Assam: 3rd Convocation of Bodoland University held in Kokrajhar

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KOKRAJHAR: The 3rd Covocation of Bodoland University (BU) to confer degree certificates to graduates, Post Graduate and PhD degree holders for the year of 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 was held on Sunday at Jwhwlao Nileswar Brahma Auditorium of BU in Kokrajhar. The Chancellor of BU and Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya ceremonially started giving away the certificate to 16,494 qualified students. Of the qualified students and faculties, 79 were Ph.D. and 7 were M. Phil holders.

In his speech, the Vice Chancellor of BU Prof BL Ahuja said the BU at present had 90 faculties and 17 academic departments which strive to provide a multi-disciplinary learning environment that fuels curiosity, fosters innovation, and empowers students to achieve their aspirations. He said Bodoland University had achieved an extraordinary eleven-fold increase in sponsored research funding, soaring from Rs. 1.53 crores in 2021-22 to an impressive Rs. 16.62 crores in 2024-25 under 28 projects. Additionally. Rs. 20 crores grant under the PM-USHA scheme has further bolstered the university’s initiatives and infrastructure. Notably, the department of Biotechnology recently secured projects worth Rs. 12,4 crores, including Rs. 7.6 crores awarded to Prof. Jatin Sarmah by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA and Rs. 4.8 crores to Prof. Sandeep Das through an academia-industry collaboration with Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited.

“Our researchers are shining on the global stage. Two faculty members from the Faculty of Science & Technology, Prof. Sanjay Basumatary (department of Chemistry) and Dr. Hemen Sarma (department of Botany), have earned the prestigious distinction of being ranked among the world’s Top 2% most-cited scientists for 2024 by Stanford University. Dr. Arvind Kumar Goyal of the Centre for Bamboo Studies is the third highly cited scientist, adding to its glory”, he said adding that the Bodoland University proudly secured two groundbreaking patents in the departments of Botany and History.

Ahuja said driving socio-economic transformation, the Technology Incubation Centre at BU supported by the department of Bio-technology, Government of India, Government of Assam, BTR, and North Eastern Council (NEC), has emerged as a beacon of hope for rural communities. Through its pioneering efforts, the centre has trained over 10,000 farmers in mushroom cultivation and established 137 Rural Skill Centres in North Eastern States, empowering them with sustainable livelihoods and fostering a culture of innovation and resilience in the region, he said and added-the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has been transformative for the BU. He also said BU aimed to expand its academic horizons by establishing 30 new departments. In consonance with the objectives of the NEP 2020, the proposed departments will cater to diverse fields, enhancing academic and professional opportunities for students in the region.  

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