Velammal Institute of Technology to create history with a 200-metre painting

The painting would be done as part of the orientation programme for the new batch of engineering students

On December 3 and 4, Velammal Institute of Technology, the prestigious institution run by Velammal Educational Trust, will witness a historic moment as part of the orientation programme for the newly inducted batch of engineering students. Over five hundred students will come together to paint a huge canvas of 200 metres length to mark the beginning of a new life and a new phase in their academic pursuit.

Apart from the students, the faculty members and other artists would also be part of this monumental creation that marks a new milestone in the journey of the engineering college with a vision.

Chitravathi Centre for Creativity (CCC), which is an exclusive team of experts in the field of art and culture, and integrating it with pedagogy, has conceived this idea for Velammal Institute of Technology, which sees education in a holistic manner. It is this approach that helped the college to mould hundreds of successful professionals over the years, who excelled in many fields.

The college authorities thought of such a unique creative engagement as part of the orientation programme, which would have a positive impact in their education and approach towards life, because the institution strongly believes that learning should not be confined to the classrooms alone. Moreover, most of the engineering students who are just out of their schools need to understand the ambience of a professional college to bring about a change in the way they look at higher studies. Hence the college decided to have this orientation programme that would bring them closer to the collectiveness of institutional experience, which also opens the window to a new world, of which they would become part after their studies.

CCC designed this orientation programme to shed light into the new methods of study, campus life and professional and personal development that would decide the prospects of their future, according to Shri. M.V.M. Sasi Kumar, Director, Velammal Educational Trust.

“We always give importance to art and culture in our institutions and this innovative project as part of the orientation programme also reflects this philosophy,” he added.

In the phase of higher education, there requires a change in their outlook and fine-tuning of their soft skills to improve their personality as students and social beings, according to Biveesh B, Head of the Department, CCC. “However, quite often we tend to overlook or ignore the personal co-existential space in the day-to-day pedagogical activities, which might restrain their academic activities to the formal curriculum and hamper their overall growth,” he adds. Soft skills would also boost their socio-cultural status and reorient them towards professional education, according to him.

The people who lead the orientation programme are veterans in different fields and the team from Chitravathi would also assist them. The keynote speaker, Goutam Chakraborty, is the Managing Director of BrickBiyte, a Bangalore-based company offering asset management services aimed at helping real estate asset owners. He has held managerial position in various corporate entities and he is a photographer and media expert as well. Likewise, Anand Kumar Narayan, who holds the workshop on Soft Skill / Management, is a renowned motivational speaker and such initiatives in the first stage itself will definitely boost the confidence of the students.

At Velammal, the philosophy is that along with the academic activities, the institution should provide them the platform to nurture their creative talent, thus helping their overall development. Many professional students fail in their career because of their social behaviour, mental block, inhibitions and improper communication. Once we groom them as independent and confident human beings, it would benefit them a lot. This orientation programme is part of that approach only, says the management.

A good orientation programme also reflects the class and culture of the institution. The introduction by such eminent personalities and the gigantic canvas to express the creative thoughts of the students would herald a new beginning for sure. This way the orientation course becomes the stepping stone to a new life, culture and a new way of learning. On the other hand, the parents and guardians also get an opportunity to acquaint with the institution, its environment, policies and also the teachers.