As part of celebrating its 175th year of excellence this year, IIT Roorkee, has among various activities planned to expose school children from the neighboring schools of Roorkee- Haridwar region to its various scientific and hi tech departments/blocks and their activities through a campus tour program called ‘One Day Trips’. The fourth such tour took place on May 24, in which 40 meritorious school students chosen by a quiz competition along with their teachers made a trip to the Biosciences Lab, Earth Sciences Museum, Institute Instrumentation Center, and Tinkering Lab. During the 8-hour tour, the students were guided by the IIT Roorkee students forming Ingenious Inside Ed-Tours Team and IIT Roorkee staff and professionals.
The program started at 9:00 am with orientation at the convocation hall. After the walk through tour on the campus and lunch, these students attended Career Guidance Talk and Cultural session. The trip gave students a glimpse of the IIT Roorkee legacy, culture, technical competency, and social values. Students were also able to understand and appreciate opportunities for them after they completed school, and the various course and career options available.Later, they visited the Mahatma Gandhi Central Library (MGCL), Archive’s Gallery, and James Thomason Building. They were further addressed by the Director Prof Ajit K Chaturvedi, Deputy Director Prof M Parida and Chairperson 175 years committee Prof Arun Kumar at Senate Hall. At the end of the tour, the students were felicitated with rewards and souvenirs.
A student said after the trip, “I am very thankful that I got the chance to come to the trip. I saw so many things here that I didn’t even know of. I now have a better understanding of the study and career options available to me after school. Most importantly, I have understood the value of higher education.” Another girl student said, “I have previously gone on some educational trips, but this was the best so far. I am also preparing for JEE, so coming here and experiencing what my future could be like, motivates me to work even harder for my dream. I learned so much here on the trip; I was surprised at the vastness of knowledge that exists.”
Prof. Ajit K Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee, said about the initiative, “We hope that such trips would help shape young minds to develop a never-ending thirst for knowledge and a drive to serve the nation. Institutions of higher learning, such as IITs, must reach out to young minds at an early stage, connect with them and inspire them towards learning and knowledge creation. I am happy that students of IIT Roorkee have taken the initiative of organizing one-day trips for school-going children in Roorkee town. I would like to see this program become a flagship program marking our 175-year celebrations.”
Such trips are golden opportunities for the school students as experiencing the glory and magnificence of IIT Roorkee, the unique amalgamation of cultural heritage, and future possibilities will motivate and inspire the students. This journey of exploration is, hence, an initiative for the enhancement of academic knowledge and immense value to the intellect and creativity of students as well as the extended network of people and children associated with them.
