Keonjhar: Five B.Tech graduates from the Government College of Engineering (GCE), Keonjhar, are all set to embark on their journey to pursue a Master’s Degree in professional mining engineering at Curtin University, Australia, with the support of the District Administration, Keonjhar.
To commemorate this collaboration between GCE and Curtin University, a grand event was organized on Friday at the Keonjhar Auditorium.
Rowan Ainsworth, Consul General of Australia in Kolkata, Denise Eaton, Trade and Investment Commissioner, Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Energy and Resources Group, Prof. Mark Ogden, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Curtin University, Alex King, Deputy Director General of Trade and Investment, Western Australia, Nashid Chowdhury, Investment and Trade Commissioner, India-Gulf Region, Government Of Western Australia, and Pratibha Sen, Destination Director, Australia (South Asia), IDP, graced the event virtually.
The dignitaries present on the stage at Keonjhar Auditorium included Ashish Thakre, Collector & District Magistrate, Bishnu Prasad Acharya, CDO cum EO, Zilla Parishad, Prof. Trilochan Sahu, Principal, GCE, Dr. Soumya Ranjan Mallick, Head of Department (Mining), and the five students selected to pursue higher studies at Curtin University.
Consul General Ainsworth, in her speech, commended the efforts of the Keonjhar district administration, emphasizing that investing in students is an investment for the future. She expressed her belief that Keonjhar’s model would serve as a shining example for others in the days to come.
Similarly, Professor Ogden, in his address, elaborated on the various state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge research opportunities available for higher education in the field of mining engineering at Curtin University.
All other speakers also highlighted the educational environment in Australia and lauded the Keonjhar district administration’s efforts in facilitating this collaboration.
In their respective speeches, the five students expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the State Government for the opportunity bestowed upon them. They recalled the advice given to them by CM Patnaik during their meeting and pledged to dedicate themselves to diligent study to achieve their career goals and serve their homeland in the future.
District Collector Thakare extended his wishes to the five students and their parents. Further, he emphasized that the Chief Minister and the State Government hold the education of students in the highest regard. Following this principle, the Keonjhar district administration, with the support of the District Mineral Foundation, has crafted a partnership program with the primary objective of providing quality educational opportunities to the talented students of the Keonjhar district.
Upon their return after completing their higher education and gaining global exposure at Curtin University, they will play a pivotal role in leading the world’s largest mining industry and contributing to the development of the Keonjhar district, asserted Thakare. Further, he assured that similar opportunities will be extended to the students from the district who will excel in various fields.
Over 200 students, including those from GCE, Odisha School of Mining Engineering, and Dharnidhar Autonomous College, participated in the event.
