Report of Book Exhibition organized on 20 to 21 January 2025

The Book Exhibition 2025, held on the 20th and 21st of January, brought together a rich collection of more than 1500 books from renowned publishers and authors. The event was an opportunity for students, staff, and faculty members of St. Francis Institute of Technology to engage with the latest publications across various genres, review new titles, and recommend books to enrich the library’s collection.

The exhibition provided an open platform for the entire institute fraternity, offering a diverse selection of fiction, non-fiction, self-help books, academic texts, and newer editions of popular titles. The event was aimed at enhancing the library’s resources while fostering a culture of reading, learning, and knowledge-sharing within the academic community.

---

 

Inauguration of the Book Exhibition by Rev. Bro. Shantilal Kujur, Director, SFIT

    Bro. Joy Kurien, Deputy Director, SFIT                    Dr. Sincy George, Principal - SFIT

 

  Ms. Rupali Sawant, Asst. Librarian - SFIT       Asst. Prof. Praveen Kurien, Department of Basic 

        welcoming the Book Exhibitors                              Sciences and Humanities

 

 

Department of Mechanical Engineering - Faculty and Students

 
       Bro. C.P. Joseph, Director, SFITI                        Dr. Hariprasad C., Dean Academics, SFIT

 and Sister Bhavya, Asst. Librarian, SFIT                

Students and Faculty of St. Francis Institute of Hotel Management

Exhibitors

• Vakratund Book House, Navi Mumbai
• Lead India Book Solutions
• Sita Books

Books Displayed

Over 1500 books were displayed, spanning several categories, including:

• Fiction and Non-Fiction
• Self-help
• Academic Texts (Engineering, Science, Literature, Management, etc.)
• Latest Editions and Textbooks
• Bestsellers
• Professional and Reference Books

The books were provided by reputed vendors and publishers including:

• Narosa Publishing House
• S. Chand
• Pearson
• PHI
• McGraw Hill

These publishers showcased the latest books and editions across various subjects and genres, offering visitors a wide array of options to explore and choose from.

---

Objectives and Achievements

1. Strengthening Library Collection:
   The exhibition allowed the library to enhance its collection with the latest books across diverse genres and subjects. Staff and faculty were able to evaluate and recommend books for future acquisition.
2. Awareness of New Books:
   Visitors were exposed to new releases and the latest editions, increasing awareness of current literature and academic materials. The exhibition served as a comprehensive platform for staying updated with contemporary books.
3. Engagement and Participation:
   More than 200 visitors, including staff and students, participated in the exhibition. The open platform encouraged attendees to explore different genres and titles, engage with the vendors, and interact with each other about their reading preferences and recommendations.
4. Open Platform for the Institute Community:
   The exhibition fostered a collaborative space where faculty, students, and staff could suggest, review, and even recommend books for procurement, thus enabling a participatory approach to library resource development.

---

Visitor Experience

The event saw enthusiastic participation from both students and staff. Visitors had the opportunity to browse the collection, interact with the representatives from publishing houses, and gain insights into the latest trends in literature and academics. Many attendees took advantage of the chance to review books and make suggestions for future library acquisitions.

Several visitors also participated in informal discussions, sharing their opinions on the books displayed and recommending popular titles for inclusion in the library collection. The wide range of books available attracted both academic professionals seeking textbooks and students interested in personal development or leisure reading.

---

Stall Highlights and Best Stall Award

Among the three vendors, the book stall by Lead India Book Solutions received the Best Stall Award. The stall stood out due to its excellent presentation, informative staff, and a broad selection of high-demand textbooks and self-help books. Their interactive sessions and detailed explanations about the books also contributed to their recognition.

Conclusion

The Book Exhibition 2025 was a significant event for the St. Francis Institute of Technology library, successfully meeting its objectives of enhancing the library collection, promoting awareness of new publications, and providing a platform for collaborative book selection. With a high level of engagement from both students and faculty, the exhibition has further solidified the library's role as a central resource for academic and personal development within the institution.

This event marks the beginning of an ongoing effort to continuously improve the library’s offerings and to encourage a reading culture that extends beyond the classroom.

AICTE declares 2025 as ‘Year of AI’ to shape India as global leader

The initiatives will span across AICTE-approved institutions, impacting over 14,000 colleges and 40 million students nationwide

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has announced 2025 as the “Year of Artificial Intelligence (AI)” to shape India as a global leader in AI. The initiatives under this declaration by the technical education regulator will span across AICTE-approved institutions, impacting over 14,000 colleges and 40 million students nationwide.

“With this bold announcement, AICTE aims to embed AI within the fabric of higher education, fostering innovation, ethics, and leadership to position India as a global leader in AI-driven progress,” AICTE said in a statement.

AICTE chairman TG Sitharam in a letter has urged all its affiliated institutions to submit their AI implementation plans by December 31, 2024, which will be reviewed by its approval bureau, with top submissions featured as benchmarks for other institutions. He has urged the AICTE-approved institutions to adopt five measures to “affirm India’s leadership in AI”. Five measures include institutions taking pledge to make India a global leader in AI through innovation, ethics, and education, displaying this commitment prominently on campuses; launching AI awareness campaigns; updating curricula to include AI topic fostering interdisciplinary approaches; conducting workshops and certifications to equip faculty with AI teaching expertise; and partnering with AI-driven organisations to provide real-world exposure through internship, projects and mentorship.

AICTE will organise workshops and certifications to upskill faculty in AI education. Students will receive real-world experience through internships, projects, and mentorships through collaborations of their colleges with global companies like Adobe, Cisco, and International Business Machines (IBM). Top-performing institutions will be recognised with awards as models of AI excellence.

“As we dedicate 2025 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, let us unite to build a future-ready workforce. Together, we can shape India as a global leader in AI innovation, ethics, and education, fulfilling our shared vision of self-reliance and prosperity,” Sitharam said.

Officials at AICTE-approved institutions are adopting AI in their courses to prepare students for job markets. Institutions are also conducting teachers training by industry experts to empower them.

Dr Ankit Chaudhary, professor of Computer Engineering at the School of Engineering (SoE), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) said, “In the first year, all BTech students are introduced to Data Science. In the second year, they study Introduction to Artificial Intelligence. Third-year students are taught Machine Learning (ML) and Computer Vision, while fourth-year students explore Deep Learning and Natural Language Processing (NLP). Technology changes after every five years and we have to update ourselves accordingly. Students are needed to learn job-market relevant skills and usage of AI in BTech syllabus will boost their employability. We regularly take feedback from industry leaders and prepare curriculum to train our students for better jobs.”

SoE offers two BTech programs: Computer Science and Engineering (BTech CSE) and Electronics and Communication Engineering (BTech ECE).

Sujith Kumar, a professor at T John Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, said, “We have already added topics related to AI in some of our courses. As asked by AICTE, we are making plans to use AI to reshape education. We will organise seminars to raise awareness about AI among students”

Ashok Kumar Mittal, founder chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU), Phagwara said that there are challenges in adopting new technologies due to less training opportunities, and resistance to change.

“To empower educators, LPU has established a comprehensive professional development program. This initiative includes workshops, seminars, and hands-on training sessions conducted by experts in the field of AI and education technology. Teachers are introduced to a variety of AI tools such as adaptive learning platforms, virtual tutors, and data analytics software tailored for educational use. They learn how to integrate these tools into their lesson plans to improve learning experiences for students,” he said.

LPU offers several AICTE-approved courses in engineering, management and pharmacy among others.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/aicte-declares-2025-as-year-of-ai-to-shape-india-as-global-leader-101735055534296.html