DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 13 (MExN): A ’Solidarity Students’ Exchange Program’ was held at Mangalore from September 2 to 9 at the initiative of the Governor P.B. Acharya, wherein the NITTE University, Mangalore invited 5 students each from Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh as guests of Nitte University’ to visit Mangalore and Udipi, which is the hometown of the Governor.
The selected students joined 20 (twenty) students from T. Ramona College and Aizawl West College of Mizoram including two faculty members.
A unique study experience, this Exchange Program was designed to expose the students to various cultures. It also aimed to act as a resource for discussion of ideas and offers opportunities to young students interested in a dialogue of solidarity to further the goals of national understanding and social change. The students had the opportunity to experience firsthand the geographical and cultural diversity of India.
Day 1 after reaching Mangalore, the participants were taken to St. Aloysius where they held a tour of the Chapel and later in the evening, invited for a traditional dinner at the residence of Prof (Dr) S Ramananda Shetty, MDS Vice Chancellor, NITTE University.
On day 2, they utilized the “Home Stay Program” where they were divided into groups and taken to the residence of their respective host. They visited the Tannirbhavi Beach to enjoy the beauty of nature. On Day 3, an Orientation Program was held in the Board Room of the NITTE University, and interaction held with the Vice Chancellor/Registrar.
After this, a visit was planned to the Old Age Home (Abhya Ashram) where they sat together and shared special lunch with the elderly ones. Later, the team was taken for a tour to the NITTE Institution followed by a visit to the Medical Academy (KSHEMA). After the tour ended, a friendly match was held among the students, where girls played volleyball and boys played football.
On day 4, a visit to Artisan Village at Pilikula, Pilikul Regional Centre, Pilikul Zoo was scheduled. On day 5, a workshop was conducted at the Engineering and Management Institutions at NITTE Campus, Karkala and session by the entrepreneurship cell at NMAMIT.
Next, they visited the memorial site of Justice KS Hegde Supreme Court Judge and Lok Sabha Speaker, and other important historical places in Karkala and Moodbidri which concluded with dinner at Chancellor’s Beach House, Surathkal.
Day 6 witnessed a workshop on photography conducted with Rahul Ganesh, Assistant Professor, NITTE, Institution of Communication. This was followed by the opportunity to witness and participate in the celebration of South Indian Harvest Festival “Onam”. Later, a cultural extravaganza was held in the evening where all the teams from Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal performed folk dance and songs. Day 7 was spent with children from the “Alva’s Educational Institution” at Moodbidri. This was followed by sightseeing to the famous 1000 Pillars Jain temple and an Organic Farm at Moodbidri. On Day 8, the last day of the Exchange Program, they participated in the Seventh Convocation of the NITTE University as special invitees.
A tour report was also presented which extensively highlighted the positive response and success of the “Solidarity Students’ Exchange Program”.
