Organized by: The Poona Jesuit School Society’s St. Vincent College, Pune
Date: 26th November 2024
Venue: St. Vincent College, Pune
Introduction
The Zonal Level “Aavishkar 2024” Research Competition aimed to cultivate a research-oriented mindset among students, encouraging them to explore and present innovative ideas. Hosted by St. Vincent College, the event provided a platform for participants across disciplines to showcase their academic pursuits and research outcomes.
This report provides an account of the event’s proceedings, participation details, expert panel contributions, and outcomes.
REGISTRATION
Inauguration Program
The event commenced with the inauguration ceremony at 11:00 AM, held in the college auditorium, and attended by dignitaries, experts, and participants.
Program Details
- Welcome and Introduction
- Dr. Anil Adsule, Principal of St. Vincent College, formally welcomed all attendees, including participants, experts, and guests.
- He emphasized the significance of research in contributing to societal and academic growth.
- Event Overview
- Asst. Prof. Radhakrushna Thanage (ARC) presented an overview of the competition, outlining the objectives, structure, and expectations from the participants.
- Special Address
- Dr. Fr. Kennethe Misquitta: Encouraged students, wishing them the best and urging them to view the competition as a stepping stone for future research opportunities.
- Felicitation Ceremony
- Distinguished guests and experts were felicitated by the organizing committee in recognition of their significant contributions to their fields and for supporting the event.
- Speeches by Dignitaries
- Dr. C.N. Rawal (Former Principal, BMCC, Pune): Delivered an inspiring talk on how small, incremental steps in research can lead to significant impacts over time.
- Prof. Ram Gambhir (Former Professor, Dept. of Anthropology, SPPU, Pune): Stressed the importance of serious research and its long-term contributions to the nation’s progress.
- Dr. K.C. Mohite (Principal, C.T. Bora College, Shirur): Highlighted the role of innovations in improving the Human Development Index (HDI) and the need for student-driven initiatives in research.
- Vote of Thanks
- Dr. Yogesh Mate concluded the inauguration program by expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, experts, participants, and organizing staff for their contributions to the event’s success.
Participation Overview
The competition witnessed robust participation, with a total of 476 students across various disciplines and academic levels.
Discipline-Wise Participation
- Humanities, Languages, and Fine Arts: 114 Projects (34.6%)
- Commerce, Management, and Law: 117 projects (33.1%)
- Medicine and Pharmacy: 122 projects (32.3%)
Academic Levels
- Undergraduate (UG): 193 projects (54.7%)
- Postgraduate (PG): 132 projects (37.4%)
- M.Phil./Ph.D. (PPG): 28 projects (7.9%)
Evaluation
Event Proceedings
Morning Session (11:15 AM – 1:30 PM)
- Participants presented their research projects to the panel of experts in the allocated rooms.
- Experts evaluated projects based on originality, methodology, relevance, and presentation.
Lunch Break (1:30 PM – 2:30 PM)
- A lunch break provided an opportunity for networking among participants, experts, and organizers.
Afternoon Session (2:30 PM – 5:00 PM)
- Further evaluations were conducted for remaining projects.
- Experts provided constructive feedback to participants, helping them refine their research work.
Certificate Distribution (5:00 PM – 5:30 PM)
- Certificates of participation and excellence were distributed to all participants.
- Experts and dignitaries were thanked for their invaluable contributions to the event.
Expert Panel
The competition featured a distinguished panel of experts across various disciplines, who played a pivotal role in evaluating the research projects. Notable experts included:
| Name | Faculty/Field | Institution/Organization |
| Dr. C N Rawal | Commerce | Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce, Pune |
| Dr. Balkrishna Damle | Commerce | EMRC, SPPU, Pune |
| Dr Shilpa Kakonkar | Management | Management Dept. COEP University, Pune |
| Dr Prakash Chaudhari | law | Ness Wadia College, Pune |
| Dr. Kavita Murgkar | Humanities, Fine Arts | Bharati Vidyapeeth, College of Architechture, Pune |
| Dr Deepali R Patil | Humanities, Fine Arts | Appasaheb Jedhe College, Shukravar Peth, Pune 2 |
| Dr Nitin Mundhe | Humanities, Fine Arts | S P College, Pune |
| Dr. Ram Gambhir | Anthropology | Emeritus Professor, Dept. of Anthropology, SPPU, Pune. |
| Dr. Undale Vaishali R. | Medicine & Pharmacy | Dr. D Y Patil Institute f Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pimpri |
| Dr. Vikas Kandekar | Medicine & Pharmacy | Citron Life Sciences, Nigdi, Pune |
| Dr Pratima Shinde | Medicine & Pharmacy | Siddhant College of Pharamcy, Sadumbare, Pune |
| Dr Rukhsana Rub | Medicine & Pharmacy | Principal, Sinhgad Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lonavala |
Selected Projects for University Level
A total of 27 projects were selected to represent the zone at the University Level “Aavishkar 2024” competition.
| Faculty | UG | PG | PPG | Total |
| Humanities, Languages & Fine Arts | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Commerce, Management & Law | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 |
| Medicine & Pharmacy | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 |
Key Takeaways
- Encouraging Innovation: The competition successfully provided a platform for students to showcase their creativity and research aptitude.
- Expert Guidance: The constructive feedback from experts helped participants enhance their understanding and improve the quality of their work.
- Cross-Disciplinary Exchange: The event fostered collaboration and exchange of ideas across diverse fields, promoting interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving.
Conclusion
The Zonal Level “Aavishkar 2024” Research Competition was a resounding success, achieving its goals of promoting research culture and inspiring young minds. The event was marked by excellent participation, insightful evaluations, and engaging discussions.
The organizing committee expresses its gratitude to the management of St. Vincent College, dignitaries, experts, participants, and volunteers for their invaluable contributions. We look forward to furthering this initiative in the years to come.
Prepared by:
Asst. Prof. Radhakrushna Thange
Coordinator,
St. Vincent College, Pune
Dr. Anil Adsule,
Principal,
St. Vincent College, Pune