SMVDU Katra, October 2019. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra organized the ‘Run for Unity’ on 31st October 2019 to commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 144th Birth Anniversary. The run started from the administrative block parking and returned to the same place after covering the distance of 5 kilometers. Around 90 students, faculty and staff members participated in it. The winners of the run in student as well as the staff category were awarded with medals by Dr. Anil Kumar Tewari, Head, School of Philosophy & Culture; Mr. Surinder Kumar, Security Officer; and Mr. Sucha Singh, Sports Coach. The run was facilitated by the Sports Wing, Security Wing and the Medical Aid Centre of the university. In the end, the National Unity Day Pledge and the Integrity Pledge for citizens were also conducted by Dr. Tewari who is also Faculty-in-Charge of the University Social Responsibility Cell. Every participant committed to maintaining the highest standards of honesty and integrity, preserving the unity of the nation, and working together to eradicate corruption entirely from the country.

SMVDU Katra, October 2019. A TEQIP-III sponsored Short Term Course on “Engineering Optimization” started at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) Katra. The course is scheduled from 21st to 25th October, 2019, being organized jointly by the School of Mechanical Engineering, SMVD University Katra and Department of Mechanical Engineering, JNTU Hyderabad with an objective to impart knowledge of various optimization techniques and its role in engineering applications. About 30 participants from various institutes across the country are attending this course. The course is being coordinated jointly by Dr. Ankush Anand, Assoc. Prof., School of Mechanical Engineering, SMVD University, Katra and Prof. Indra Rani, JNTUH, Hyderabad with Mr. Amit Kumar Sinha, Asst. Prof., SME, SMVDU as the organizing secretary. Dean Faculty of Engineering, SMVDU Prof. E. Muthuswamy was the chief guest at the inaugural function. The course coordinator Dr. Ankush Anand, briefed all the participants about the need for organizing this short term course and its relevance in addressing various issues involving engineering, science and, technology. Dr. R.K. Mishra, Head, SME, SMVDU, Katra also shared his views on the theme of the course. Expert speakers from IIT’s and industry shall be interacting with the participants during this week long course. Those who attended the inaugural session also include faculty members and research scholars of School of Mechanical Engineering, SMVDU.

SMVDU Katra, October 2019. The National Service Scheme (NSS) along with Yoga and Fitness Club at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra, had organized yoga sessions in the month of October. At the onset, the sessions began from 2nd October, commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, and continued till the month end. A good number of students had participated in the sessions and showed great interest. The sessions were open to all the residents of the campus, which includes faculty and staff members along with students. All these sessions were held on weekends and holidays in order to enable one and all to participate in them. The program aimed to sensitize people towards comprehensive nature of yoga towards life and well-being. The yoga instructor of these sessions was Mr. Gurmel-a well-qualified & trained in yoga, and a daily practitioner. He informed students about the benefits of yoga for the body and mind before starting with the asanas. Students, faculty members and residents participated in the sessions which were jointly coordinated by Mr. Sumanta Sarathi Sharma, Faculty Coordinator, NSS, and Dr. Madhu Mangal Chaturvedi, Convener, Yoga and Fitness Club. Considering the success of the Yoga sessions, it is being planned to start the yoga sessions again in the month of November provided the request received and the enthusiasm shown.

SMVDU Katra, October 2019. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) organized inter-hostel basketball tournament for boys and girls. The finals of a week-long tournament were held. The league matches started from 14th October amongst all the teams to make it to the finals. A total of 7 hostels participated in the event. The spectacular finals were played between Shivalik 'A' and Shivalik 'B' in the girls category, and between Vindhayachal and Trikuta-Kailash in the boys category. In the boys' finals, Vindhayachal, led by Abhishek Sharma, emerged as the triumphant winners in the nail biting finals with a score of 46-40. Rohit Malik scored the maximum baskets for the team. In the girls' category, Shivalik 'B' registered an impeccable win with a final score of 28-8, with captain Muskaan Sharma as the highest scorer. Dr. Ashok Kumar Sharma, Head, School of Physics, SMVDU; and other faculty memebrs of the university, including Dr. Suparn Sharma, Mr. Mir Irfan Ul haq, Mr. Sanjeev Vadawan were present along with Mr. Rajiv Kumar, Faculty Incharge Sports, SMVDU, to facilitate the winners.

SMVDU Katra, October 2019. The National Service Scheme (NSS) at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra, conducted a massive screening campaign of Scoliosis- a complex disorder of the spine accompanied with lateral curvature of the spine. Considering that the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the most common type of scoliosis that occurs during the adolescent age and may progress even after adolescence, the Human Genetics Research Group of the School of Biotechnology at SMVDU have initiated a scoliosis screening program with the help of NSS at the university campus. There was a week screening cum awareness program that has been carried out from 14th to 18th October, 2019, where several students had actively participated in it. The students were informed with the importance of the screening and all other perspectives, including diagnosis, treatment and progression of scoliosis and its after effects. In this program screening of individuals was performed along with the collection of blood/saliva samples with the individual consents. The Human Genetics Group thanked the NSS and the university administration for all the necessary help.

SMVDU Katra, October 2019. Under the aegis of University Social Responsibility (USR), the student volunteers of Vikalp - a students’ initiative along with NSS at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra - campaigned in the nearby village areas of Kakryal and Sirah to promote educational awareness. Vikalp began in 2009 with a thought of bringing a positive change in the society. The campaigning started in a planned way, and the volunteers formed small groups and reached out to the villagers, while spreading awareness and encouraging parents about Vikalp cocurricular activities, including computer workshop, sports competition, and other cultural events like dance, speech, drawing, and poetry writing. The role and importance of education was also discussed, and the parents’ suggestions were also noted down. The volunteers also reached out to the construction workers working on campus, and urged them to send their children to Vikalp. The campaign was jointly coordinated by Mr. Sumanta S. Sharma, Faculty Coordinator, NSS, SMVDU, and Dr. Madhu M. Chaturvedi, Faculty Coordinator, Vikalp, SMVDU, along with student volunteers. The effort was highly appreciated by the Vice Chancellor, SMVDU, Prof. Ravindra K. Sinha, Padma Shri, and he pledged more support for such initiatives run by the university to fulfil its social responsibility.

SMVDU Katra, October 2019. A week long TEQIP-III sponsored Short Term Course on “Engineering Optimization” concluded today at SMVDU katra. The course started on 21st October, 2019 with participants from and outside J&K. During this week long course, the experts from IITs, Industry and JNTU Hyderabad interacted with the participants attending the course. The course was organized jointly by the School of Mechanical Engineering, SMVD University, Katra and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, JNTU Hyderabad. The participants also visited Dabur industries, Bari Brahmana, Jammu as a part of the course, where many aspects of optimization were discussed with the participants. During the valedictory session held today, Prof. Pradeep Kumar, IIT Roorkee, was the chief guest. The course involved a series of sessions on various optimization techniques and their role in engineering applications. The coordinator of the course Dr. Ankush Anand, Assoc. Prof., School of Mechanical Engineering, SMVD University, Katra presented the report on the proceedings of the course and thanked all the participants and the organizing team members in making this event successful. Mr. Amit Kumar Sinha, Asst. Prof., SME, SMVDU was the organizing secretary of this week long STC. Dr. R.K. Mishra, Head, SME, SMVDU, Katra, faculty and staff members were also present during the valedictory session. Mr. Ankush Raina, Asst. Prof., SME, carried out the proceedings during the last day.

SMVDU Katra, October 2019. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra fraternity celebrated Dusshera on Campus with enthusiasm. A large number of faculty and staff members along with their family joined and enjoyed the festivities. All were filled with great joy and zeal in the presence of Registrar Prof. VK Bhat. The children were dressed up in their best, like Ram; Sita; Ravana; Laxman and Durga; and showcased their histrionics and dance performances during the occasion. The significance of Dussehra was also described with the help of poetry recitation, while highlighting the ten inauspicious qualities of Ravana. A quiz was also organised for the little kids which held everyone’s attention. The luscious dinner at university guesthouse culminated the celebration.Padam Shri Prof. RK Sinha extended his warm greetings and good wishes to all.

SMVDU Katra, October 2019. The student volunteers of NSS at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) Katra initiated a drive where old clothes, books and articles were collected and distributed to the needy. In this, the students from Engineering, Architecture and Economics participated enthusiastically while collecting them from the faculty and staff members residing on campus. Both faculty and staff members donated generously for this noble cause. Some donated their children’s toys, books, tricycles, etc. After this, the collected items were sorted and the ones which could not be used were discarded. These were then repacked and distributed to the menial and construction workers and their children residing in nearby areas of the university. The event was coordinated by Mr. Sumanta S. Sharma, Faculty Coordinator, NSS, SMVDU, with the help of various student volunteers of NSS. This is one of the initiatives taken under University Social Responsibility (USR) among several other activities. The Vice Chancellor, Prof Ravindra Kumar Sinha, has congratulated the team for this stupendous effort and pledged more such endeavours in the coming future.

SMVDU Katra, October 2019. The School of Computer Science and Engineering, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra started a five-day TEQIP-III sponsored workshop on "Foundation of Fuzzy Set and Fuzzy Logic Applications- FFSFL-2019" on Campus. The workshop received a participation from different departments of various institutes across the state. The convener of the conference Dr. Ajay Kaul emphasized the relevance of the workshop, stating "The prime importance of Fuzzy Logic in today’s era". The keynote speaker and chief guest of the workshop, Prof. Ashok Deshpande, emphasized on the importance of fuzzy logic in various areas of research, and also discussed the contribution of Dr. Lotfi Zadeh, the father of Fuzzy. He also stated how scientists and researchers are using fuzzy tools to solve various complex problems. The Head of Department, School of Computer Science, Dr. Manoj Gupta, discussed the evolution of fuzzy logic, and discussed how it could help in finding the solutions consisting multivalued outputs. Mr. Manoj Kumar, convener of the workshop, thanked the keynote speaker and the participants from various institutes. He wished that the workshop would provide a platform for fruitful discussions.

SMVDU Katra, October 2019. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University witnessed its 6th Alumni Meet in the evening of 21st October 2019. On this occasion, the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Prof. R.K Sinha, extended a cordial welcome to all the alumni. He extended his best-wishes and also wished a good luck to all the alumni for their future endeavours. The faculty I/c Alumni Affairs, said, "alumni is a reflection of the University’s success. They are the strength for the society and need to contribute in nation building. The alumni meet is an occasion for the congregation, association, and reminiscences." The Training & Placement officer Mr. Bhatia expressed his thanks for all the alumni who have helped current batches in their careers. Dr. Sumeet Gupta, President SMDU Alumni Association (SMVDUAA), said that the University has an aluni association that shall act as a bridge between the University and alumni for the welfare. Er. Irfan Ul Haq, member secretary of SMVDUAA, expressed the gratitude to the University for providing the opportunity and asked the alumni for active participation in the development of the society as well as the University.

The alumni members present recollected their experiences of stay in the campus and the memorable moments they shared with the faculty. They felt the reunion is a great time and revival for their future life. The alumni expressed their heartfelt gratitude towards the faculty members and the institution. They expressed their profound faith for the alma mater.

More than three hundred prominent alumni working in different MNCs and in Government Sectors, such as TCS, Wipro, Genpact, ICICI Bank, SBI Life Insurance, Reliance Jio, Deloitte India Forensics, Revenue Department (KAS), Indian Navy, and few working as entrepreneurs expressed their views and shared their experiences. Cultural and musical events during the Alumni Meet were performed by students followed by High Tea Every alumni present acknowledged the fact that SMVD University is continuing and carrying forward the mission of pursuing excellence in education, scholarship and research and its application to the society at the highest international levels of excellence.