are lacking in required skill sets and practical knowledge which deprive them to be employable in industry. To overcome the situation the School of Engineering & Technology offers B. Tech (Honors) in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Computer Science Engineering with two specializations in each domain. The specialized courses offered in engineering branches give extra edge to impart more domain specific knowledge to our students and transform them as industry ready professionals. It also offers postgraduate degree (M. Tech) in Thermal Engineering, Computer Science Engineering and Building Construction Technology.

Our primary motive is to educate students to become productive members of the engineering & technology profession and society. SOET provides them a platform to acquire required skill sets and practical knowledge by attaching them to industries to get hands on experience, skill development through internships in sector specific industries, semester abroad opportunity and by organizing regular technical workshops and events. SOET programs are job oriented, modular and competitive.

The pass outs from SOET will be industry ready professionals and would have career opportunities in public, government and private sectors on different job roles like Software Engineer, Automation Engineer, Vehicle Dynamics Controller, Design Engineer, Production Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Infrastructure providers, Core Construction companies, Real Estate companies, Urban Infrastructure Development bodies.

The faculty of the SOET is highly regarded for its strong practical engineering experience and excellent academic qualifications. We have a team of the self-motivated and dedicated faculty who tirelessly work to make SOET as one of the top institutions of the country in academics as well as basic and applied research.

We look forward to the year ahead and invite you to join us on this exciting journey to the bright future.