Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 13: Model Institute of Engineering and Technology (MIET) organized its annual Research Awards function at its Kot Bhalwal campus.
Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof Manoj K Dhar was the chief guest on the occasion. He distributed the Research Awards including financial incentives to the faculty members.
The Research Awards serve to recognize MIET faculty members who have published research, undertaken sponsored projects, filed patents or showcased some significant innovation. In this year’s awards, thirty faculty members were felicitated.
During the last academic session MIET faculty published 54 research papers in international journals with 39 indexed in Scopus and 13 in SCI/SCIE-indexed journals. Further, 8 patents were filed while 2 were granted during the same period. Research grants worth 17 Lakhs were received from various funding agencies. This year MIET awarded “Seed Grants” to four faculty projects related to AR/VR, Hydroponics, Rain-water harvesting and GIS-based Surveying, totalling Rs 10 lakhs.
Prof Ankur Gupta, Director MIET presented a welcome address. He described Prof Manoj Dhar as an ideal academician and researcher who is a role model for young faculty members aspiring to build strong careers in academia.
Prof Manoj K Dhar, in his address, lauded the research culture established at MIET and the stellar work being done by the faculty members. He was appreciative of the fact that research was being incentivized at MIET which is a rarity in the private sector. He felt that MIET has the potential to emerge as a credible research-driven institution in the region in the next few years. He exhorted the faculty to undertake applied research which is topical and relevant to the local context. Real problems such as the UNDP Sustainable Development Goals should be tackled for the benefit of society and not just for academic research, he added.
Other dignitaries present on the occasion, were Ruchika Gupta, Joint Director; Prof G S Sambyal, Prof S K Sharma, Prof B C Sharma, Prof P N Sharma, Prof Ashok Kumar, Prof Arvind Dewangan and Dr Sahil Sawhney. The event was organized by the IQAC Cell under Ruksana Salathia, Quality Assurance Officer.