SXUK hosts workshop

The Research and Development Cell of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with the Centre for Incubation, Consultancy and Entrepreneurship (CICE) of SXUK organised a two-day workshop on Data Visualisation with Power Business Intelligence (BI) on April 12 and 13, 2025 at the university campus.

A total of 30 faculty members, research scholars of SXUK and other institutions participated in this workshop.

The conference began with the welcome address by Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar, followed by the introduction and felicitation of the resource person, Prof. Atanu Ghosh. Dr. Somnath Banerjee, Convener of the workshop briefed on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in today’s world and the necessity of training about Power BI. Dr. Monalika Dey, Joint Convener of the workshop, coordinated and conducted the inaugural session.

The training session began with an introduction to the domain of Power BI and how the companies use it to take important decisions pertaining to the sales, purchase and fixation of discount rates. Prof. Ghosh then demonstrated how different types of charts can be created using this software, and also emphasised the usage of charts.

Participants also learned columnar charts, doughnut chart, DAX basics, report publishing and visualising the charts as a form of storytelling, followed by an interactive session. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Somnath Banerjee.

Dr. Monalika Dey

Raising the Curtain: A Memorable Day in Pandua

In a heartwarming display of community spirit, Fr. Felix Raj and a delegation of esteemed Fathers from St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, traveled 70 kilometers to Pandua, a vibrant census town in West Bengal, to participate in a joyous celebration. The occasion was the inauguration of a newly constructed stage and a thanksgiving service, which drew a gathering of approximately 1,000 people on a sunny Sunday.

The festivities began with a warm welcome from Fr. Amulya, the priest-in-charge of the Pandua Mission, who treated the guests to a delightful breakfast. As the Fathers made their way to the altar, they were ceremoniously escorted by a troupe of tribal dancers, and their hands were washed in accordance with the revered local Santal custom.

In a joyous moment, Fr. Felix Raj offered a heartfelt prayer, followed by the inauguration of the stage, which was graciously shared with Sr. Josephine, the senior most Holy Cross Sister in Pandua. The Fathers then came together to celebrate the thanksgiving Eucharist, a beautiful expression of gratitude and faith.

The newly constructed stage, generously sponsored by Fr. Felix Raj, is poised to become a hub of community activity, serving the people and school children of Pandua. The Mass was followed by a captivating cultural programme, showcasing the talents of St. Xavier's School students from Pandua.

In his brief address, Fr. Felix Raj expressed St. Xavier's University's immense delight in extending support to the Pandua Centre. Our University-Village connect initiative is poised to make significant strides, ultimately benefiting numerous rural students. It is essential that our collaborative spirit endures.

As the celebration drew to a close, Fr. Amulya extended his heartfelt thanks to Fr. Felix Raj and the visiting Fathers for their kindness and presence. In a symbolic gesture, Fr. Felix Raj and Mr. Ghosh, the contractor, unveiled a jubilee plaque, dedicating the stage to the community. The festivities concluded with a sumptuous lunch, enjoyed by all in attendance.

Dr. Somak Sen

SXUK celebrates XavKala 2025

Xavier’s University Cultural Society (XUCAS) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated the XavKala 2025 in the university campus on March 29, 2025.

The grandeur of XavKala 25' was amplified by the esteemed presence of Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK, Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar and other dignitaries.

Nearly 1000 students from different disciplines participated in the programme. The event unfolded a mesmerising symphony of dreams and creativity under the theme “KHWAAB - Asliyat Se Zara Hatkar.” The fest served a platform for artists, musicians, and performers, offering an immersive escape into a realm where imagination transcended reality.

The daylong event included various cultural activities like dance performances and musical renditions. The event also held a fashion show and a band performance which drew cheers from the audience.

The main attraction of the event was the art and craft exhibition “Xavkala Street.” The event concluded with the distribution of prizes to the winners in various events.

Dr. Antara Ghatak

SXUK Students Board

The Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, Fr. Felix Raj, convened a meeting with the University Students Board on March 26, 2025, engaging in a comprehensive one-hour discussion on various facets of university life. The board comprises 86 Class Representatives (CRs) and Secretaries of Societies. Prof. Sovik Mukherjee, Deputy Chairperson and Prof. Antara Ghatak, Assistant Chairperson of the Students' Board were present in the meeting.

LCERI hosts international conference

Father Lafont Centre for Excellence in Research and Innovation (LCERI) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with the St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUKAA) organised a two-day international conference on sustainable development on March 21 and 22, 2025 at the university campus.

The theme of the conference was “Sustainable Development: Creating a Unified Foundation with Research and Practice.” The conference aimed to foster discussions on sustainable development by bringing together academicians, researchers, and professionals.

Students, scholars, faculty members from SXUK and other national and international institutions participated and presented research papers in this conference. Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK delivered the inaugural address amid the presence of dignitaries.

The distinguished speakers included Prof. Rajib Shaw, Keio University, Japan and UN Science Technology Advisory Group (STAG); Prof. Sutapa Pati, Academic Dean, School of Sustainability, XIM Bhubaneswar; Prof. Siddhartha Mitra, Department of Economics, Jadavpur University; Prof. Sekh Md. Altafur Rahaman, Associate Dean, School of Global Studies, Thammasat University, Thailand; Prof. Sagi Mathew, School of Management & Marketing, Faculty of Business and Law, Curtin Business School, Curtin University, Australia; Prof. Sadhan Kumar Ghosh, Director General, Sustainable Development and Circular Economy Research Centre, ISWMAW.

The conference was structured into multiple plenary and technical sessions, with four different themes, economic, environment, social and interdisciplinary. More than 50 research papers were selected for presentation in the conference.

All the sessions facilitated engaging discussions, allowing scholars and industry professionals to exchange their ideas and research findings. The tracks were chaired by senior renowned academicians from across the country.

A special training session on “Efficacy of Publishing in Social Science Research” was conducted by Prof. Kanika Chatterjee, Department of Commerce, University of Calcutta, aiming to equip young researchers with the necessary skills for impactful academic publishing.

The event concluded with a valedictory session, presided over by Father Felix Raj, S.J., who summarized key takeaways and acknowledged the contributions of participants. Certificates were distributed to the researchers on the final day. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Monalika Dey.

Dr. Soma Sur
Honorary Director, LCERI

NBA Accredited

St. Xavier's University, Kolkata MBA Programme is now NBA accredited for three years.

Xavier Business School (XBS) of SXUK invites you to become a Xaverian for life.

Faculty of Science of SXUK participates in State Science Congress

Faculty of Science of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) represented its delegation team at the 32nd West Bengal State Science and Technology Congress held at the Biswa Bangla Convention Center in Newtown, Kolkata on the occasion of National Science Day on February 28, 2025.

Dr. Aniket Biswas, Dr. Priyanka Talukdar, and Dr. Mrinmoyee Bhattacharya along with 21 postgraduate students of Statistics and 7 postgraduate students of Computer Science department of SXUK were the delegates.

Dr. Arpan Pal, Chief Scientist at TCS Research delivered the Prof. Prasanta Chandra Memorial lecture. Dr. Pal shared his insights on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in enhancing human capabilities across various sectors such as healthcare, education, and industry.

Dr. Tapan Misra, former Director of ISRO, while delivering the Sir C.V. Raman Memorial Lecture, discussed radar technology and its applications in space research, weather forecasting, and earth observation.

Dr. Haradhan Maity from Rishi Bankim Chandra Evening College, Naihati conducted a session on mathematical applications in river processes and discussed how statistical and mathematical models are used for predicting river dynamics, which is crucial for environmental conservation and disaster management.

Dr. Aniket Biswas
Assistant Professor
Department of Statistics
St. Xavier's University, Kolkata

IPR cell of SXUK organises FDP

The Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Cell of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with the Research and Development Cell (RDC) organised a one-week Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on IPR from February 24-28, 2025 at the university campus in hybrid mode. The FDP was funded by the Department of Science & Technology and Biotechnology, Govt. of West Bengal (DSTBT, GoWB).

A total of 82 faculty members and researchers from SXUK and other colleges and universities from across the country registered in this programme. The inaugural session took place at the university campus, while the rest of the sessions were held in online mode.

While inaugurating the FDP, Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar of SXUK said, “I congratulate all the team members for conducting the FDP on IPR as it is a major subject in the careers of academicians and researchers. Every academician should know and update themselves on the latest development in IPR.” He further said, “I wish all the participants an effective session ahead.”

Eminent resource persons were invited to deliver lecture on different topics related to IPR. Dr. Mahua Hom Choudhury, Scientist C, DSTBT, Govt. of West Bengal was the resource person at the first session. She deliberated on introduction to IPR, different types of IPR and technology transfer. While narrating the different types of IPR, she gave a detailed insight on Patents, Copyright, Industrial Designs, Geographical Indications (GI), Trade Mark and Service Mark and protection for new plant varieties. She mentioned the trade-related aspects of IPR also.

Dr. Choudhury also shared the sharp rise of patent filing in research works by academicians throughout the country. She said, “India made good progress in research in last few years as a whole.” She urged academicians from West Bengal especially to work for more research in order to stay in the race with other states. While explaining reasons of not getting patents in individual or institutional research works, she cited the similarity of research works that were done earlier. She added, “Patent authenticates one’s research findings throughout the world. Therefore, the researcher should be careful enough while applying for patent.”

Dr. Raju K. D., Professor of Law, Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur took the session on Geographical Indications on the second day. He said, “Odisha as a state has made remarkable progress in GI registration. Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kerala are other states that have made equally good progress in GI registration.”

Prof. Raju further added, “Darjeeling tea is the first Indian product to be registered under GI category from West Bengal.” He also cited examples of Sambalpuri saree (Odisha), Malda Laxman Bhog mango, Himsagar mango, Baluchari saree, Burdwan mihidana and sitabhog (a sweet product), Sundarban honey and Satiniketan leather goods (West Bengal) and many other products from different states of India as GI registration.

The other resource persons are Mr. Arnab Bhattacharya, Examiner of Patent and Design and NIPAM Officer, Gr. A (Gazetted), The Patent Office, Kolkata, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India; Prof. Sushil Kr. Mitra, SXUK and Dr. Anirban Mazumder, Professor of Law, NUJS, Kolkata.

The programme concluded with an interaction with the participants. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Tuhin Utsab Paul, Dean, Faculty of Science, SXUK.

Dr. Tuhin Utsab Paul

SXUK celebrates International Women’s Day

In a bid to commemorate the International Women’s Day 2025, the Women and Gender Development Cell (WGDC) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with the Regional Labour Office, Barasat, Government of West Bengal organised a workshop on gender sensitization at the university campus on February 19, 2025.

The workshop focused on generation of awareness of the rights of women employees at their workplaces. Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., the Vice-Chancellor of SXUK appreciated the steps.

Ananya Dutta Chowdhury, Additional Labour Commissioner of West Bengal, conducted the workshop. A total of 40 faculty members, officers, support staff and students of SXUK attended this workshop. Participants received certificates at the end. Dr. Antara Ghatak was the coordinator of the event.

As a part of this event, a medical camp was also held by the WGDC of SXUK in collaboration with the Desun Hospital and AM Medical Centre on March 8, 2025 at the university campus.

Dr. Shreya Chatterjee, Clinical Oncologist at the Desun Hospital, shared an insightful lecture on cervical and breast cancer and made the audience aware of early detection and regular screenings for women’s health.

The camp offered medical tests like measuring blood pressure and glucose level, checking dental problems, eye testing and general health assessments free of cost by experts. A total of 150 students, faculty and staff members of SXUK underwent these medical tests. They also received medical guidance from the medical practitioners in the camp.

Dr. Somak Sen

Dept of Mass Communication organises workshop

Department of Mass Communication of the St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with the Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC), New Delhi organised a two-day digital-filmmaking workshop using AI and Drones on March 4 to 5, 2025.

The workshop aimed to educate students on utilising cutting-edge technology to enhance the filming and editing process, making it more efficient and innovative. The esteemed guests for the workshop included Prof. Sajal Mukherjee, Director, AIMC; and two other faculty members, Naveen Gautam and Ankit Kumar Malyan of AIMC.

The inaugural address was delivered by Dr. Susmita Halder, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Studies. In these two days, students learned uses of professional cameras, capturing stable and cinematic shots using gimbals and drones. Experts taught the students how to create short films and use of AI-driven editing tools in colour correction, sound enhancement, and video stabilization. Students found this workshop highly enriching.

Dr. Harish Kumar

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Dept of English organises workshop

Department of English of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a workshop on March 1, 2025 at the university campus. The theme was ‘Learning to Speak/Write "in Other Words": A Writing and Translation Workshop’.

60 participants from across the country participated in the workshop. Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar of SXUK inaugurated the event.

The workshop was divided into two halves. The first half of the workshop was conducted by Prof. Aritrik Dutta Chowdhury of Acharya Girish Chandra Bose College. He shared the merits of writing skills and importance of effective communication, followed by an activity of short letter writing. He also asked participants to create an advertisement about an existing brand.

The second half of the workshop was conducted by Prof. Ashok Mohapatra of SXUK and Prof. Abhijit Sen of Visva Bharati. Participants were asked to translate Hindi and Bengali scripts into English.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Medha Bhadra Chowdhury, followed by the distribution of certificates to all participants.

Dr. Anish Bhattacharyya

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SXUK hosts fireside chat

Centre for Language and Communication Studies of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted a fireside chat on February 25, 2025 in the university campus for the postgraduate students of the Department of English. The topic was Passport to the Mind and World: How Foreign Languages Unlock Cognitive Potential and Global Opportunities.

The guest speaker was Prof. Indranil Dutta, School of Languages and Linguistics of Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Prof. Ashok Mahapatra of the Department of English of SXUK conducted the hour-long discussion.

Prof. Dutta discussed the relevance of language learning in a world where Artificial Intelligence is progressing at a fast pace. He mentioned the cognitive advantages of learning multiple languages. Prof. Mahapatra’s skilful conduction of the discussion threw light on the differences between languages and the ongoing research in the field of language studies.

The event concluded with an interactive session with the students.

Dr. Bidisha Kantha

Dept of Social Work holds rural camp

Department of Social Work of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) held a week-long rural camp at Choupahari village in Birbhum district, from February 21 to 28, 2025 in collaboration with Swayambhar Nari and Nayantara Memorial Charitable Trust, two Birbhum-based nongovernmental organisations (NGOs).

The camp focused on sustainable rural livelihood policies and the role of government and NGOs in empowering rural communities to meet sustainable development goals.

Students made field visits, conducted interactive sessions with local entrepreneurs and villagers, and gathered experience on community-based activities in different villages in the week-long programme. Dr. Rupa Biswas, Head, Department of Social Work and Sudipto Bhattacharya, Fieldwork and Internship Coordinator, SXUK accompanied the students.

Besides learning about sustainable livelihoods, students visited a saal plate-making unit run by a self-help group (SHG) member and interacted with other SHG members. They also conducted Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRS), household surveys and resource mapping.

Students identified water scarcity and child marriage as threats to rural development. They also visited Amkhoi village, Nayantara Memorial Charitable Trust, Nimbuni village, Washi Paper making unit, Sonajhuri market, and gained knowledge on nutrition gardens, animal husbandry, and fisheries.

Dr. Rupa Biswas

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An exciting cricket match took place between St. Xavier's University Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUKAA) and St. Xavier's University Faculty and Staff members on February 22, 2025 at the university ground in which the SXUKAA team lifted the President’s Cup 2025.

While inaugurating the match, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK and also the President of SXUKAA said, “I congratulate both the teams for participating in the President’s Cup. Sports is an integral part of academics and it helps to build up a healthy body and mind.”

The university Faculty and Staff team won the toss and decided to bowl first. The Staff and Faculty team was led by Sudipto Ghosh and the Alumni team’s captain was Ajitesh Prasad, a former student of Xavier Business School.

Batting first, the SXUKAA Alumni team scored 214 runs for 6 wickets in 16 overs. The Faculty and Staff team made 165 runs in 16 overs. Ayush Ray, a left-hand batsman of SXUKAA bagged the Man of the Match award as he scored 49 runs in 16 balls. He hit 6 over boundaries. Rishabh Agarwal, a right-hand batsman of the victorious team scored 43 runs in 17 balls and finished not out. He hit 5 over boundaries and 2 boundaries.

Amit Kanji’s single over deliveries cost the Faculty and Staff team 24 runs to chase. Anupam Mitra, right-hand batsman of the Faculty and Staff team scored 40 runs in 22 balls before being bowled out by Fr. Franklin Sando. Mitra hit 5 boundaries and 2 over boundaries. Arup Anthony’s spell picked up Sudipto Ghosh too early, which brought a setback to the Faculty and Staff team.

Fr. Felix Raj handed over the President’s Cup to the winners and also congratulated each player of both teams with medals.

Dr. Somak Sen.

XCMS organises X-Inovaè'25

Xavier’s Commerce and Management Society (XCMS) of the St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised X-Inovaè'25, a premier inter-college fest from February 21 to 23, 2025 at the university campus.

The event aimed to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic problem-solving. Participants from 15 institutes across three states took part in different events. Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK delivered the inaugural speech amid the presence of dignitaries. Mr. S.C. Agarwalla, Director, Maithan Alloys Limited was the Chief Guest.

Designed to challenge analytical thinking, leadership, and adaptability, X-Inovaè'25 provided a dynamic platform for students to navigate real-world business complexities.

A major highlight was the Fireside Chat with Aman Gupta, Founder & CMO, boAt Lifestyle on February 21, 2025, moderated by CA Rohitt Surana. Aman Gupta shared insights on entrepreneurship, brand-building, and business resilience, leaving students inspired through engaging storytelling and an interactive session.

All the first rank holders in each event were awarded ₹4000 and the second rank holders were awarded ₹2000 along with exclusive gift hampers.

Dr. Mili Kar

Department of Economics of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with the Jesuit Economics Association of India, hosted the third Annual Economics Conference on February 21-22, 2025 at the university campus. The theme was “Contemporary Issues in Economic Theory & Policy” and it was co-sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).

The conference featured distinguished keynote speakers, including Prof. Jayati Ghosh, University of Massachusetts, USA, and Prof. Pulapre Balakrishnan, Centre for Development Studies, Kerala.

The special lecture sessions saw captivating presentations by renowned academicians like Prof. Sambit Bhattacharyya, University of Sussex, UK; Prof. Saumya Chakrabarti, Visva-Bharati; Prof. Krishnendu Ghosh Dastidar, Jawaharlal Nehru University; and Prof. Priyadarshi Banerjee, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata. The valedictory lecture was delivered by Prof. Rajat Acharya, Jadavpur University.

Srijita Ghosh

Department of Economics of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with Xavier’s University Economics Society (XAVECOS) hosted the fifth Annual Economics Summit 2025 on February 20, 2025 at the university campus.

Students of both undergraduate and postgraduate sections of economics and other social science subjects from institutions, colleges and universities across India, including Jadavpur University, Presidency University, Madras School of Economics, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Amity University, Praxis Business School, Ashutosh College, and Gurudas College, Kolkata participated in the summit.

The inaugural address was delivered by Dr. Alex M Thomas, Associate Professor of the Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. The title of his lecture was “Kanta Ranadive, Krishna Bharadwaj and the history of economic thought.”

An innovative poster presentation by undergraduate students showcased fresh economic perspectives, while a panel discussion on “The future of women at the workplace” sparked insightful conversations. The session was moderated by Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, Vice-Chancellor of SXUK, and featured esteemed speakers Prof. Sahana Roy Chowdhury, IMI Kolkata; Dr. Supurna Banerjee, IDSK and Ms. Ruchira Goswami, NUJS.

Students submitted research papers on different topics like education economics, gender economics, health economics, and development economics.

The summit concluded with a valedictory address by Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta, followed by a prize distribution ceremony to the outstanding research paper presenters.

Srijita Ghosh

Department of Mass Communication hosts special lecture

Department of Mass Communication, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) conducted a special lecture on “Language of Cinema” for its postgraduate students on February 17, 2025 at the university campus. The resource person was Dr. Ipsita Barat, a senior faculty member of St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata.

The session focused on the evolution of film grammar and then delved into the various instances of cinema that developed their own film language due to their unique situation. Dr. Barat gave examples of Asian, Iranian, American, French, Italian, German, and Soviet cinema to elaborate on how cinema language evolved across the world and how it is distinct from each other. She delineated on the history of film movements like French new wave, Italian neorealism that was a direct outcomes of World War II.

She also explained how editing techniques, depiction of themes, characterisation and storytelling in every country’s cinema is distinct and suit that particular country. She provided examples of films and filmmakers along with relevant film clips to explain the nuances of film language.

The lecture was a great learning experience for the students who gained knowledge about cinema history and a bird’s-eye perspective on evolution of cinema language across the globe. The event concluded with an interaction with students.

Dr. Nitesh Tripathi

6th Convocation of SXUK

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) will introduce Master of Laws (LL.M.) programme from the 2025-26 academic session, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., the university’s Vice-Chancellor, announced at the 6th convocation held at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre on February 15, 2025, Saturday.

Rev. Dr. James Arjen Tete, S.J., Chancellor of the university presided over the ceremony, where 844 students received degrees across undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D programmes. Among them, 102 students from the first batch of Xavier Law School (XLS) graduated. 48 students were awarded with gold, silver and bronze medals.

During his address the Vice-Chancellor said: “The climate that we have in our country, of disturbance and communal violence, St. Xavier’s University has taken the initiative of offering a course on inter-religious studies. That will be our focus this year, so we can train students of the university with an inter-religious outlook, so every student who passes the portals of St. Xavier’s will also go with a greater appreciation of every religion in the world.”

G Viswanathan, Founder and Chancellor of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), was conferred upon the Doctor of Literature (D.Litt., Honoris Causa) for his contributions to education, leadership, public service, and humanitarian efforts.

In his acceptance speech, Viswanathan said: “Our GER is only 28 per cent, whereas in developed countries, it ranges between 60 per cent and 100 per cent. The National Education Policy (NEP) aims to increase GER to 50 per cent. It means that the government has to spend, invest more on education.”

The convocation address was delivered by Justice I.P. Mukerji, Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, who was an alumnus of St. Xavier’s School and College, Kolkata. He said, “I am highly indebted to the institution for whatever I am today.” He called upon the young graduates to be committed to the ideal of justice in their future lives.

Justice Mukerji, the Chief Guest also released the Xaverian Journal, a Journal of Interdisciplinary Research. Dr. G. Viswanathan released the University Magazine, Xaverianum 2024.

Dr. Somak Sen

SXUK celebrates 9th Foundation Day

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated its 9th Foundation Day on February 8, 2025 at the university campus. Shri Binod Kumar, IAS, the Principal Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Government of West Bengal was the Chief Guest.

While delivering the inaugural speech, Father Felix Raj recalled the university’s Foundation Stone laying ceremony in 2013 and highlighted the unwavering support of Mamata Banerjee, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal since 2011. He further added, “We conferred on her the D.Litt (Honoris Causa) in 2023.”

Father Raj unveiled the strategic plan of the university, the Vision 2050 along with Mr. Binod Kumar in the presence of dignitaries and presented a copy to Mr. Kumar.

While delivering his Foundation Day speech, Mr. Binod Kumar said, “The State Education Policy, 2023 of the Government of West Bengal promises unwavering support and commitment towards the holistic development of students and higher education. St. Xavier’s University has been contributing a lot to the education in the state.” He also mentioned the importance of private-public partnership model in education sector and the industry-academia interface, with SXUK playing a vital role.

The programme ended with a prize distribution ceremony to the winners of an essay and poster-making competition, followed by a high tea.

Dr. Somak Sen

XBS students bag Baroda Achievers Award

Three students of Xavier Business School (XBS) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) received the prestigious Baroda Achievers Award on February 1, 2025 at the university campus.

The award was given to top three rank holders as a recognition of their outstanding academic performance in the first three semesters. Atishya Ghosh was the topper, Souvik Dey and Shania Sardar were the second and third rank holders respectively.

Each of them was awarded a cheque of Rs. 31,000 at the concluding ceremony of Xaviesta 2025 at the university campus in the presence of Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK, Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar, Dr. Sitangshu Khatua, Dean of XBS, officials of the Bank of Baroda and other dignitaries.

Father Felix Raj said, “I congratulate all three rank holders for their hard work and dedication to studies. I wish all of them to excel in life.”

Representatives from Bank of Baroda also expressed their commitment to encourage and support young professionals in their journey toward success.

Dr. Sitangshu Khatua

SXUK students attend media conclave

Students of the Department of Mass Communication, St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) attended the Media and Entertainment Conclave (MECON) 2025, organised by the Film Federation of India in association with Techno India Group, on January 31, 2025, at Fairfield Hotel, Kolkata.

The event saw the participation of industry professionals, and key representatives from the West Bengal government, including Ministers, Mr. Sujit Bose and Mr. Babul Supriyo.

MECON 2025 provided a platform for in-depth discussions on the evolving landscape of the media and entertainment (M&E) industry. Experts addressed significant challenges and opportunities in the television industry, analysing its current state and potential for growth.

The discussion also covered the OTT ecosystem, focusing on the rise of digital platforms, changing audience preferences, and the impact on traditional media. Other key topics included technological advancements and content creation in the sector.

In addition to the thought-provoking sessions, the conclave offered valuable networking opportunities, allowing students and young professionals to engage with established industry figures. This interaction provided insights into career prospects and emerging trends in the industry. Students found the event highly encouraging.

Dr. Manali Bhattacharya

XBS hosts Xaviesta 2025

Xavier Business School (XBS) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted the third edition of its flagship two-day annual fest, Xaviesta 2025 in the university campus on January 31 and February 1, 2025.

The fest, which has grown to become one of the most sought-after events among B-schools, was themed “Trinity of Tales,” symbolizing a vibrant confluence of business acumen, cultural expression, and sporting spirit.

The inaugural ceremony was graced by the presence of Mr. Noomi Mehta, Chairman of Selvel One Group, as the Chief Guest. In his address, Mr. Mehta inspired the young and aspiring business leaders with his insights on innovation, resilience, and leadership in the evolving corporate landscape. His presence added immense value to the occasion, setting the tone for an engaging and high-energy fest.

A total of 400 students from 45 colleges and universities including SXUK participated in this grand event. The fest was a perfect blend of business-oriented challenges, cultural extravaganzas, and high-octane sporting events, creating an inclusive platform for students to network, learn, and excel.

Xaviesta 2025 includes different events like business plan contests, case study analysis, marketing simulation games, testing their analytical and decision-making skills in real-world business scenario, sports events and cultural showcases, etc.

In addition to the competitive events, the fest was further elevated by electrifying performances and entertainment acts. "The Waves in the Town", a popular band, set the stage ablaze, captivating the audience with their dynamic music. The grand finale saw an exhilarating performance by DJ Nilashree, who ensured that the fest ended on a high note with an unforgettable musical experience.

Dr. Sitangshu Khatua

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SXUK signs MoU with KIIT

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar on January 27, 2025 at the university campus. The event took place at virtual mode.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, Vice-Chancellor of SXUK and Prof. Saranjit Singh, Vice-Chancellor of the KIIT signed the MoU in the presence of dignitaries.

Father Felix Raj said that the new collaboration would help in providing quality education to the students of both SXUK and KIIT. The MoU would help in further development of research works by faculty members of the two institutions of higher learning together, he added.

Prof. Singh said that the new academic alliance with SXUK, under the stellar leadership of Father Felix Raj would pave the way for a series of new projects between the two universities.

Dr. Bidisha Kantha

Republic Day Celebration

The 76th Republic Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm on January 26, 2025. Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, unfurled the national flag to reflect upon the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950. Fathers, sisters, faculty members, students, officers and staff members graced this momentous event.

The Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor in his deliberation highlighted the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters and the nation’s remarkable journey. He further reiterated upon the importance of preserving India’s civilizational heritage, promoting linguistic diversity, and the need for individual contributions against global warming.

The event symbolized the spirit of unity and pride in India’s democratic values and cultural heritage.

Mario Martin Louis

SXUK Annual Sports Day 2025

Xavier University Sports Society (XUSS) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised the Annual Sports Day on January 25, 2025 in the university playground.

Commodore Ajay Yadav, Naval Officer-in-Charge, West Bengal and the Commanding Officer of INS Netaji Subhas was the Guest of Honour. His wife, Ms. Meena Yadav, was also present at the event.

While inaugurating the event, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “Sports is an integral part of education. It helps to build up a strong body and mind. It also helps to increase concentration level of an individual. I congratulate all the participants for their performance in different sports events.”

Father Felix Raj and Commodore Ajay Yadav commenced the programme through hoisting the University flag in the playground and flying a flight of pigeons. The event witnessed the parade by the Army Band, Bihar Regiment, followed by students and faculty members of each department, support staff members, and alumni members.

A series of sports events took place in which faculty members, support staff members and students participated. Winners in each event were awarded by Father Felix Raj, Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar and other dignitaries.

Arqish Hussain of BA, LL.B (Hons) was awarded the Fr. Joseph Maliyekal Memorial Trophy, and Shristi Mukherjee of XBS bagged the Fr. Joe D’Souza Memorial Trophy as the best male and female athletes respectively. The event was concluded with a lunch.

Dr. Somak Sen

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SXUK Signs MoU with Lincoln University College (LUC)

Fr. Felix Raj, accompanied by Dr. Indra Kanta Maitra, COE of SXUK, visited Lincoln University College (LUC) in Kuala Lumpur on January 21-22, 2025.

During his visit, he delivered a lecture at an international conference organised by LUC at the Summit Hotel on “Sustainable Healthcare and Management.”

The visit marked a significant milestone as SXUK and LUC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for mutual academic and research collaboration.

Father Felix Raj had a constructive meeting with Prof. Dr. Amiya Bhaumik, Founder and President of Lincoln University College, Malaysia, to discuss mutual cooperation between the institutions. Additionally, he also met with the Pro-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellors of LUC.

Fr. Felix Raj and Dr. Maitra also utilized the opportunity to pay his respects at the historic site in Malacca where St. Francis Xavier was reburied in 1554.

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XAVECOS hosts online workshop

Xavier's University Economics Society (XAVECOS) of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted a two-day online workshop on Data Analysis with R from January 2 to 4, 2025.

A total of 77 participants joined the event, representing a diverse range of institutions, including ICRIER, BITS Law School, Symbiosis School of Economics, Jadavpur University, University of Calcutta, Delhi University, University of Burdwan, IDSK, Women's Christian College (Chennai), Doon University, Himachal Pradesh University, UPES Dehradun, Scottish Church College, The Heritage College, Lady Brabourne College, and many more.

Dr. Subhanil Chowdhury and Dr. Chayanika Mitra were the resource persons.

Srijita Ghosh

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XAVRANG'25: MYTHICAL ODYSSEY - ECLIPSE OF ERAS

Xavrang'25, 17th and 18th January 2025: Xavrang'25, the annual extravaganza of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, themed "Mythical Odyssey: Eclipse of Eras" brought together 50 colleges across Kolkata for an extraordinary celebration. The opening ceremony on 17th January 2025 was graced with the presence of Mr. Sujit Bose, the Hon’ble Minister of Fire and Emergency Services, Govt. of West Bengal.

The excitement for Xavrang'25 was ignited by the pre-xavrang events: Football, Chess and Table Tennis. These events set the stage, uniting students in the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie.

The two-day fest's flagship events, Mythical Debate Odyssey by the Debating Society, Football by the Sports Society, Treasure Hunt by the Literary Society, Monopoly by the Commerce and Management Society, and Theme Walk by the Cultural Society, brought together enthusiastic participants and showcased spirited and healthy competition. Xavrang’25 witnessed 53 events in total.

Both the days of the fest had a lively artist lineup. The Musical Police band performed on the first day, followed by DJ Bunny and DJ Aziz. DJ Trouble started the musical journey on the second day, followed by DJ Phantom. The excitement reached its pinnacle with a captivating performance by DJ Roop from the Sunburn Campus.

Xavrang'25 concluded on an exhilarating note, with the St. Xavier's University Students' Board hosting a grand closing ceremony. Their enthusiastic efforts brought together the entire university family, leaving everyone inspired and longing for the next edition of this iconic fest.

- Sovik Mukherjee
Deputy Chairperson, Students' Board
St. Xavier's University, Kolkata.

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Dept of Mass Communication hosts XAVCOMM

Department of Mass Communication of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted XAVCOMM’25, an inter-college Communication Fest, on January 10 and 11, 2025 at the university campus.

The event was inaugurated by Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK in the presence of Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar; Dr. Susmita Halder, Dean of Faculty of Arts and Social Studies and other senior officers, faculty members and students.

The two-day programme witnessed a series of events like talk shows, Mr. & Ms. Mass Comm, talent hunts, treasure hunts and captivating performances in dance, acting, and singing.

More than 200 students from 27 colleges and universities across Kolkata participated in different events scheduled for inter-college competition, like news report writing, graphics designing, ad making, podcasting, photography, marketing pitch, street play, press conference, movie trivia, etc. The event concluded with prize distribution to the winners in each event, followed by an electrifying guest performance by DJ Tatrix.

Dr. Nitesh Tripathi

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Dept of Social Work hosts special lecture

Department of Social Work conducted a special lecture on Qualitative research and its tools on January 14, 2025 at the university campus. Dr. S. C Andrew Michael, Department of Sociology, Loyola College of Social Sciences, Trivandrum was the guest speaker.

Dr. Michael gave a clear understanding of the basics of qualitative research, its components, and significance. He explained the concepts in a simple and engaging manner, making it relatable through real-life examples.

He also highlighted that research helps to understand society better, improves decision-making, and addresses real-world challenges. He also advised to be systematic and logical while doing research and stressed on Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Students found the session highly enriching.

Dr. Rupa Biswas

SXUKAA celebrates culmination of Fr. Felix Raj's Golden Jubilee of Jesuit life

St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUKAA) organised a programme to mark the culmination of the Golden Jubilee Year of Jesuit Life of its President, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, SJ, on January 3, 2025, at the university campus.

The event featured a thought-provoking cultural performance by Baul singers from Santiniketan, who presented a specially curated show titled ‘Sanyasi Jiban’, reflecting on the essence of ascetic life. This artistic tribute added a unique spiritual dimension to the celebration.

As a gesture of admiration and gratitude, Fr. Felix Raj was felicitated by the SXUKAA office bearers. A specially composed song dedicated to his golden jubilee was played, further enhancing the emotional resonance of the occasion.

In his address, Fr. Felix Raj thanked Mr. Vatsal Chirimar, Hony. Secretary of SXUKAA, and his dedicated team of alumni members not just for organising the programme but for their unwavering commitment and for closely collaborating with the university in its various endeavours.

In a spirit of generosity and compassion, Fr. Raj distributed blankets and shawls to 250 construction workers, maintenance staff, and other workers of the university. This act of kindness highlighted the values of service and solidarity central to Jesuit philosophy and made the event truly inclusive and meaningful.

Vatsal Chirimar

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SXUKAA celebrates Annual Christmas Gathering 2024

St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUKAA) successfully hosted its Annual Christmas Gathering on December 20, 2024, at the SXUK campus. The event brought together distinguished guests, including Vice-Chancellors, Principals, and Heads of Institutions alongside the extended Xaverian family.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, SJ, Vice-Chancellor of SXUK and President of SXUKAA, delivered an inspiring Christmas message. He also outlined the future plans for the university’s growth and development. In his address, Father Felix Raj mentioned his formal request to Mamata Banerjee, Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, for additional land to facilitate the campus’s physical expansion, underscoring the institution’s commitment to scaling new heights.

A vibrant cultural program, organised under the leadership of Dr. Antara Ghatak, captivated the audience. Faculty members and students collaborated to deliver an enthralling performance at the SXUK quadrangle, which was beautifully adorned for the festive occasion.

Mr. Vatsal Chirimar, Hony. Secretary, SXUKAA proposed the Vote of Thanks. He expressed gratitude to all attendees and contributors who made the event a memorable success. The formal program concluded with a sumptuous dinner, fostering camaraderie among the attendees.

Earlier in the day, SXUKAA organized a dedicated Christmas celebration for the faculty and staff of the university. This special program acknowledged their invaluable contributions to the institution and provided an opportunity to celebrate the festive season together.

Vatsal Chirimar

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Mamata Banerjee Celebrates Christmas with Jesuit Fathers

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee celebrated Christmas with the Jesuit Fathers on December 19th evening at St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata. She inaugurated the crib and paid a floral tribute to the Child Jesus. During the Christmas function, she honored Fr. Aloysius Carvalho for 75 years of service as a Jesuit and Fr. Felix Raj for his golden jubilee as a Jesuit.

Fr. Felix Raj praised Mamata Banerjee, calling her a messenger of peace. He thanked her for gifting 17 acres of land to St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) in 2013 and for establishing the Mother Teresa Chair for peace at SXUK. He also appreciated her government's efforts in maintaining communal harmony and diversity in West Bengal.

Mamata Banerjee expressed her affection for St. Xavier's and the Jesuit Fathers, calling them her second home. She commended them for their outstanding contributions to education and social service in West Bengal. She shared her personal struggles as a young leader and spoke about the significance of Christmas. Minister and Mayor Firhad Hakim accompanied her to the event.

December 20, 2024 Christmas Celebrations
https://epaper.telegraphindia.com/imageview/492572/52018923/71.html
https://epaper.sangbadpratidin.in/epaper/edition/4066/sangbad-pratidin-20-12-24/page/3

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SXUK celebrates Sishu Mela 2024

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated Sishu Mela 2024 on December 17, 2024 at the university campus. This is an annual flagship event organised by the Centre for Social Outreach Programme (CSOP) of SXUK.

This event aims to foster strong community relations and build trust with the local communities, especially with school-going children. The objective is to empower these children through activities that stimulate cognitive development, encourage them to showcase their talents, and make them feel like a part of the Xavier family.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, SJ, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK inaugurated the programme amid the august presence of Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar; Dr. I K Maitra, Controller of Examinations; Deans, Heads of different departments and faculty members.

The event witnessed the participation of 174 underprivileged children from the neighbouring villages. 120 student volunteers of SXUK worked actively in the event to make it successful. The programme included stage performances, fun-filled activities, and competitions, promoting a sense of togetherness and community spirit.

Sishu Mela 2024 reaffirmed the university's commitment to social outreach and community development, creating lasting bonds and opportunities for underprivileged children to shine. The event showcased the university's dedication to providing a platform for the marginalised and fostering a sense of belongingness.

Sweta Banerjee
Coordinator, CSOP

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Khwahish’24

Khwahish’24, organized by Xavier’s Commerce and Management Society (XCMS) on 22nd December 2024 at Kulberia Vivekananda F.P. School, celebrated the spirit of giving and community care. The event brought festive joy to approximately 200 underprivileged children through games, interactive activities, and a delicious meal. Volunteers, some dressed as Santa Claus, created a magical atmosphere, distributing kits containing school essentials, snacks, and fun items like badminton rackets and bubble blowers, generously sponsored by Jai Guru Impex.

The event’s success was made possible by the unwavering support of St. Xavier’s University’s leadership, including the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj S.J., Registrar Prof. Ashis Mitra, Dean of Commerce and Management Dr. Anupam Mitra, and Professors-in-charge Dr. Sumantra Bhattacharya and Dr. Mili Kar. Special thanks were extended to Mr. Kamal Hussain, Head Teacher of the host school, for his cooperation.

Khwahish’24 left a lasting impact, spreading smiles and fostering a sense of community. It exemplified XCMS’s commitment to social responsibility, reinforcing the values of kindness, compassion, and giving back, while embodying the true spirit of Christmas.

Dr. Mili Kar

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CGNI hosts FDP on mental health

The Centre for Global Network & Initiatives (CGNI) of St. Xavier’s University Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with PSYCHeDGES; a Kolkata-based educational consultant conducted a 7-day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on Mental Health Awareness for the faculty members of the university.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, Vice-Chancellor of SXUK inaugurated the FDP on December 5, 2024 amid the presence of Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar, Deans of respective faculties, schools, participants and the resource persons Dr. Gargi Dasgupta, Consultant Psychologist and CEO, PSYCHeDGES; Ms. Priya Ray Chaudhuri, Counsellor.

Father Felix Raj said, “It is necessary to focus on the importance of mental health of students as well as of faculty members and sensitisation towards mental health issues in the educational institutions of today.”

The FDP consisted of a total of 10 sessions spread over the 7 days, some days having sessions in both the halves and some days consisting of one session in either of the halves. The main focus of the FDP dealt with the various mental health issues that might crop up in the minds of modern-day adolescents and young adults.

The teachers, being the mentors of the young individuals, were given guidance on how to become first responders to any scenario, either when the students approach them directly seeking help or the teachers themselves notice a student behaving in an unusual manner and take the initiative to enquire about the mental health of the said student.

The various sessions of the FDP included topics like “Addiction”, “Carrer Anxiety & Academic Performance”, “Romantic Relationships”, “Peer Pressure & Bullying”, etc. The workshop ended on December 17, 2024 with the distribution of certificates to the participants.

Dr. Manali Bhattacharya
Prof-In-Charge, CGNI.

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AI-Powered LMS at SXUK

St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) is set to introduce an AI-powered Learning Management System (LMS) solution, transforming the teaching-learning process and aligning with the modern education paradigm. This initiative makes SXUK one of the first universities in Eastern India to adopt such a solution, furthering its ambitious 'Vision 2030' goal of reaching 10,000 enrollments in the coming years. Currently the faculty members and staff are undergoing orientations on the system. To ensure a seamless transition, faculty members and staff are currently undergoing orientation on the new system, which was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Father Felix Raj on December 16, 2024.

The university has partnered with UK-based Shiksak, specialists in AI-powered LMS solutions for K12, higher education, and corporate training. Their platform simplifies teaching and learning processes while providing valuable data insights, empowering institutions to deliver exceptional educational experiences.

This project marks a significant milestone in SXUK's commitment to providing holistic and future-ready education; ensuring students are well-prepared for future challenges. The AI-powered LMS platform will provide SXUK with tools for assignment management, online testing, and content management, allowing educators to focus on student success.

The system's intuitive content creation capabilities enable the development of interactive multimedia content, fostering a more engaging and effective learning journey for students. By leveraging Shiksak's AI capabilities, SXUK will personalize educational experiences tailored to individual learning styles and generate data-driven insights to improve academic outcomes.

This transformative approach is expected to significantly enhance student engagement and solidify SXUK's position as a leader in personalized education in the region.

Dr. Indra Kanta Maitra

Fourth Annual Christmas Lecture Held at Parasmani, Shantiniketan

You may listen to the entire lecture by following the link on www.felixrajsj.com

On December 14, Fr. Felix Raj delivered the fourth annual Christmas lecture on "Spirituality for Life and Leadership" at Parasmani, Santiniketan. The event drew faculty members, staff, and scholars from Visva-Bharati and St. Xavier's University.

The lecture was followed by an engaging and thought-provoking interactive session, fostering a deeper understanding of the topic. The success of the event is attributed to Fr. Mourlin and his team of Association of Jesuit Collaborators (AJC) members. Dr. Manodip Ray Chaudhuri skillfully moderated the programme as the master of ceremonies.

The program commenced with enchanting Baul Gaans performed by a team of Baul singers. Fr. Felix Raj noted that the songs beautifully summarized and explained the essence of his lecture, transporting the audience to a realm of spirituality.

The event concluded with a lunch, marking a delightful end to a meaningful and inspiring programme.

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St. Xavier's University Hosts Consultation on Fostering Entrepreneurship among Youth

St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, recently hosted a pivotal Expert Consultation on "Fostering Entrepreneurship Skills and Mindset among the Youth." This landmark event, held on December 12, 2024, was organized under the aegis of a prestigious ₹16 lakh-funded research initiative supported by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), as part of the visionary Viksit Bharat Mission 2047.

Reverend Father Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice Chancellor of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, chaired the session, bringing his leadership and vision to the forefront. The discussion revolved around crucial themes, including the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, essential skills for success, and the role of education in fostering an entrepreneurial mindset. The consultation also explored pathways for collaboration among industry, academia, and government to nurture a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The event boasted an illustrious panel of experts, featuring Mr. Debashis Sen, Mr. Rajesh Chirimar, Prof. Mamata Ray, Prof. Zinia Mitra, Mr. Amit Bajoria, Mr. Niranjan Mundra, Mr. Sumit Jalan, and Dr. Gargi Dasgupta. Their diverse perspectives enriched the dialogue, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in building a resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The consultation highlighted the urgency of policy-driven and experiential entrepreneurial education tailored to the needs of India's dynamic youth. By fostering innovation and resilience, the session laid the groundwork for transformative changes in higher education practices, empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs to lead India toward sustainable growth and global leadership.

Prof. Ruchita Burman
SXUK

Alumni Meet

The Calcutta Jesuit Province Alumni Associations met on Sunday, December 8, at Saint Xavier's College, Burdwan, courtesy of the gracious host team. Approximately 50 alumni and alumnae, accompanied by association presidents and secretaries, attended.

The Saint Xavier's School and Saint Xavier's College, Burdwan Associations jointly honored Father Felix Raj on his golden jubilee as a Jesuit.

Fr. Felix Raj chaired the meeting, while Jeetu Rampuria, Province Coordinator for Jesuit Alumni Association of India (JAAI), ensured seamless coordination. Comprehensive reports outlining six-month activities were presented by the associations (SXSK, SLSK, SXSB, SXCB, SXCK and SXUK).

Fr. Felix Raj facilitated the strategic planning session for future initiatives. The gathering concluded with a delightful lunch hosted by the Burdwan association.

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The Department of Mass Communication, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata, is elated to announce that the documentary He Too Cries: Unheard Shadow of Silence has been officially selected for the Short Documentary and Panorama sections of the prestigious International Kolkata Film Festival (IKFF) 2024.

The documentary will be screened on:

• 5th December, at Shishir Mancha at 1:30 PM
• 8th December, at Nandan 3 at 5:00 PM

Directed and produced by the MA final-year students of the Department of Mass Communication—Abhirup Pal, Urboshree Banerjee, Anjali Jha, Ahona Das, and Debankita Deb—under the mentorship of Dr. Reshmi Naskar, the film delves into the pervasive issue of rape culture in contemporary society.

With profound sensitivity and unflinching honesty, He Too Cries breaks the silence surrounding this critical issue, shedding light on the experiences of survivors and calling for an urgent societal reckoning. This compelling documentary is not just a narrative but a call to action—a poignant blend of resilience, empathy, and the transformative power of storytelling.

Report Submitted by : Dr.Reshmi Naskar

Feast of Patron Saint Celebrated at SXUK

On December 3, the Saint Xavier's University community gathered to celebrate the feast day of its patron saint, Saint Francis Xavier. The ceremony, attended by a large number of faculty, staff, and students, began at 9:30 am with the Eucharist celebrated by Father Vice-Chancellor.

In his sermon, Father Vice-Chancellor reflected on the outstanding qualities of Saint Francis Xavier, inspiring the congregation to emulate his virtues.

The celebration continued with a gathering where the feast day cake was cut, followed by a high tea.

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New Building for Xavier Law School

Exciting developments are underway at St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK)! The second Academic Building on campus is nearing completion.

Once ready, the Xavier Law School (XLS) will relocate to the new wing, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

Furthermore, XLS is expanding its academic offerings by introducing a Master of Laws (LL.M.) program, set to commence from the 2025-26 academic session.

MDP at XBS

The Xavier Business School (XBS) at St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) recently hosted a 7-day Management Development Programme (MDP) for 35 employees of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. The programme, held at the university campus in New Town, featured esteemed resource persons from the XBS faculty.

On the final day of the programme, November 23rd, Fr. Vice-Chancellor addressed the participants. The successful completion of the MDP is a testament to the dedication of the Dean and faculty of XBS. Congratulations to them on this achievement!

Investiture Ceremony

The SXUK Student Board’s Investiture Ceremony was held on November 12 at 2:00 pm. Father Felix Raj, Vice-Chancellor welcomed the newly appointed Class Representatives (CRs) and emphasized that their roles come with great responsibility and accountability.

As stakeholders and integral members of the Xaverian family, the CRs were honored with personalized lapel pins by Father Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar.

Special thanks to Prof. Sovik Mukherjee (Deputy Chairperson) and Prof. Antara Ghatak (Assistant Chairperson) for their meticulous coordination of the ceremony.

Congratulations to all Working Committee members and CRs on this achievement!

Nihil Ultra!

Medical Outreach Camp in Gurap

The Saint Xavier's University Kolkata Alumni Association, in association with the Nandlal Chirimar Memorial Trust, organized a community outreach medical camp in Gurap village on November 10. This marks the second consecutive year that this life-changing initiative has been brought to the people of Gurap.

The inaugural ceremony was graced by esteemed guests, including Father Felix Raj, Mr. Rajesh Chirimar, Father Mourlin, Father Joseph Raj, Professor Indra Kanta Maitra, Vatsal Chirimar, and members of the Alumni Association.

Approximately 300 villagers, accompanied by their children, benefited from the medical check-ups and expert consultations provided during the camp.

Thanks to Mr. Chirimar and his team of doctors.

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Faculty of Commerce and Management hosts XHIBIT 2024

Faculty of Commerce and Management organised XHIBIT 2024 for its own undergraduate students of both commerce and management sections on November 5, 2024 at the university campus. The event provided students a unique opportunity to hone their skills in quick thinking, effective communication, and public speaking within a time-constrained environment.

The event witnessed public speaking exercise with an innovative twist, where participants were given cutting-edge products and personas to incorporate into their presentations. Participants applied their theoretical knowledge learned in classrooms to practical scenarios and improved their ability to express ideas clearly and confidently.

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Dept of Mass Comm hosts special lecture

Department of Mass Communication at St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted a special lecture on November 5, 2024 at the university campus. The topic was ‘Environment Journalism and Climate Change.’

Dr. Jayanta Basu, a senior environment journalist was the invited speaker. He addressed the impact of climate change from global frameworks to local actions. He emphasised the critical role of environment journalism and its need for addressing climate change, especially as the COP28 is very near to be held in Baku.

Dr. Basu further discussed about pertinent climate issues and policies, focusing on net-zero targets and climate finance. Drawing on case studies and his own reports, he highlighted how impactful journalism drives policy changes and public awareness.

He also underscored the influence of youth climate activists and digital platforms in amplifying environmental stories, encouraging students to use these tools for climate advocacy. The session served as a call to action for students to raise awareness and drive solutions in the face of environmental crises.

Dr. Reshmi Naskar

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CGNI hosts special lecture on career guidance

The Centre for Global Network and Initiatives (CGNI) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) conducted a special lecture on higher studies and career guidance for all final-year students of SXUK by the United States-India Education Foundation (USIEF) on October 28, 2024 at the university campus.

The speaker was Ms. Sohini Jana, Education USA Adviser. She gave insightful information on how USIEF, the only official and state-sponsored organization, assists Indian students in getting opportunities to pursue higher education in different universities in USA.

She also explained various processes related to visa application and approval, getting part-time work there, how to crack TOEFL and getting scholarships there while studying in US-based universities.

The program ended with an interactive session with the students. Dr. Bidisha Kantha delivered vote of thanks.

Dr. Manali Bhattacharya

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Dept of Mass Communication hosts special lecture

Department of Mass Communication of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a special lecture on emerging trends in corporate communications, with a special focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR) on October 28, 2024 at the university campus.

The speaker was Mr. Subir Ghosh, an eminent academician and a former senior Public Relations professional. Mr. Ghosh highlighted the growing importance of CSR as an ethical commitment of companies.

Mr. Ghosh also emphasised that companies are expected to actively contribute to societal well-being, whether through environmental initiatives, supporting local communities, or upholding ethical business practices.

He further stressed that modern corporations need to recognise their roles in addressing social challenges, suggesting that their responsibilities extend beyond profit-making to creating a positive impact on society. He advocated that taking genuine steps toward social responsibility not only builds goodwill but also strengthens a company’s brand reputation.

While concluding, Mr. Ghosh underscored that CSR is a core component of corporate communications today. He urged companies to embed social responsibility into their strategies, as these efforts are essential to a sustainable corporate image. Students found the session highly enriching. Dr. Manali Bhattacharya coordinated the entire programme.

Dr. Somak Sen.

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XCMS celebrates X-Verse’24

Xavier’s Commerce and Management Society (XCMS) organised X-Verse’24 in the university campus on 26th October 2024. The theme was ‘Echoes of the Infinite Desert’.

The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, SJ, Vic-Chancellor; Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar; Dr. Anupam Mitra, Dean, Faculty of Commerce and Management and other faculty members. Father Felix Raj delivered an inspiring speech that emphasised the event's significance in fostering student growth and collaboration.

This event served as a platform for professional development and intellectual exchange among students. It included events like Best Manager, Finance, PR & Marketing, Sports Management, Strategic Management, and X-Plain. Each event was crafted to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, highlighting participants' leadership and strategic skills.

The closing ceremony witnessed a lively entertainment session featuring Ankit Bharadwaj. Winners of each event received cash rewards worth ₹4000 and ₹2000 for first and second ranks respectively.

Dr. Mili Kar

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XavPsych organises event on mental health awareness

XavPsych, the Psychology Society of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised its first event ‘Fostering mental well-being in the workplace’ on October 22, 2024 at the university campus.

While inaugurating the programme, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “Good mental health is equally necessary in today’s professional landscape to cope with challenges. We must take care of it. I congratulate XavPsych for conducting this event.”

Dean Prof. Susmita Halder reinforced academia’s role in developing leaders committed to mental health.

Dr. Ratna Sinha, former VP-HRM of Tata Metaliks shared her insights regarding the impact of mental health on productivity and the importance of supportive workplaces.

Ms. Anwesha Banerjee, Assistant Editor of Ei Samay, a noted Bengali daily, shared her personal experience with therapy, advocating for reducing mental health stigma.

Ms. Sunetra Bhattacharya, VP-HR at RS Software, addressed leadership's role in tackling workplace harassment, calling for leaders to show empathy and understanding.

Dr. Priyanka Poddar, a clinical psychologist, wrapped up the presentations, focusing on burnout and self-care, encouraging practices of self-compassion and mindfulness.

The event also showcased creative reels and meme competition entries on mental health topics, adding a lighthearted yet meaningful aspect.

Dr. Soma Pramanik

XUCAS celebrates musical evening

Xavier’s University Cultural and Arts Society (XUCAS) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated ‘Jalsa ’24: A Soirée with Lata ji’ to commemorate the 95th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar at the university campus.

The event was inaugurated in the grand presence of Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK, Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar, Dr. Indra Kanta Moitra, Controller of Examinations, other dignitaries, faculty and non-teaching staff members.

The soirée included various renditions and songs that span over Lata Mangeshkar’s vibrant career of over eight decades. The event marked a confluence of classical and Indian-Western fusion musical renditions that left the audience enthralled.

Audience also enjoyed an impromptu dance celebration along with the solo music of the immortal songs, sung by the great singer. Dr. Antara Ghatak

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XLS organises XavAequitas 2024

Xavier Law School (XLS) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised XavAequitas’24, the first flagship National Moot Court Competition from October 24 to 26, 2024 at the university campus.

26 teams from leading law colleges and universities participated in the event. While inaugurating the event, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “I congratulate the XLS for organising the event and the participants. This competition will help to sharpen the professional skills in the budding lawyers.”

Advocate D. N. Mitra, Senior Partner at Victor Moses & Co. and Co-Patron of XavAequitas’24 was felicitated as the guest of honour.

The team representing The Heritage Law College emerged victorious and the Department of Law, Calcutta University became the runners-up.

Harshwardhan Meshram of the Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur bagged the awarded of Best Researcher and Best Memorial.

Vishwan Singh representing Kes' Shri Jayantilal H Patel Law College achieved the Best Speaker (Petitioner) award and Anupriya Mukherjee was awarded the Best Speaker (Respondent) prize.

Dr. Rajrupa Sinha Roy
Convener, Moot Court Society

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XLS hosts poster presentation on environmental awareness

Xavier Law School (XLS) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted the poster presentation on environmental awareness on October 22 and 26, 2024 at the university campus.

All the students of undergraduate sections of first semester and the third semester students of XLS participated in this event. The event aimed to showcase artworks and posters based on various topics of environment education to raise awareness among the students.

While inaugurating the event, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “We must take care of Mother Earth for the sake of ourselves and future generations through our activities. I congratulate the XLS for conducting this event.”

Father Felix Raj awarded the winners of last year and gave each of them a ‘Xaverian Environmentalist’ badge.

The different topics covered in the event were natural resources and environmental sustainability, rising plastic pollution and its impact, economics of climate change, Mysore city as a model of green sustainable urban living, role of media in environment protection, etc. The theme was ‘Environmental Justice’.

Dr. Kaveri Dutta and Dr. Sandip Ghosh were the external experts. Faculty members of other departments visited the exhibition and highly appreciated the artwork.

Prof. Debatri Banerjee

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Dept of Mass Communication hosts Xavtalk

Department of Mass Communication of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised an insightful intra-departmental group discussion, Xavtalk on October 19, 2024 at the university campus. The topic was ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Job Automation.’

The event aims to promote student-led discussions on contemporary issues, furthering their understanding of how technological advancements are transforming industries worldwide.

Swastika Roy of BA in Mass Communication, Semester 3 emerged as the best speaker. She argued that while AI would displace certain jobs, it would still fail to replace human compassion and integrity which are integral parts of carrying out certain other jobs.

The other two rank holders were Aafia Mujtaba Khanam and Sanjana Malhotra, students from third and first semesters respectively. Aafia emphasised lack of soft skills in the functions of AI and Sanjana focused on the history of AI and its long-standing impact on the human psyche and social disparity since the 1800s.

Three other students also participated as speakers in this event. The event concluded with insightful remarks from the judges, Dr. Manali Bhattacharya, Dr. Medha Bhadra Chowdhury, and Dr. Rupa Biswas. Dr. Somak Sen coordinated the entire event.

Deepakshee Ghosh
MA in Mass Communication, Sem 3.

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Dept of Mass Communication hosts special lecture

Department of Mass Communication of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a special lecture on September 18, 2024 at the university campus.

The resource person was Mr. Joydeep Das Gupta, an acclaimed trainer from the GNI India Training Network. The topic was ‘Fact Checking in Science Journalism and Climate Change.’

The special lecture was aimed at the third semester postgraduate students, who opted for Science Journalism as a special paper. Mr. Das Gupta discussed the best practices for fact checking in science communication. He also shared vivid information on misinformation and disinformation about climate change.

He also delighted students on data authenticity and credible journalism. The lecture ended with an interactive session. Students found the session highly enriching.

Dr. Reshmi Naskar

Dept of Mass Communication hosts guest lecture

Department of Mass Communication of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) conducted a guest lecture on ‘The Psychology behind Film Narrative Structure’ for its students on September 17, 2024 at the university campus.

The resource person was Mr. Somdev Chatterjee, an academician and filmmaker associated with the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata.

Mr. Chatterjee introduced the students to the common elements of a story and justified his argument with plethora of instances. He delineated on the concepts of a protagonist in a story, dilemma in a plotline, ideology of expectation and reality in a film, and provided the students with a psychological perspective of films. Using the quote of Muriel Rukeyser, he explained how the universe is made up of stories and not of atoms.

He elaborated on the various building blocks of a story- sudden reversal of fortune, casual chains connecting events, risks, crises and desires. He also shared examples to explain the various nuances of psychology of storytelling.

The highlights of his lecture were his discussion on the ‘The Door Study’, David Hoffman’s ‘Interface Theory of Perception’ and seductiveness of narratives.

Students of Semester 3 of both undergraduate and postgraduate sections, Dr. Susmita Halder, Dean of Arts and Social Sciences, and other faculty members from the department attended the programme. The programme ended with an interactive session with the students.

Dr. Nitesh Tripathi

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Workshop on “Research Techniques using SPSS”

Fr. Lafont Centre for Excellence in Research and Innovation (LCERI) organised a two-day workshop on “Research Techniques using SPSS” on 7th and 14th September 2024 at the University’s Computer Lab (Room No. 102). Dr. Saugat Ghosh, Assistant Professor at Xavier Business School, served as the resource person for the workshop.

Research Scholars and Faculty Members of SXUK attended the sessions. The workshop introduced the fundamentals of statistical techniques for analysing collected data from various sources using ‘SPSS 24.0’. The workshop significantly benefited the participants by equipping them with practical experience in using the software.

Dr. Soma Sur
Hony. Director, LCERI

XCMS hosts XavUltra Talks 2024

Xavier's Commerce and Management Society (XCMS) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised ‘XavUltra Talks 2024’ on September 13, 2024 at the university campus.

The topic was ‘Why investing in the Stock Market is a must’. A panel discussion on the topic ‘Industry insights for a successful corporate future’ was also held. It aimed at inspiring future professionals and deepening their understanding of corporate dynamics through engaging conversations with industry leaders.

The opening ceremony was graced by Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, SJ, Vice-Chancellor of SXUK; Prof. Ashish Mitra, Registrar; Dr. Anupam Mitra, Dean of Commerce and Management and other faculty members.

The invited speakers were Mr. Vivek Bajaj, Co-founder of StockEdge; Mr. Aswini Bajaj, CEO, Leveraged Growth; Mr. Aadarsh Choudhary, Co-founder of EatVerse; Mr. Harshit Chokhani, COO, EdTech; Ms. Chaitali Das, Director, Rakshak Foundation, and CA Rohit Surana, partner at Tejas Spire LLP.

Mr. Bajaj emphasised the importance of early stock market investments for long-term gains and explained concepts of bull and bear markets and their role in wealth creation. He highlighted emerging trends like tech and sustainability investments, stressing the need for financial literacy among young people. He ended the session by answering audience questions.

Mr. Choudhary discussed Shark Tank challenges and the importance of trust and communication, while Ms. Das highlighted her work with Root to Jute. The panel touched on lifelong learning, mentorship, personal branding, and networking. They advised the audience to seek mentors, stay resilient, build professional networks, and approach tasks creatively.

The discussion concluded by emphasizing lifelong learning, flexibility, unique skills, and building strong connections. The event was a resounding success.

Dr. Mili Kar

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Dept of Mass Communication hosts lecture series

Department of Mass Communication organised special lecture series from September 9 to 12, 2024 at the university campus for its students. The resource person was Prof. Mrinal Chatterjee, Regional Director, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Eastern India campus.

Prof. Chatterjee took sessions with every semester of the department. He discussed best and quick procedure for writing features, uses of Artificial Intelligence and its uses in writing news stories.

In one of his lecture series, he discussed evolution of comic arts from scrolls to memes, partition films based on various literature and cited various examples.

He also shared ideas of perception management and discussed the role of media. Students found the lecture series highly relevant. The entire programme was coordinated by Prof. Harish Kumar, Head of the department.

Dr. Somak Sen

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Teachers Day Celebration

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata celebrated Teachers Day on September 5, 2024, to reflect on the immeasurable impact that educators have on students. The programme was graced by Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Rev.Dr.John Felix Raj and other dignitaries.

The Women & Gender Development Cell had hosted earlier an Essay Competition for the undergraduate students entitled “Celebrating the roles and responsibilities of Women Teachers”. under the guidance of Dr. Antara Ghatak. The winners were felicitated by the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor on this day.

Fr.John Felix Raj, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor delivered the key note address on the occasion of teachers day and called upon the teaching community to embrace Ignatian Praxis of context, experience, reflection, action and evaluation to evolve as champions in the field of academics.

Dr.Susmita Haldar, Dr.Tutun Mukherjee and Dr.Souvik Mukherjee shared their insights about the indomitable journey undertaken by them at St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata in preparing young men and women for others as leaders of tomorrow.

The event concluded with a note of gratitude to the teaching fraternity for dedicating their lives in this noble profession. The programme was anchored by Mario Martin Louis.

Mr. Mario Martin Louis

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Research Development Cell (RDC) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted a special lecture on ‘Research from perception to practice’ on September 3, 2024 at the university campus.

The speaker was Dr. Biswajit Ghosh, Vice Chancellor of the Neotia University. A total number of 80 faculty members and Ph.D. research scholars attended the lecture.

While delivering the inaugural speech, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “A researcher should be aware of any potential conflict of interests. Research serves as a foundation for evidence-based decision-making, promoting innovation, and fostering continuous improvement in professional practices.” “This special lecture aims to enrich the system of critical thinking and cognitive skills,” he added.

Dr. Ghosh vividly explained the concept of research. He said, “Research is a systematic process of collecting and analyzing information and data in order to increase one’s understanding of the phenomenon about which he is concerned or interested.” While narrating the criteria for quality research, he emphasized the role of research in decision-making. He also deliberated on detailed analysis of different types of research, skills for conducting good research, and steps for writing thesis.

Dr. Mononita Kundu Das
Director, RDC and Professor, Xavier Law School

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Faculty of Science of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted a five-day international online lecture series, XAVTECH from September 2 to 6, 2024 at the university campus.

The event aimed to explore the latest innovations and dynamic changes in various fields by bringing together experts, thought leaders, and passionate individuals committed to driving change. XAVTECH provided a unique platform for students, researchers, and professionals to engage with renowned experts from diverse disciplines, fostering a deeper understanding of cutting-edge developments.

The series started with a warm welcome address by Dr. Tuhin Utsab Paul, Dean, Faculty of Science. He underscored the importance of the event in connecting experts and innovators across the globe, highlighting how such interactions could inspire participants to drive innovation in their respective fields. His opening remarks set the tone for the week, emphasizing the need for continuous learning and collaboration in today’s rapidly evolving world.

Eminent academicians like Dr. Diptangshu Pandit from Teesside University, UK; Dr. Samiran Sinha from the Texas A&M University, USA, Dr. Debanjan Bhattacharya from the Utah Valley University, USA; Dr. M. Shamim Kaiser from the Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, Sudhahar T., CEO of Vilimbu LLC, California, USA and Dr. Thippa Reddy Gadekallu, Senior Member of IEEE and Chief Engineer at Zhongda Group, China were the invited speakers.

The lecture details included topics like influence of game development in contemporary society, complexities of statistical analysis, mathematical modeling of population dynamics and its applications in different fields, transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and the Internet of Things (IoT) and implementation of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), etc. Students found the sessions highly enriching.

Dr. Mrinmoyee Bhattacharya

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Xavecos hosts debate competition

Xavecos, the Economics society of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata organised an intra- departmental debate competition on August 30, 2024 at the university campus.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK delivered the inaugural speech.

Students from the undergraduate and postgraduate sections of the Department of Economics participated in the event. Each speaker was allotted three minutes to speak on the topic.

Shinjini Banerjee, a postgraduate student of first semester and Sounak Halder, an undergraduate student of third semester emerged as best speakers for the motion and against the motion, respectively.

Srijita Ghosh

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Xavier Law School (XLS) hosted an academic competition on August 30, 2024 at the university campus.

Atleast 150 students from seven distinguished schools, namely Narayana School, Park Circus; St. Xavier's School, Sahibganj; Claret School, Sahanagar; Auxilium Convent School, Barasat; Our Lady Queen of the Mission School, Salt Lake; Ashok Hall Girls' Higher Secondary School, and Sri Chaitanya Techno School, participated in the event.

The event featured a series of competitions including debate, quizzes, and case studies, designed to challenge students' understanding of legal knowledge. The competition provided a platform for students to engage in meaningful discussions, explore different viewpoints, and deepen their understanding of the legal field.

Mr. Ajitesh Prasad

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St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted a workshop on decision-making strategies on August 30, 2024 at the university campus.

The topic of the workshop was ‘Navigating Career Choices: Effective Decision-Making Strategies’. It was organised for 28 students of Class XII from St. Xavier's School, Sahibganj, who visited the SXUK campus.

The workshop provided a comprehensive overview of various career opportunities, covering both traditional and emerging fields. Students were guided on how to make informed career decisions, emphasizing self-assessment, research, and the importance of seeking mentorship.

The session concluded with an interactive session where students received personalized advice, helping them gain clarity and confidence in their future career choices.

Mr. Ajitesh Prasad

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Department of Mass Communication of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted the info-cultural meet on August 29, 2024 at the Father Albert Huart Hall in the university campus.

The event took place to foster a spirit of camaraderie among new and old students of the department who also showcased their diverse cultural talents.

Dr. Susmita Halder, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Studies delivered the inaugural speech. Swastika Moulik, a student of BA, semester 5 of the department, performed the role of anchor. She emphasised the importance of cultural events in creating a vibrant and cohesive academic community.

A panel discussion on the bandwagon effects of social media took place. It was hosted by Debdyuti Sarkar, a student of BA semester 5. The event witnessed spontaneous participation of students from all semesters of the department. Events like musical acts, dance performances and one minute to fame also took place.

The event witnessed the participation of all students of undergraduate section of the department and its faculty members. Dr. Harish Kumar, Head of the Department of Mass Communication, coordinated the event.

Dr. Harish Kumar

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WGDC hosts essay competition

The Women and Gender Development Cell (WGDC) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised an essay competition on August 23, 2024 at the university campus. The topic was ‘Celebrating roles and responsibilities of women teachers.’

All the undergraduate students of first semester participated in the event. The winners were felicitated by Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, SJ, Vice-Chancellor of SXUK on September 5, 2024 while celebrating the Teachers’ Day.

WGDC aims to understand and progressively engage the students with issues of gender as a social location and create an enabling environment for the stakeholders of the university.

Dr. Antara Ghatak

Department of Social Work of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated the fifth National Social Work Week 2024 on August 20, 2024 at the university campus. The theme was ‘School Social Work: Opportunities and Challenges.’

The programme started with a discussion on the film namely ‘Tare Zameen Par’ and role of Aamir Khan, the lead actor in that film as an empathetic teacher who was found trying to help a student, his parents, and the school management in understanding the needs of the special child.

The event also witnessed the discussion on the importance of school social workers, its concept and beginning, importance of school social work services, challenges faced, and the effects of the New Education Policy, 2020 (NEP).

Students also presented a skit entitled ‘Thank You Ma'am’ showcasing the necessity of social workers in schools.

Dr. Rupa Biswas

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Department of Mass Communication of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in association with St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association, celebrated World Photography Day on August 19, 2024 at the university campus.

The department also organised a photography workshop and exhibition cum competition on the same day. The events aimed to cultivate the skills of budding photographers, provide them with hands-on experience, and offer a platform to showcase their creative talents. Students of different departments of SXUK and other colleges and universities participated in the event.

The workshop was conducted by Mr. Anindo Basu, an expert from Canon. The workshop covered a wide range of topics, including basics of photography, composition, lighting, framing, and more advanced techniques. The workshop also emphasised the importance of storytelling through images, encouraging participants to think beyond technicalities and focus on the message behind their photographs.

The interactive nature of the workshop allowed students to engage directly with the expert, asking questions and receiving personalized feedback. Practical sessions were also organized where participants could apply the techniques learned and receive guidance on improving their shots.

The photography exhibition cum competition took place in the Hall of Fame of the Arrupe building. The exhibition featured a diverse range of photographs, showcasing the themes of monsoon life, cityscape, and street life at night. At the closing ceremony, the winners of the competition received certificates and mementos.

Asok Dasgupta
Studio Coordinator
Dept of Mass Communication

Philanthropy Day at SXUK

St. Xavier's University Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUKAA) celebrated Philanthropy Day on August 23-24, 2024, marking the 70th birthday of its President, Fr. John Felix Raj, SJ. This annual event was to honor Fr. Felix Raj's dedication to serving humanity.

This year, Fr. Felix Raj shared his special day with the underprivileged children from neighbouring villages. Students of the Centre for Social Outreach Programme (CSOP), under the patronage of the Alumni Association, organised a Blood Donation Camp and Sishu Mela, featuring game stalls, a tattoo corner, magic and puppet shows.

The children from the villages participated in the mela and performed on stage alongside CSOP volunteers. A total of 227 units of blood were collected during the blood donation camp, making it a resounding success.

SXUKAA felicitated Fr. Felix Raj, and the event concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony. In a heartfelt speech, Fr. Felix Raj expressed his joy and sentiments, thanked the SXUKAA, making it a memorable day for the university community.

On August 26, Fr. Felix Raj sponsored a lunch for 130 inmates of the St. Joseph's Old-age home and spent time with the aged people during lunch.

Sweta Banerjee

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St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) inaugurated its Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Cell, funded and supported by Department of Science, Technology and Bio-technology, Government of West Bengal and also organised a one-day workshop on Intellectual Property Rights on August 23, 2024.

The workshop aimed to educate participants on the importance of protecting, managing, and leveraging intellectual property assets effectively, thereby fostering innovation and ensuring legal compliance across various fields.

While delivering the inauguration speech, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor, SXUK emphasised the crucial role of intellectual property rights in driving innovation, creativity, and economic growth. He highlighted the need to understand and utilize IP assets in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.

The workshop was designed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate the complexities of IP law, protect their innovations, and maximize their potential.

Dr. Dipanjan Bhattacharya, Special Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of West Bengal provided a comprehensive overview of protecting, managing, and monetizing intellectual assets such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. He discussed the legal frameworks governing IP, strategies for securing rights, and the importance of IP in fostering competitive advantage. The workshop included three technical sessions.

Dr. Mohua Home Chowdhury, Senior Scientist, Nodal Officer at the Patent Information Centre, Government of West Bengal, elaborated on the profound influence of IP knowledge in empowering participants to safeguard and strategically utilize their intellectual assets, thereby fostering sustainable development and competitive advantage in various industries.

In the next session, Dr. Susil Kumar Mitra, former Dy. Controller of Patents and Design, Government of India and Professor of Practice, SXUK discussed how fostering innovation and creativity in academia through IP can empower students and faculty to protect and commercialize their ideas, ultimately enhancing the academic institution's impact on society.

The final session was chaired by Dr. Paramita Saha, Scientist, Nodal Officer at the Patent Information Centre, Government of West Bengal. She explored IPR cases and patentability assessments, discussing the criteria for determining whether an invention qualifies for patent protection.

Dr. Tuhin Utsab Paul

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St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with Alliance Alliance Française du Bengale, has commenced the Beginners Level French Course (Level A1.1) classes for its students in the university campus from August 20, 2024.

Fifteen students of this university have enrolled in this course. Eminent and experienced faculty members are taking classes. Proper study materials are being provided to the students besides classroom lectures and demonstrations.

The classes are being held within the university’s working hours. Students will be awarded with certificates on the successful completion of the course.

Dr. Manali Bhattacharya

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) and Don Bosco International Media Academy, Paris (DBIMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on August 19, 2024 at the university campus.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK and Fr. John Paul Swaminathan, CEO, DBIMA signed the MoU.

This endeavour will pave the way for running collaborative courses, and organising various academic, cultural and research initiatives between the two institutions.

Dr. Manali Bhattacharya

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Department of Psychology of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted a one-day seminar at the university campus on August 12, 2024. The theme was ‘Mindfulness and Mental Health’.

Dr. Pallavi Banerjee, a consultant psychotherapist and mindfulness practitioner, was the guest speaker in the seminar.

Dr. Banerjee elucidated the study of mindfulness from various perspectives and reflected on the Buddhist view of mindfulness in her lecture. She gave a live demonstration of mindfulness meditation and contemplation for the audience.

A total of 250 students from the department attended the seminar. The programme concluded with an interactive session with the students.

Dr. Soma Pramanik

Xavier Business School, St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, proudly launched its 2-Year MBA (Executive) Programme on August 17, 2024, marking a significant milestone in the university's history. The inauguration ceremony was graced by Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, SJ, Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, along with Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar of the University, and Dr. Sitangshu Khatua, Dean of Xavier Business School.

In his welcome address, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, SJ, expressed his enthusiasm about the launch of this new programme. He stated, "Today is an important day in the history of our university as we launch this MBA (Executive) Programme. This initiative not only broadens our academic offerings but also strengthens our commitment to providing quality education that meets the evolving needs of working professionals. The rich corporate experience that this new batch of executives brings to our campus will also benefit our regular MBA students, creating an enriching environment for all."

The 2-Year MBA (Executive) Programme has been meticulously designed to cater to the needs of working professionals who wish to enhance their careers without compromising their current job responsibilities. The programme offers a flexible schedule with classes held on weekends—Saturdays and Sundays—allowing participants to balance their work and academic commitments effectively.

The launch of the MBA (Executive) Programme is a significant step forward for St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata as it continues to expand its academic portfolio and reinforce its position as a leader in business education.

Prionkur Bose

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St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated the 78th Independence Day on August 15, 2024 at the university campus in the presence of all Jesuit Fathers, Sisters, faculty members, officers, non-teaching staff members and students.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK hoisted the National Flag while the audience performed the National Anthem collectively.

In his Independence Day speech, Father Raj said, “The 78th Independence Day of India marks the triumph of our nation's struggle for freedom, self-determination, and the ever-alive spirit of our people.”

He continued, “We stand here today, Brothers and Sisters, before the Tiranga and remember the sacrifices of our freedom fighters, who bravely fought against oppression and injustice. We honour their legacy and the values they instilled in us, as represented by the tricolour – truth, courage, resilience, integrity, harmony and unity.”

Father Raj further added, “The voice of freedom calls us to embrace the diversity that makes our nation strong and to stand up against inequality, injustice, and discrimination. Let us be the change-makers, innovators, entrepreneurs, risk-takers, and problem-solvers, our country needs.”

While concluding, Father Raj advised, “Let us recommit ourselves to the principles of justice, equality, and freedom. Let us work together to build a nation where every individual has access to quality education, opportunities, and the chance to succeed.”

The celebration was followed by a high tea. Mr. Mario Martin Louis was the coordinator of the entire programme.

Mario Martin Louis

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Fr. Arrupe Central Library of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata organized the XAVERIAN ACADEMIC BOOKFEST 2024 on August 12 and 13, 2024 in the Hall of Fame of Arrupe Central Library.

Rev. Fr. Dr. John Felix Raj, SJ, Honourable Vice-Chancellor inaugurated the book exhibition. In this bookfest, textbooks and reference books of English literature, Commerce, Management, Economics, Social Work, Mass Communication, Law, Computer Science, Statistics, Psychology, Fiction, Novels, etc were displayed.

All faculty members, research scholars, university staff, and students visited the bookstalls. Twenty-six book distributors/publishers displayed around 15,180 titles in the bookfest.

Dr. Stephen. G
Assistant Librarian and Convener of XABF 2024

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Anti-Ragging Awareness Week is observed annually at St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata, to raise awareness about the harmful effects of ragging and to promote a safe and supportive environment for students. This year, the Anti-Ragging Committee organized a 'Short Essay Competition' and a 'Poster Design Competition' for SXUK students to observe the 'Anti-Ragging Awareness Week' from 12th to 18th August, 2024.

A total of 20 students participated in the 'Short Essay Competition,' and 12 students participated in the 'Poster Design Competition.' The submitted essays and posters were evaluated based on objective criteria by two separate teams of teachers and officers. Participation certificates were awarded to all participants. The best short essay and poster have been sent to the press for publication in the university magazine, (Xaverianum 2024). It has been decided that Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J, the Honourable Vice-Chancellor of the university, will hand over the cash prizes and certificates to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd position holders of each competition on 8th February, 2025, during the University Foundation Day ceremony.

Dr. Tanmay K. Pal

Department of Mass Communication of the St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) conducted a guest lecture on Sports Journalism and its different avenues on August 8, 2024 at the university campus.

The resource person was Mr. Amitabha Das Sharma, an eminent journalist and Senior Assistant Editor at The Hindu, a noted English daily.

Mr. Das Sharma introduced the students to the concept of sports journalism and explained the roles of a sports reporter. He also discussed different media available for sports journalism e.g. print, digital platforms, websites, blogs, and e-papers.

Mr. Das Sharma spoke about the structure and role of sport department in a print media organisation and helped students understand the industrial scenario.

He said, "I have spent 26 years in The Hindu and I am learning every day." He further elaborated, "At the earlier days, there was a separate section of proofreading. Nowadays, reporters write stories and complete the proofreading from their end.”

He also gave light on various international news agencies like Press Trust of India, Reuters, Associated Press, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, and Agence France-Presse and their role in promoting sports journalism. He shared a lot of future opportunities in sports journalism.

An interactive session also took place at the end. Dr. Somak Sen coordinated the entire event.

Anushka Chatterjee
MA Sem 3, Dept of Mass Communication

Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a guest lecture session on August 7, 2024.

The topic was ‘Unleashing AI in the ICE Age of Software’. The resource person was Dr. Novarun Deb from University of Calgary, Canada.

Dr. Deb focused on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in software development through the ICE framework— Intents, Contexts, and Emotions. He explained how AI enhances software by figuring out what users want based on their actions, using real time data to provide relevant responses, and recognizing users' emotions to make interactions more personal and effective.

The seminar featured a case study on navigation systems, showcasing AI's profound impact on software functionality and user experience, highlighting the need for its integration in modern software development.

The seminar was concluded by an interactive session. Students found the session highly enriching.

Afsana Zeba Yasmin
M.Sc. in Computer Science
Semester III

Association of Jesuit Collaborators (AJC) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK), in collaboration with the Sports Society of SXUK celebrated the Ignatian week 2024 in the university campus through organising various sports events from July 25 to 27, 2024.

The St. Ignatius Sports Week in July 2024 was conducted to commemorate the Feast Day celebration of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founding father of the religious order of the Society of Jesus over the years.

The Ignatian Cup 2024 is an inter-departmental university sports event hosting football (boys), throwball and basketball matches for both boys and girls. The event witnessed the participation of 200 students, including 64 female participants in different sports events.

In 11-A side football tournament, the team of Xavier Business School (XBS) emerged as champion defeating the team of Faculty of Commerce and Management. Xavier Law School (XLS) team became champion in the final throwball (Girls) event defeating the team of Faculty of Arts and Social Studies.

The team of Faculty of Commerce and Management defeated XLS team in Basketball Men category while Faculty of Commerce and Management further emerged victorious in Basketball women defeating XBS team.

The celebration concluded with the prize distribution ceremony on July 31, 2024, the Feast Day after the mass was over. It was followed by a high tea.

Dr. Utpal Raha

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First year MBA students of Xavier Business School (XBS) of SXUK visited our Santal School and boarding in Gurap, village, 63 km from Kolkata. They interacted, played, chatted and ate lunch with the Santal boys and girls. The visit was a part of their MBA induction program to enrich their experiential knowledge and exposure. Watch the video below:

Dr. Soma Sur

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Father Lafont Centre for Excellence in Research and Innovation (LCERI) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised the fifth Doctoral Colloquium on June 26 and 27, 2024 at the university campus.

This two-day event provided a platform for research scholars of SXUK to present the progress of their research work across various discipline-specific sessions.

A total of thirty-nine (39) Ph.D. scholars of SXUK from various disciplines presented their research papers, showcasing the progress and findings of their ongoing work. The discipline-specific sessions facilitated in-depth discussions and constructive feedback from the expert panel, contributing significantly to the academic development of the scholars.

The colloquium began with a welcome address delivered by Dr. Soma Sur, Hony. Director and Ph.D. Programme Coordinator. Dr. Anupam Mitra, Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Management addressed the gathering with an introductory briefing and highlighted the importance of participating in colloquiums for academic growth and knowledge sharing.

The discipline specific sessions were chaired by distinguished panel of external experts named Dr. Ananda Mohan Pal, Professor, University of Calcutta; Dr. Arup Kumar Baksi, Professor, Department of Business Administration, Aliah University; Dr. Manik Chakraborty, Former Professor and Head, Department of Law, The University of Burdwan; Dr. Asok Kumar Sarkar, Professor, Department of Social Work, Visva Bharati; Dr. Nilanjana Bagchi, Associate Professor & Head, Department of Psychology, Bethune College; Dr. Rajesh Das, Associate Professor, The University of Burdwan; Dr. Sourav Banerjee, Associate Professor, Mahitosh Nandy Mahavidyalaya and Dr. Subrata Mukherjee, Associate Professor, Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata.

The colloquium fostered a collaborative environment where ideas and insights could be exchanged, enhancing the overall quality of research within the academic community.

Dr. Soma Sur

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St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Sussex, United Kingdom on June 6, 2024 at the university campus. The MoU will foster academic collaboration between the two universities.

Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “The MoU will further enhance our undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes through student mentoring, faculty exchange programmes, joint conferences and internship facilities. Students and faculty members will get further opportunities for conducting research,” he added.

On behalf of the University of Sussex, Ms. Havovi Cyrus Anita and Prof. Sambit Bhattacharya were present.

Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar, Dr. Manali Bhattacharya, Professor-in-Charge of CGNI and Dr. Bidisha Kantha of SXUK were also present.

Dr. Somak Sen

Mother Teresa Chair Professor for Peace at SXUK

The higher education department has created a chair professor post at St Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK), in memory of Mother Teresa. The post will be called The Mother Teresa Chair Professor for Peace.

The post was created following an announcement by chief minister Mamata Banerjee at the fourth convocation of the university on February 6, 2023. The total grant approved by the government is ₹ 30 lakh per annum, said Father John Felix Raj, the university’s Vice-Chancellor.

Speaking on the significance of the post, the Vice-Chancellor said: “The chair professor will carry out a lot of research on peace both at the national and international levels. Today we need peace, especially immediately, when there are divisions, hatred, violence in the name of religion, in the name of even political parties, in the name of castes and interest groups.”

“Peace is a human right. It is my right to be peaceful. This is one of the reasons why we have created this post of chair professor.”

Vice-Chancellor Fr Felix Raj said, the duration of the chair is initially one year and can be extended for one more year. Any academic, currently holding the post of professor in a university or higher education institution aged between 55 and 62 years, may be nominated for the post.

“We have appointed a search committee comprising three experts. The expert committee met on May 25 and decided to seek nominations. Nominations can be forwarded by current and former VCs of universities, directors of research institutions or organisations and chair Professors.

An advertisement in newspapers appeared on June 2 in Newspapers. Nomination forms are available on the university website. The last date for nominations is June 23. The expert-cum-search committee will shortlist the eligible candidates and suggests five names to the VC who has the discretionary power to choose anyone from them.

“The post will be filled by July 2024,” Fr Felix Raj said.

The areas of expertise will cover social work, psychology, English literature, development economics, management, environment, sustainability and peace studies and other allied areas. The chair professor will be attached to the university under the Father Lafont Centre for Excellence in Research and Innovation (LCERI).

“The chair professor may also be required to take some classes as and when required,” the vice-chancellor said.

Dr. Somak Sen
SXUK

Department of Mass Communication of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with the St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUKAA) organised a one-day seminar on May 7, 2024 in the university campus.

The theme was Storytelling in Digital Era. Eminent media professionals were invited to share their insights on the afore-mentioned topic.

Veteran media professional and academician Dr. Snehasis Sur delighted on the uses of digital technology and its various importance in every sphere of media production.

Mr. Jimmy Tangree, an eminent RJ and head of 91.9 FM spoke on the different uses of digital technology while framing radio talk shows and discussions. He narrated how digital technology has enabled to present story in an interesting way.

Mr. Amitabha Das Sharma, Deputy Editor of The Hindu, Kolkata edition discussed how digital processes enable smooth functioning of media nowadays and how digital technology has become inevitable in media production.

Mr. Anjan Chakraborty, a journalist turned tech-entrepreneur and currently the CEO of Estory shared various techniques for writing stories using digital technology in a few minutes and publish the same, etc.

All the faculty members and students of the department attended the seminar. Dr. Harish Kumar and Dr. Manali Bhattacharya coordinated the entire event.

Dr. Somak Sen

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As a part of the knowledge exchange programme and educational tour, postgraduate students of the Department of Mass Communication of Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), Arunachal Pradesh visited the St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) campus on April 29, 2024.

The purpose of the visit was to provide students with practical insights into media and communication processes, particularly focusing on studio operations and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). They were accompanied by Dr. Arvind Kumar, a faculty member of RGU.

Dr. Harish Kumar, Head of Department of Mass Communication, SXUK coordinated the entire event. Mr. Asok Dasgupta, Studio Coordinator and Mr. Bendict Gomes, Technical Assistant of the Department of Mass Communication elaborated on the intricate processes involved in studio operations.

Other faculty members explained the workflow of producing media content, from conceptualization to execution, highlighting the role of technology and teamwork in creating impactful productions.

Two groups of SXUK students discussed role of social media in forming public opinion and on ‘Gender and Media’. An interactive session on Artificial Intelligence (AI) was also held between the students of the two universities.

This session aimed to bridge the gap between media studies and emerging technologies. Students of both universities witnessed different collaborative activities and learned the integration of technology in media production.

Dr. Harish Kumar

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Xavier Law School (XLS) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated the Annual Intra Moot Court Competition XavJudice’24 on April 26-27, 2024 at the university campus.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of SXUK said, “I am happy to find XLS organising such a programme for the professional development of our law students. Such programmes help students to realise the real-life courtroom practice before they start their professional journey.”

More than 200 students of the XLS participated in the preliminary rounds of the competition and judged by the faculty members of XLS and 20 external judges from legal profession. 11 courtrooms were organised as a real court to inculcate the feeling of mooting among the students.

What truly set XavJudice’24 apart was the sheer diversity of legal issues tackled by the participants. From constitutional law to international law, from contracts to torts, the competition covered a wide spectrum of legal domains, challenging participants to think critically and creatively in their problem-solving approach.

Dr. Rajrupa Sinha Roy Convener, Moot Court Society Xavier Law School

Dr. Rajrupa Sinha Roy
Convener, Moot Court Society
Xavier Law School

SXUK conducts workshop on child rights

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with CRY (Child Rights & You) and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Legal Aid Clinic conducted a workshop on ‘Child Rights and Social Justice’ on April 19, 2024 at the university campus.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK delivered the inaugural speech. Trainers from CRY and UNICEF representatives delivered hands on training to participants from Xavier Law School (XLS) and Department of Social Work.

Students participated in group activities and presented their views on related topics. An interactive session was held at the end.

Dr. Prashna Samaddar

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Students’ achievements

Asmita Sadhukhan, Souvik Dey, and Swagatam Ghosh from MBA Semester 2 (2023-25 Batch) secured first rank in 'Navarachna' (Business Plan Competition), organized by the Institution Innovation Council (IIC) of International Management Institute (IMI), Kolkata on March 3, 2024. Congratulations to all three of them.

XSLAJ hosts mediation competition’24

The Xavier Society of Law & Justice (XSLAJ) of Xavier Law School, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata in association with Khaitan & Co and Sharma & Sharma, Advocates LLP organised the Second Xavier Mediation Competition (XMC) on April 5-6, 2024 in the university campus.

A total of 26 teams across the country participated in the competition. Jindal Global Law School was adjudged the Best Negotiating Pair of XMC’24. The XMC’24 Champions Cup and the grand cash prize of Rs. 50,000 were awarded to participants from the Jindal Global Law School. The Best Mediator Trophy and the grand prize of Rs. 30,000 were also awarded to them.

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore emerged as the Runner-Up Negotiating Pair. They were awarded the Runners-Up Negotiating Pair Trophy and the cash prize of Rs. 20,000. Participants from Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai emerged as the second runner-up. They were awarded the trophy and the cash prize of Rs. 10,000.

Dr. Animesh Das

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Faculty of Science hosts workshop on cyber security

Faculty of Science, St. Xavier’s University Kolkata (SXUK) in association with St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUKAA) organises a two-day workshop on Cyber Security on March 22 and 23, 2024 in the university campus.

The theme of the workshop was to enrich students' understanding of contemporary topics in cyber security like overview of Cyber Security, types of Cyber Attack and Attacker, Ethical Hacking, Cyber Security Mechanism, Cryptography, ISO Standardization for Informative Study Management System and case studies on cyber-attacks.

While delivering the welcome note, Fr. Dr. A. Arockiasamy, S.J., Dean, Faculty of Science highlighted the significance of cyber security in current scenario.

The resource persons were Sambiti Chakraborty, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate; Monotosh Raj, Sub-Inspector of Police (CID), West Bengal, Sk Tajuddin, Sub-Inspector of West Bengal Police and Shri. Ajoy Ganguly, Cyber Security Expert, Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, Cyber Crime Police Station.

Sambiti Chakraborty emphasized that fear and allurement are the main causes of cybercrime. Monotosh Raj delivered an insightful lecture on different causes of cyber crime. Sk Tajuddin and Ajoy Ganguly presented a few case studies covering different aspects of cyber-crime techniques.

The second session was on ‘Overview of Cryptography’ by Dr. Mrinmoyee Bhattacharya, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science. Mr. Malay Mitra, IT Coordinator of SXUK showed different case studies on database server, Linux server, proxy server and uncomplicated firewall.

Mr. Anand Raje, Co-founder and Director, BASIS Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and Co-founder, CTO India Internet Foundation delivered a lecture on ‘The Evolving Realm of Cyber Security’. A session on cyber-attack was conducted by Dr. Sayan Das, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science.

Mr. Avishek Raychoudhury, Scientific Officer at Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), GoI highlighted the understanding of vulnerability, cyberspace and its importance, recent cyber-attacks and live threat map, CIA Triad, etc.

Students found the workshop highly enriching. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Tuhin Utsab Paul, Head, Department of Computer Science.

Dr. Sayan Das

Click on the following link to read the news published in the Edugraph on March 28, 2024

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MoU Signed between SXUK and Alliance Française du Bengale

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata and Alliance Française du Bengale on March 18th 2024 in the University campus. The MoU was signed by Rev. Fr. Dr. John Felix Raj, Vice-Chancellor, and by Mr. Nicolas Facino, Director, Alliance Française du Bengale.

The MoU opens up scope for foreign language education in the university campus as well as a number of other academic, cultural and research collaborations between the two institutes.

Manali Bhattacharya

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SXUK celebrates International Women’s Day

In an effort to commemorate women’s struggles, encourage gender equity and awareness of women’s rights in the workplace, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated the International Women’s Day, 2024 at the university campus on March 9, 2024.

Prof Swati Ghosh, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Rabindra Bharati University (RBU) was the Chief Guest in this programme. V Solomon Nesakumar, Additional Commissioner, Kolkata Police and Dr. Payel Rai Chowdhury Dutt, Department of Human Rights, RBU were the Guests of Honour.

Prof Ashis Mitra, Registrar of SXUK delivered the welcome address emphasizing the importance of gender equity in workplace.

While delivering the lecture entitled ‘Corporeality in/as work’, Prof. Ghosh shed light on the complex relationship between gender, body, and labour.

Mr. Nesakumar delivered an insightful speech on the importance of self- defence for girls and highlighted the need for women to be empowered to protect themselves and stand up against violence and discrimination. He also distributed the certificates to a few female students of SXUK on the successful completion of their Unarmed Defence Training Course conducted by Kolkata Police in the university campus earlier. He Dr. Rai Chowdhury Dutt said that women’s rights encompass the rights of one half of humanity. She deliberated on understanding gender issues in the workplace.

Dr. Antara Ghatak

Dept of Mass Communication hosts fact-checking workshop

Department of Mass Communication, St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a fact-checking workshop for its students on March 7, 2024 in the university campus.

The resource person was Mr. Joydeep Das Gupta, a trainer with the Google News Initiative India Training Network and the BBC Young Reporter India Programme.

Mr. Das Gupta, an expert in combating misinformation and disinformation, shared his insights and enlightened the students in the two-hour-long session. He discussed differences between misinformation and disinformation like hoax, satire, parody, imposters, etc.; its perils, and ways to combat the looming threat.

He emphasised the term 'infodemic,' coined in 2003 by David Rothkopf. The term rose to prominence in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic after being used by the World Health Organization (WHO). It refers to the abundance of information, including false or misleading information, in digital and physical environments during a disease outbreak, as seen during the global pandemic.

He also discussed uses of efficient tools like Google Lens, Fireshot, Invid and Yandex for verifying content online. Students learned about fake memes, misquoted news headlines of opinion leaders, viral videos, fact-checking of live political speeches, etc. An interactive session took place at the end. Students found the workshop highly enriching.

Dr. Reshmi Naskar

XBS hosts international talk series

Xavier Business School (XBS) of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata organised the International Talk Series on March 6, 2024 in the university campus. The resource person was Melinda Pavek, the US Consul General.

The session aimed to delve into the significance of dialogue and communication in a globally interconnected landscape.

Ms. Pavek delivered a speech on life transition and decision-making strategies. She also cited several examples from her own working experience. She encouraged XBS students to embrace challenges of international education and leverage them as catalysts for personal and professional growth.

An interactive session with the participants took place at the end.

Dr. Souren Konar

Dept of Economics hosts second Economics Conference

Department of Economics, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with the Jesuit Economics Association of India organised a two-day Annual Economics Conference on February 29 and March 1, 2024 at the University campus. The theme was ‘Contemporary Issues in Economic Theory and Policy.’

In his inaugural speech, Rev. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier’s University Kolkata, highlighted India's current economic challenge, stressing the importance of effective policy-making to address it and promote collective efforts for economic and societal advancement. He said, “I am happy to see that the department is organising a conference on this pertinent topic. I hope that the conference will facilitate meaningful discussions and collective efforts toward the advancement of both the economy and society.”

80 research papers were presented in 10 different technical sessions in the conference. Research scholars and academicians from Jesuit institutions and other nationally reputed colleges and universities participated in this conference.

The keynote addresses in the conference were delivered by Prof. Anjan Mukherji, Emeritus Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Prof. Erol D’Souza, Ex-Director and Professor of Economics at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Prof. Anjan Mukherji delivered his speech on ‘Markets, Governments, and Governance’ highlighting the government's crucial role in addressing market failures and maintaining economic prosperity. He emphasised Milton Friedman's view on government duties, focusing on security and law and order. He also said, “Countries with better law and order and rule of law are more prosperous. It is important for the government to frame a set of laws and ensure that the rule of law prevails.”

Prof. Erol D’Souza discussed role of public sector banks in India including nationalization of the banks and highlighted key problems pertaining to the public sector banks in India. He also shared his views on non-performing assets. He argued that there is a need to restructure the public sector banks.

Prof. Mausumi Das, Professor, Delhi School of Economics; Prof. Anup Mitra, Professor, South Asia University; Prof. Amit Basole, Professor, Azim Premji University; Prof. Udhay Bhanu Sinha, Professor, Delhi School of Economics and Prof. Saibal Kar, RBI Chair Professor of Economics, CSSSC were the other eminent speakers in this conference.

Dr. Subhanil Chowdhury

Department of Economics conducts fourth Economics Summit

Department of Economics of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) in association with Xavier’s University Economics Society (XAVECOS) organised the fourth Annual Economics Summit on February 28, 2024 in the university campus. The theme was ‘Contemporary Issues in Economic Theory and Policy.’

While delivering the inaugural speech, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK stressed the importance of shaping India's future through the exchange of ideas called for sustainable economic growth and highlighted India's role in global value chains. He further congratulated the students from different parts of the country for participating and presenting their research works at this summit.

Prof. C. Veeramani, Director of the Centre for Development Studies was one of the eminent speakers at this summit. He discussed India's potentialities, challenges, and opportunities in the global economic landscape. He highlighted the impact of globalization on employment dynamics, particularly female labour force participation, and the need for job creation. He mentioned that India can gain significantly by concentrating on the backward linkage in the Global Value Chain.

A panel discussion took place on ‘Sustainable Development in an Uncertain World’ where Dr. Kausik Gupta, Professor of Economics, University of Calcutta; Dr. Swati Bhattacharjee, Senior Journalist at Ananda Bazar Patrika and Dr. Achiransu Acharyya, Assistant Professor of Economics at Visva-Bharati participated.

The summit witnessed more than 88 research scholars and students across the country participating and presenting their research works on sustainable development goals, social sector, trade and development, banking and finance, etc.

Oishidatta Mukherjee of SXUK and Shreemanti Datta and Oitijhya Dutta from St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata jointly won the best paper award in the postgraduate students’ category. Their research included factors influencing female participation in unpaid household activities and MSME, a friend or foe to growth and development respectively. Amit Mitra and Rahul Sinha from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Kolkata, and Sayantan Basu of Amity University, Kolkata bagged second and third prizes respectively.

In the undergraduate section, Srinjoy Majumdar and Spriha Mondal of Jadavpur University won the first prize. While the second prize was bagged by Souptik Dasgupta, Ranjani Roy, and Adishree Acharyya of Jadavpur University, the third prize went to Bhoshanaa N and Madhusree N K from Madras School of Economics, Chennai.

Prof. Soumyen Sikdar, Professor of Economics, formerly associated with the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, delivered the valedictory address, where he explained the evolution of the theory of economic growth over the last many decades.

Dr. Subhanil Chowdhury

Xinephile celebrates 100th year of Mrinal Sen

Xinephile, the film society of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated the centenary year of Shri Mrinal Sen, the legendary Indian filmmaker on February 27, 2024 in the university campus.

The society conducted the screening of one of Sen’s famous films, ‘Bhuvan Shome’ at the Father Albert Huart Hall amid the presence of faculty members and students of the university.

Shekhar Das, a National award winning filmmaker was the Guest of Honour in this programme.

The event was inaugurated by Dr. Achyut Chetan, Dean, Faculty of Arts & Social Studies, SXUK, followed by felicitation of Mr. Das by Dr. Reshmi Naskar, Professor-in-Charge, Xinephile.

Mr. Das delivered an insightful lecture on the contribution of Mrinal Sen to Indian Cinema. A montage of the films made and directed by Mrinal Sen was screened before ‘Bhuvan Some’ was played. The event witnessed the spontaneous participation of around 350 students and faculty members of SXUK.

The film captivated the audience with its storytelling prowess and visual brilliance. A post-screening discussion was held where Mr. Das shared his valuable input, listened to the queries of audience and responded. The entire event was coordinated by Dr. Reshmi Naskar and her team members.

Dr. Reshmi Naskar

LCERI organises FDP

Father Lafont Centre for Excellence in Research and Innovation (LCERI) of St, Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) conducted a two-day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on February 23-24, 2024 in the university campus.

The topic of the FDP was ‘Advanced Trends in Research Techniques: Series-II on Structured Equation Modelling- Mediation and Moderation’. The FDP was open to faculty members and Ph.D. scholars of SXUK.

The resource persons for the workshop were Dr. Soma Sur, Professor, Xavier Business School, SXUK, Dr. Asim Mitra, Assistant Professor, North Bengal St. Xavier’s College and Dr. Banhi Guha, Assistant Professor, Xavier Business School, SXUK.

The FDP was conducted to deliver conceptual knowledge and hands on experience of the advanced software used for SEM analysis. Participants also learned about Structural Equation Modelling, which is a multivariate statistical technique, used to analyse structural relationships. Participants found the FDP highly enriching.

Dr. Soma Sur

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XSLAJ conducts XMC 2024

Xavier Society of Law and Justice (XSLAJ) of Xavier Law School (XLS) organized the second edition of ‘Xavier Mediation Competition (XMC) 2024 – Intra Edition’ on February 23-24, 2024 at the university campus.

The two-day event marked a significant chapter in the pursuit of legal excellence. The event attracted commendable participation of more than 180 students from various semesters and courses, reflecting the enthusiasm and commitment of the legal fraternity at XLS.

The first day of XMC’24 was dedicated to the preliminary rounds. These rounds were organised into four slots. The rounds were adjudicated by esteemed judges (external) and faculty members of XLS, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the competition.

A total of 24 participants, 8 from each category, i.e. Mediator, Attorney, and Client earned their spot in the qualifier round. The qualifier round took place in the next day with esteemed judges presiding over the proceedings.

Radhika Basu, a student of Semester VI, XLS bagged the title of ‘Best Mediator’ for her exceptional skills in communication and problem-solving, while Nabendu Krishna Ghosh of Semester VIII, XLS earned the accolade of ‘Best Attorney’ for his remarkable legal acumen and advocacy prowess.

Agnik Chowdhury of Semester VI, XLS won the title of ‘Best Client’ for his authentic representation and cooperation throughout the mediation process.

All of them were awarded medals and certificates. The winners will proudly represent XLS at the upcoming national edition of the Xavier Mediation Competition 2024, embodying excellence and dedication in alternative dispute resolution in the form of mediation. Dr. Animesh Das, a faculty member of XLS was the convener of the event.

Dr. Animesh Das

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SXUK Support Staff team defeats Teaching Staff in friendly cricket match; Sudipto makes stormy century

A pleasant day with a lovely cricket match! The spring breeze was enjoyed by the audience at its fullest as the Xavier’s University Sports Society (XUSS) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a friendly cricket match between its Teaching Staff and Support Staff on February 23, 2024 at the university playground.

The cricket match was held in the fond memories of Fr. P C Matthew, S.J., former Principal of St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata.

The opening ceremony took place at 2:00 pm with a prayer in the presence of Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar of SXUK; Fr. Dr. Mourlin K, S.J., Hostel Director; Fr. Alphonse, S.J, Campus Minister; Fr. Jospeh Raj, S.J. Finance Officer, Dr. I K Moitra, Controller of Examinations, all players and the audience.

The team of Teaching Staff (ST) won the toss and decided to bat first. They scored 167 runs in 15 overs with a loss of 8 wickets. It was indeed a good score. The team of Support Staff (SS) chased the runs, scored 168 runs in 13.2 overs and bagged the victory. They made it in 6 wickets only.

Mr. Sudipto Ghosh of the Support Staff team emerged as the Man of the Match. His outstanding century in 39 balls left the audience mesmerised. He marked a record of hitting 14 over boundaries and 2 boundaries. Scoring the century, he declared to leave the ground remaining as a not-out wicket. All efforts of the pacers and spinners of the Teaching Staff team to stop Sudipto’s blustery batting went in vain.

On behalf of the team of Teaching Staff members, Mr. Sandeep Mundra scored 62 runs in 25 balls. He made four boundaries and one over-boundary. The next highest score was made by Prof. Tutun Mukherjee. His 23 runs in 17 balls including two boundaries and one over boundary were significant.

Each player of both teams was awarded a medal and the victory trophy was handed over to Mr. Sudipto Ghosh, the captain of the winners by Dr. I K Maitra. Dr. Anupam Mitra was the captain of the Teaching Staff team. Mr. Sandeep Mundra, the Sports Officer of XUSS organized the entire event.

Somak Sen

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Association of Jesuit Collaborators hosts first workshop

The Association of Jesuit Collaborators (AJC) of the St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised the first workshop on February 24 and 25, 2024 at Parasmani, Santiniketan, the research outfit of SXUK.

The theme of the 2-day workshop was ‘Jesuit Philosophy and Principles.’ While delivering the inaugural speech, Fr. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble President of AJC and also the Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “I am happy to see that our faculty members and officers have willingly joined the association to carry forward the Jesuit philosophy and principles in their life and work. This workshop aimed to imbibe the culture of Jesuit life, ethics and principles among the participants.”

The welcome address was delivered by Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar of SXUK, who is also a member of the association. Fr. Dr. Julian Sahaya Das, S.J. was the resource person in this workshop.

The theme of the first day of the workshop was ‘Revisiting Ignatian charism and its roots in the context of higher education.’ It had four sessions starting with the session of Fr. Dr. Julian Sahaya Das, S.J. who narrated the life history of St. Ignatius of Loyola with a detailed outlook of how the ‘Cannonball moment’ transformed his life from a soldier to a priest.

The second session was also conducted by Fr. Julian on ‘Jesuit Life and Mission.’ Here he narrated how a person after sacrificing various material comforts of the world becomes a Jesuit and serves for the sake of humanity.

The third session was taken by Fr. Dr. A Arockiasamy, S.J. on ‘Jesuit Education and Worldview’. He narrated five enduring values of Ignatian Mission and Jesuit Education – Cura Personalis (Care for the individual person), Men and Women for and with others, Unity of heart and mind, Magis (more), and Contemplatives in Action. The last one is related to finding God in all things amidst the ups and downs of one’s daily experiences.

In the same session, Fr. Dr. Mourlin K, S.J. delivered a delightful lecture on ‘Personal reading and reflection’, thus, enabling the participants to realise the key concepts and philosophies of the Jesuit life and mission.

The fourth session was group discussion and presentation of day-long learning by the participants. All the participants were divided into two groups, led by two secretaries Dr. Sitangshu Khatua and Dr. Jacob Islary respectively. Each group discussed among themselves and then the secretaries respectively presented the views of their teams. The general session was moderated by Fr. Dr. Mourlin K, S.J. and Dr. Manodip Ray Chaudhuri.

The first day ended with the reviewing of the entire learnings of the day by Fr. Julian. The theme of the second day of the workshop was ‘Engaging association of Jesuit collaborators for apostolic effectiveness.’ The day started with meditation in the prayer hall, located in the premises of Parasmani. All participants joined the meditation guided by Fr. Dr. Julian Das, S.J.

The fifth session started with a recap of previous day’s activities by Dr. Manodip Ray Chaudhuri. It was followed by a speech by Fr. Dr. Felix Raj, S.J. who deliberated on the relevance of Association of Jesuit Collaborators. He said, “The Jesuit Collaborators, if guided and trained, may fulfill the mission of the Society of Jesus.”

Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar of SXUK said that his association with a Jesuit institution for more than three decades enabled him to realise the principles of Jesuit life and mission. He also said, “My further inclusion in the society will definitely help me to move forward to accomplish my goals.”

The fifth session concluded with a group discussion, moderated by Fr. Dr. Mourlin K, S.J. and Dr. Manodip Ray Chaudhuri. The group reporting was moderated by Fr. Dr. Julian Das.

The sixth and concluding session was conducted by Dr. Jacob Islary and Dr. Manodip Ray Chaudhuri where the participants discussed the future action plan of the association. Everyone shared their views and the review was done by Fr. Dr. Mourlin K, S.J. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Somak Sen. Participants found the workshop highly enriching and informative.

Dr. Somak Sen

Dept of Mass Communication visits Red FM

In an effort to offer practical exposure to the intricacies of radio broadcasting, Department of Mass Communication, St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised an industrial visit for its postgraduate students to the Red FM office on February 23-24, 2024.

The aim of the visit was to acknowledge the students about the organisational set-up of FM office and its ways of functioning. The visit took place under the guidance of Dr. Manali Bhattacharya, a senior faculty member and the Coordinator of PG programme

During the visit, the students were immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of the Red FM office, where they were given a guided tour of the internal operation of the radio station. They also interacted with various departmental heads, gained insights into the multifaceted operations of a radio station, including programming, production, marketing strategies, etc.

Highlighting the interactive nature of the visit, renowned Radio Jockeys Neil, Abhishek, and others engaged with the students, addressed their queries and shared industry insights. Maitree, an employee of Red FM and an alumnus of SXUK facilitated students in the entire event.

The visit also helped students understand the process of launching campaigns, creating advertisements, adding voice-overs, and composing music within a radio environment. It also enhanced their understanding of the pivotal role played by radio in communication and entertainment.

Reflecting on the experience, a student said, "It was truly enlightening to witness the behind-the-scenes operations of a renowned radio station like Red FM. The visit has broadened our perspective on the significance of radio broadcasting in today's media landscape."

Dr. Manali Bhattacharya

Faculty of Science organises special lecture

Faculty of Science of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) conducted a special lecture on February 24, 2024 aiming to enrich students' understanding of contemporary topics in data science and statistical modeling.

While delivering the welcome note, Dr. Manisha Pal, Head of the Department of Statistics highlighted the significance of such academic endeavors in fostering intellectual growth and exchange within the academic community.

The first session delved into the captivating narrative of the ‘Evolution of Data Science - A Short Story’ presented by Dr. Ashis Kumar Chakraborty, Professor, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata. His expertise and insights illuminated the participants on the progression of data science, and a comprehensive overview of its journey and significance in contemporary society.

The second session was on ‘Multivariate Statistical Model’ by Dr. Partha Sarathi Paul, Associate Professor at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. He delivered an insightful lecture on multivariate statistical modeling, its applications, and implications in various domains. Participants found the sessions highly enriching.

Dr. Tuhin Utsab Paul

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Xposure organises Xenith'24

Xposure, the photography society of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with the St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUKAA) organised ‘Xenith'24 - A Symphony of Frames’, an inter-college photography exhibition on February 22-23, 2024 in the university campus.

The two-day event was sponsored by the WRS Graphics and powered by Reach. Xenith'24 aimed to provide a platform for photography enthusiasts from SXUK and different colleges and universities across the state to showcase their talent and creativity under the theme ‘Contrast, Minimalism, and Connection’.

The first day commenced with an inaugural ceremony presided over by Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar of SXUK. The creative works of the students were viewed by faculty members of SXUK and they shared their valuable suggestions. The second day of the event witnessed participation of students from various colleges and universities in the exhibition.

Photos and artworks by students were judged by Mr. Arup Roy, Lumix Mentor and Wildlife Photographer; Mr. Somnath Roy, Nikon Creator and Fashion Photographer; Mr. Satyaki Ghosh, Fashion & People Photographer and Prof. Asok Dasgupta, a faculty member of SXUK. An interactive session took place between the judges and participants at the end. The winners were awarded with certificates and prizes.

Dr. Nitesh Tripathi

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XBS organises Convergence 24

Xavier Business School (XBS) of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with HR Learning Network (IIDR), hosted Convergence 2024, a dynamic HR Conclave on February 18, 2024 in the university campus. The event witnessed an impressive turnout of over 100 HR professionals hailing from reputed industries.

The conclave was designed to provide a platform for HR professionals to engage in enriching discussions, network with peers, and participate in fun-oriented activities. Throughout the day, attendees participated in panel discussions, shared their insights and best practices from their respective fields. These discussions delved into emerging trends, challenges, and innovations in the realm of human resources.

In addition to the insightful discussions, the event featured dedicated networking sessions aimed at fostering connections and collaborations among attendees. These interactions facilitated the exchange of ideas and experiences, enriching the collective knowledge of all participants.

Moreover, Convergence 2024 provided a valuable learning experience for MBA students from Xavier Business School. They had the privilege to engage with seasoned professionals, gaining firsthand insights into the intricacies of the HR domain. The event served as a bridge between academia and industry, offering students a glimpse into real-world HR practices and challenges.

Overall, Convergence 2024 was a resounding success, leaving participants inspired and empowered to drive positive change in their respective organizations. The event exemplified the spirit of collaboration and learning, underscoring the importance of continuous development in the field of human resources.

Dr. Sitangshu Khatua

XBS organises MDP

Xavier Business School (XBS) conducted a Management Development Program (MDP) on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) & Risk Management on February 17, 2024.

Students of XBS, industry professionals, finance enthusiasts and other participants attended the MDP.

Dr. M.V. Rao (IAS), Chairperson of WBERC was the Chief Guest. While delivering the inaugural address, he deliberated on the significance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risk management.

The MDP had four technical sessions. Dr. Binoy Bhushan Chakraborty, former Professor of Finance, IIM Calcutta emphasized the integral relationship between sustainability and profitability in corporate decision-making, highlighting the necessity of balancing ethical practices and business imperatives.

Kaushik Mukherjee, CS and Executive Director of PCBL Ltd. explored areas like challenges during COVID-19 pandemic, investment losses, corporate social responsibility, and integrating ESG norms with business.

Dr. Santanu Ganguly, Professor of Finance at Jaipuria Institute of Management, New Delhi and and Dr. Sitangshu Khatua, Dean, XBS addressed stakeholder theory, corporate governance, and ESG factors in decision-making.

Mr. Sayak Kumar Ghosh, a Facultative Underwriter-Property for Indian subcontinent at Munich discussed importance of ESG factors in investment decisions, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices in business to uphold reputation and long-term value creation.

Participants found the MDP highly enriching.

Dr. Sitangshu Khatua

Dept of Mass Communication conducts studio visit

In an effort to keep its students aware of practical works in television industry, the Department of Mass Communication, St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a television studio visit for its undergraduate and postgraduate final semester students on February 12 and 15, 2024.

The aim was to bridge the gap between classroom theories and the practical intricacies of audio-visual production.

Students visited the New Theatres Film Studio (NT-1) along with Dr. Sithara Puli Venkatesh and Prof. Debasish Sen, faculty members of the department.

Students learned how in a tightly packed schedule, shooting was carried out for the daily soaps that are currently running on prominent Bengali television channels.

They also met the cast and crew of different Bengali television productions and had conversations with directors, assistant directors, art directors, camera men and sound recordists.

Students also realised the practical outcomes of pre-production, production and post-production stages involved in television programming. They also gained first-hand experience in acting, direction, celebrity management, time management, creativity and other nuances of script to screen journey in the television industry.

Dr. Sithara Puli Venkatesh

SXUKAA hosts XAVMILAN 2024

St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUKAA) organized the XAVMILAN 2024, the second annual reunion, followed by a fellowship dinner of the alumni association at the St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) campus on February 11, 2024. The event brought together a tapestry of memories, laughter, and shared experiences.

The event was inaugurated by Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J. Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, SXUK and President, SXUKAA. He extended a heartfelt welcome to the alumni and alumnae, setting the tone for an evening filled with camaraderie. Father Raj was felicitated by Mr. Vatsal Chirimar, Hony. Secretary, SXUKAA on behalf of the alumni/ae.

The gathering was graced by the distinguished presence of Dr. S. Ignacimuthu, S.J., a renowned Bio-scientist and the recipient of D.Sc. (Honoris Causa) at the fifth Convocation Ceremony of SXUK. Adding to the intellectual fervor of the occasion were Dr. Jebamalai Vinanchiarachi, an eminent economist and Dr. Prabhakaran Ramachandran, a renowned lawyer.

The highlight of the evening, however, was not just the esteemed guests but also the cultural extravaganza that unfolded. Adhiraj Bajaj, a popular singer, set the musical stage ablaze with a captivating performance. The beats continued with DJ Azfar Aziz taking over for a lively DJ Night, ensuring that the celebration resonated through the campus. The event was also covered by 91.9 Friends FM.

The reunion, more than just an event, served as a poignant reminder of the cherished days spent by the alumni/ae within the hallowed halls of the university. As laughter echoed and memories were revisited, XAVMILAN 2024 became a testament to the enduring bonds forged during the formative years at the university.

Mr. Vatsal Chirimar

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SXUK’s Global Ambassador of Peace

With the consent of Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for 'Sustainable Energy for All', Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK), announced on February 10, 2024, at the University's fifth Convocation that Dr. Yumkella would be SXUK’s Global Ambassador of Peace.

Fifth Convocation Ceremony at St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised the fifth Convocation ceremony on February 10, 2024 at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, New Town. The ceremony was presided over by Hon’ble Chancellor Rev. Dr. James Arjen Tete, S.J.

While presenting the annual report of the university, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J. Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “We are proud to celebrate the fifth Convocation ceremony of SXUK. I congratulate all rank holders and qualifying students and wish them a bright future ahead.”

Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for ‘Sustainable Energy for All’ was the Chief Guest and he delivered the Convocation address. He congratulated the university for providing quality education and its various efforts to develop society.

Father Raj also announced that Dr. Kandeh would be the global ambassador of SXUK for peace.

In this convocation, SXUK conferred the Doctor of Science (D.Sc, Honoris Causa) on Rev. Dr. S. Ignacimuthu, S.J., a noted Bio-scientist and the Doctor of Law (LL.D, Honoris Causa) on Mr. R N Jhunjhunwala, a renowned Attorney-at-Law respectively.

A total of 889 Ph.D., postgraduate and undergraduate students were awarded their degree completion certificates in this ceremony. There were 124 rank holders who secured first, second and third positions respectively in different programmes.

Ms Priyadarshini Laishram, a research scholar was awarded the Ph.D degree in Commerce. She is also the first Ph.D recipient from SXUK.

There were 37 medal recipients who were awarded with gold, silver and bronze medals. Nilanjan Ghosh, a faculty member of the Department of Mass Communication was felicitated for completion of his Ph.D. programme during his service.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar. All faculty members and non-teaching staff members attended the Convocation ceremony. Father Vice-Chancellor thanked all stakeholders particularly the organising team and the alumni members for their efforts and contributions to make the programme a grand success.

Dr. Somak Sen

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SXUK Journal 2024

St Xaviers University Kolkata Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (SXUKJIR) [ISSN: 2584-055X (Print)] is a peer-reviewed academic journal published annually by St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata. Committed to the highest standard of excellence in interdisciplinary research, it is inspired by the values of the University. On February 10, 2024, at the 5th Convocation Ceremony, the second volume of SXUKJIR was launched, and the first volume was re-issued with the inclusion of our newly acquired ISSN number. The launch was blessed by the presence of the Chief Guest, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General. SXUKJIR will enter its third year in 2024. Submission guidelines for authors can be found at: https://sxuk.edu.in/nihil_ultra_journal

Dr. Prayag Ray

Celebration of 8th Foundation Day of the University

The 8th Foundation Day of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata, was celebrated on February 8, 2024, at the Albert Huart Hall. The programme started at 4 p.m. with the opening song.

In the welcome address, the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., upheld the memories of the inception time and the values of Jesuit education. The Chief Guest, Hon’ble Justice Sanjib Banerjee (former Chief Justice of Madras High Court), was felicitated by the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Dr. John Felix Raj.

The Foundation Day lecture titled "Legal Reforms in the Age of Globalisation and Its Effect on the Society" by the Chief Guest was focused on the interface between society and legal reforms. The book titled "A Brief on Fixed Point Theorems with an Invitation to Some Fixed-Point Theorems for Ray-Oriented Maps," authored by Rev. Dr. Anthony Arockiasamy, was released by the Hon’ble Justice in the presence of the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor and the Registrar of the University, and the first copy was presented to Rev. Dr. Ignacimuthu, the former Vice Chancellor of Madras University.

The members of the University gathered for the cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate the event. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Somnath Banerjee, marking the end of the programme.

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SXUK Sports Day 2024

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata Annual Sports was held on February 3, 2024, at the university ground. A plethora of events for men and women was organized. The university students, faculty, alumni members, and support staffs took active part in various events with great zeal and enthusiasm.

Brigadier R.K.Singh, Deputy General Officer Commanding, Headquarters, Bengal Sub-Area graced the occasion as chief guest. The army band comprising of the Pipes and Drums of 4/9, Gorkha Rifles (CHINDITS) and Bihar Regiment enthralled the audience with their musical note. The parade of the students, faculty, alumni members and support staff was led by the army contingent.

Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj said, “students need to participate in sports along with their pursuit for academic excellence.” St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata is proud to host this milestone event for the younger generation.

Whereas, Brigadier R.K.Singh complimented the university authorities for taking up this event with utmost care and perfection for the betterment of students in life

Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Rev.Dr.John Felix Raj announced THE introduction of scholarship to the best athletes (Men/Women) during their academic pursuit at St. Xavier’s University.

The programme concluded with a cake cutting.

Sandeep Mundra

Sports Officer

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Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK, Rev. Dr. J. Felix Raj, SJ received the JHEASA Magis 2024 Award on January 27, 2024 at St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Kolkata.

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Dept of Economics conducts field survey

The Department of Economics of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) carried out a two-day field survey at the handicrafts markets in Santiniketan on January 26-27, 2024.

The objective of the survey was to study financial literacy and digital awareness among the artisans and entrepreneurs of the handicraft industry and its effect on their earnings.

21 students of fourth semester of the department participated in the survey under the guidance of Dr. Sayantan Bandhu Majumder and Ms. Srijita Ghosh, two faculty members of the department.

They collected primary data from both male and female respondents in the market and then analysed the same. Students found the survey highly enriching.

Dr. Sayantan Bandhu Majumder

SXUK celebrates Republic Day 2024

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated the 75th Republic Day in the university campus on January 26, 2024 with great pomp and ceremony.

Hon’ble Justice Dr. Sambuddha Chakrabarti, former Judge of the Calcutta High Court was invited as the Chief Guest in this programme.

The celebration started with the hoisting of the National Flag by Rev Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK infront of the Chief Guest, Fathers and Sisters, faculty members, support staff members and students. Everyone sang the National Anthem collectively.

While delivering the welcome address, Father Raj said, “This day is very significant to us because 75 years ago, on this day, our leaders declared that India is a country of the people, by the people and for the people.”

While narrating the significance of the Republic Day, Father Raj said, “Loyalty and dedication begin from our homes and from our institutions where we study and work. Every little drop of water makes a mighty ocean. So, every drop is important and precious to build the nation.”

Justice Dr. Sambuddha Chakrabarti said, “In December 1929, Pundit Nehru declared that ‘purna swaraj’ would be the goal of Congress. Accordingly, it was decided to hoist the flag on the last Sunday of the month of January, 1930. This fell on January 26. Thereafter, till India attained independence in 1947, for all the 17 years 26th of January was observed as the ‘purna swaraj’ day.”

Justice Chakrabarti further said, “In the memory of ‘purna swaraj’ day, the Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950. Thus, we resolved to constitute India into a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic country.”

While concluding his speech, he mentioned, “I end with a sense of re-assurance that despite everything India has truly come up to its present position and is now an international entity to be reckoned with all seriousness. She has come out from her age-old image of the yester years and has made unprecedented progress in various branches of science and learning.”

The vote of thanks was delivered by Mr. Mario Martin Louis.

Somak Sen.

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Dept of Social work organises rural camp

Department of Social Work of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a rural camp from January 15 to 24, 2024 in collaboration with the Child in Need Institute (CINI) at Baikunthapur village.

The camp was organised to make students understand various dimensions of rural life and role of NGOs in riverine villages of the Sundarbans in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

A total of 55 students along with faculty members participated in the camp. An orientation programme was organized by CINI at Pailan for the students. They visited panchayat, health centres and anganwadi centres. Interactive sessions were organized for the students in Chetna Resource Centre on the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Rural Public Health Structure.

Students also met Upa-Pradhan, Officer-in-Charge, and Block Development Officer in Baikunthapur and learnt about the village administration and Panchayat governance. As a part of their course curriculum, students also visited multipurpose cyclone shelter (flood centre) and interacted with tiger widows.

Faculty members helped the students to conduct community survey and generate awareness about the drowning project started by CINI, and social resource mapping. They also visited an NGO to understand their role and responsibilities.

Dr. Rupa Biswas

SXUK celebrates Xavrang 2024

St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated its annual cultural fest, Xavrang 2024 on January 22 and 23, 2024 in the university campus.

The theme of the fest was ‘Enchanted Garden’. It was a vibrant tapestry of diverse activities that catered to a myriad of interests, creating a truly enriching experience for participants.

The fest showcased a plethora of events, ranging from captivating dance performances and melodious music sessions to engaging literature discussion and thrilling treasure hunts, fashion show, etc. The diversity in activities ensured that there was something for everyone, fostering a sense of inclusivity and participation. This included participants from across 30 institutes across the state.

The excitement reached it apogee with a lively artist performance by Shreya Jain, captivating the audience with her artistic prowess. At the end, the fest reached its crescendo with an electrifying DJ performance by Kryso, creating a pulsating atmosphere that had everyone on their feet.

The seamless integration of various art forms and cultural activities contributed to an atmosphere of celebration and camaraderie. Students not only enjoyed the entertainment, but also had the opportunity to appreciate and engage with different facets of the arts.

Xavrang 2024 was an immersive experience that left a lasting impression on all attendees. The fusion of creative expression, talent, and cultural diversity made it a memorable celebration.

Dr. Manali Bhattacharya

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SXUK at Kolkata Book Fair 2024

St. Xavier's University, Kolkata has set up a stall in the 47th International Kolkata Book Fair. The stall was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Chief Minister, Dr. Mamata Banerjee on January 18 at 4.00 pm to the great excitement of the faculty and students who had gathered at the stall. Fr. Felix Raj blessed the stall after its inauguration. Faculty members and students in turn man the stall and receive guests. The IKBF 2024 will be held till January 31, 2024.

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Dept of Economics conducts field survey on rural life style

The Department of Economics of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) carried out a field survey in Bolpur, West Bengal on January 20, 2024. The objective of the survey was to explore how people in Bolpur, Birbhum, West Bengal diversified their livelihoods.

18 postgraduate students participated in the survey under the tutelage of Dr. Poulami Chatterjee, Dr. Subhanil Chowdhury, Dr. Sayantan Bandhu Majumder and Dr. Chayanika Mitra, faculty members of the department.

7 students of semester four and 11 students of semester two of postgraduate programme in Economics collected primary data from 105 households residing in the rural areas of Bolpur.

Dr. Biswajit Haldar, a renowned Professor of Economics, Visva-Bharati also extended his valuable support to conduct the survey.

Participants collected data on household and personal factors like monthly household expenditure, educational status, asset ownership, type of homes in which respondents live, number of family members, and status of land ownership.

Following that, data on employment migration and availability of government schemes were collected to determine the primary livelihood concerns of the rural inhabitants of Bolpur.

Dr. Sayantan Bandhu Majumder

XBS hosts XAVIESTA’24

Xavier Business School (XBS) of the St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted XAVIESTA'24, the annual fest on January 19 and 20, 2024 at the university campus.

While delivering the inaugural speech, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “I am happy to see that XBS is organising such a large event that includes participants from the entire city. I wish the organisers and participants a grand success.”

Mr. Sanjay Budhia, an eminent industrialist was the Chief Guest. The event witnessed the participation of nearly 600 students from more than 30 colleges from different parts of the city in various fields like business, sports and other cultural events.

The festivities concluded with prize distribution and a memorable cake-cutting ceremony, encapsulating the spirit and success of the event.

Mekhola Mukherjee
MBA, Semester 4, XBS

Dept of English organises National Conference

Department of English of the St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a two-day National Conference on ‘War and Literature’ in collaboration with the Father Lafont Centre for Excellence in Research and Innovation (LCERI), the research wing of the university on January 17-18, 2024 in the university campus.

While delivering the inaugural speech, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “I am happy to find that the Department of English is organising the conference on such a pertinent theme. I believe that the conference will witness the outcomes of quality research articles by renowned academicians and scholars.”

The keynote speaker was Dr. Kalidas Misra, former Professor, Department of English, Sambalpur University, Odisha. The plenary speaker was Prof. Sumit Chakrabarti, Department of English, Presidency University, Kolkata.

The inaugural ceremony, keynote speech and plenary sessions took place at the Fr. Albert Huart Hall. The other parallel sessions took place at the LCERI Conference Room and LCERI Open Classroom.

The conference witnessed the participation of a huge number of research scholars and academicians from SXUK and many other colleges and universities from different parts of the country.

The conference aimed to address pertinent issues on war from myriad perspectives, with reference to the 20th and 21st centuries. The corpus of work in the ambit of war themed literature took a wide variety of approaches to comprehend the experience through different genres- drama, short stories, novels, journals, diaries, oral histories, memoirs, and letters.

The subject was thought-provoking and relevant given the ongoing conflicts across the world. The conference had been able to successfully address them, engaging mostly faculty members, scholars and students of esteemed institutions.

The convener of the programme was Dr. Indira Chakraborty Bhattacharya and the vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Ananya Saha.

Dr. Indira Chakraborty Bhattacharya

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Faculty of Science organises seminar on Cyber Security

Departments of Statistics and Computer Science of the Faculty of Science, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) jointly organised a seminar on ‘Exploring Cyber Security – How it impacts life’ on January 15, 2024 in the university campus.

The speaker was Mr. Rakesh Asthana, Managing Director and CEO of World Informatix Cyber Security, Florida, USA. Father Dr. A. Arockiasamy, S.J., Dean, Faculty of Science, delivered the welcome address.

Mr. Asthana talked at length about the necessity of cyber security and discussed various methods of cyberattacks that hackers use. He narrated the incident at the Central Bank of Bangladesh in 2016, the largest cyber heist in history, in which he was involved in exposing the hackers.

He further narrated the dark web and its use by cyber hackers in illegal activities. He also shared the ways to get protection from being hacked and the employment scenario in this field. An interactive session took place at the end.

Faculty members and students of the host departments, and students of Commerce and Management, Economics, Law and MBA attended the seminar.

Dr. Manisha Pal

SXUK hosts conference on women empowerment

The Research Development Cell and Xavier Law School (XLS) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) jointly organized a one-day national conference on ‘Women Empowerment for a Sustainable Future’ on January 11, 2024 in the university campus.

It aims to address the pertinent issues related to gender equality and women empowerment in line with the sustainable development.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK delivered the inaugural address. He said, “Structural impediments to gender equality exist and gender-based discrimination persists inspite of the efforts by the government, democratic institutions and other key stakeholders.”

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Nirmal Kanti Chakrabarti, Vice Chancellor, West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata. He gave an overview of various schemes by Central & State Governments for women empowerment.

He also highlighted the initiatives taken up by legislative, executive and judiciary and discussed various legislations, Women Reservation Bill 2023, and also various cases that have remedied gender inequality, the emergence of Nari Adalat, etc.

A total of 61 participants including faculty members, research scholars, students and professionals across the country participated in this conference.

Dr. Mononita Kundu Das

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Dept of Economics conducts ICSSR sponsored research project

In a bid to excel more in research work, the Department of Economics of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a one-day dissemination workshop on the ICSSR sponsored Minor Research Project 'Evaluation of PMUY: A Case Study of Kolkata’ on January 10, 2024 in the university campus.

The project focuses on the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) coverage and its effects on health and women empowerment among the BPL households in Kolkata.

Dr. Devleena Majumdar, Dr. Sayantan Bandhu Majumder and Ms. Srijita Ghosh presented the project report in front of external experts, other faculty members of the department and research scholars.

Three distinguished external experts were Prof. Saibal Kar, RBI Chair Professor of Economics, CSSSC, Director (Hony.), Eastern Regional Centre, ICSSR; Prof. Ajitava Ray Chaudhuri, Professor Emeritus (HOD), Department of Economics, School of Business and Economics, Adamas University and Dr. Subrata Mukherjee, Associate Professor, IDSK.

An in-depth discussion was held regarding the project report. In addition, the audience offered several insightful suggestions. The sample design and research methodology of the study were appreciated by experts.

Dr. Sayantan Bandhu Majumder

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Dept of Statistics hosts guest lecture

Department of Statistics of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata, organised a guest lecture for the postgraduate students of Statistics and Computer Science on January 4, 2024.

The speaker was Dr. Nitis Mukhopadhyay, an eminent statistician and Professor, Department of Statistics, University of Connecticut-Storrs, U.S.A. He delivered a lecture on ‘Sufficiency-Completeness-UMVUE and Related Issues: Some Personal Reflections’.

Prof. Mukhopadhyay dwelt at length on the concepts of sufficiency, completeness, UMVUE (Uniformly Minimum Variance Unbiased Estimator) and discussed related issues. He also narrated the significance of Rao-Blackwellization and Basu’s theorem in deriving important results in the field of statistical inference.

All the students of both departments and faculty members attended the lecture. An interactive session took place at the end. Students found the session highly enriching.

Dr. Priyanka Talukdar

Golden Jubilee celebration of Father Felix Raj and his Companions

The Golden Jubilee of Father Felix Raj, S.J. as a Jesuit, was celebrated in the St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) on January 4, 2024.

Father Felix Raj celebrates his 50 years of being a Jesuit in Kolkata this year. He began his Jesuit training in Patna from January 2, 1974. To make the celebration more meaningful, Father Raj had invited all his 1974 Novitiate companions to SXUK.

In his address at the function, he said, “Nine of us came together for two days, from January 2nd to 4th and had very fruitful and enriching sharing sessions, reliving our rich experience in the early years of our formation and rejuvenating ourselves. We gratefully remembered all, Jesuits and others who journeyed with us in these 50 golden years.”

On January 4 evening, the St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUKAA) oraganised a programme in which the alumni members felicitated all the nine Jubilarians.

Father Raj narrated his journey with a sense of deep gratitude to all those who were present as the audience. He said, “Jesus Christ had an inner circle of 12 apostles and hundreds of disciples at the peripheral level. Among the apostles, there were a few like Peter who denied Jesus thrice, like Thomas who doubted his resurrection and Judas who betrayed him.”

He further said, “Still Peter was chosen as the first Pope of the Church and Thomas was sent all the way to India. Inspite of shortcomings, weaknesses and sinful nature of human beings, God chooses the weak and makes them strong. And that is what God has done with me and with my companions.” Father also shared some of the anecdotes of his early life.

Father's nephew, Naveen David, his wife Priya David and their 6 year old daughter, Zarah David had come all the way from Tamil Nadu for the celebrations.

To make the celebration memorable, students staged a beautiful cultural show. The celebrations ended with a dinner hosted by the alumni association. Thanks to Vatsal Chirimar, Honorary Secretary and his team of council members for their efficient organisation of the programme.

Dr. Somak Sen

SXUK

Message for Christmas 2023

Fr. J. Felix Raj, SJ

It is rightly said, “A thousand times in history a baby has become a king. But only once in history did a king become a baby”.

Gurudeb Rabindranath Tagore has touchingly brought out the divine encounter in human life in his beautiful song, “Have you not heard his silent steps? He comes, comes, ever comes. Every moment and every age, every day and every night he comes, comes, ever comes.” Jesus Christ’s birth in our midst is to propagate peace which is the most precious gift of God. As Christ visits us he reposes in us the message and meaning of life and mission.

‘Every child comes with the message that God is not yet disappointed with humans. The birth of Jesus, the holy Child of Christmas, brought a special message of hope to humankind. He was born to be the saviour of sinners.... Today, Christmas is for the people, by the people and of the people. Christmas is an opportunity to apply the message of Christ in each person’s life. It should not turn into a meaningless annual ritual,’ wrote Rabindranath Tagore..

The world is painfully different today. There are deep differences among us. We are constantly disturbed. Many of our cities are violent and unsafe. Many are deprived of their dignity and suffer rejection. Children and women are the most vulnerable. They are under great distress and are crying for justice.

Mob violence, lynching, rape and sexual abuses against women remain at high levels over the past few years. The Government crime figures report a figure of 31,516 rape cases in 2022 in India – an average of 86 per day. Rajasthan reported the highest with 5,399 cases followed by UP (3,690) and MP (3,029). These figures highlight the distressing prevalence of this grave crime across different states.

Today our houses, churches, prayer halls, properties and all we own are at great risk. One can sense the waves of fear and insecurity. Yet, in the midst of all distress, Christmas brings us the message of hope that life is meaningful and worth-living.

We celebrate Christmas in many ways. Some do it publicly; they throw big parties, wanting to share their excitement with others. Many organizations and offices organize Christmas carnivals. December calendar is often filled with social obligations. But they may not even know the inner reason why the party is being held. The spiritual aspect is often overlooked or even excluded.

Some prefer to celebrate Christmas privately, with their family members and relatives. This type of celebration is warm and supportive. There are individuals and families who reach out to children, the aged, the poor and the dying and destitute and express their joy by sharing a meal or distributing gifts as the Magi and the Santa Claus did.

Jesus Christ is not only a historical person; he is a metaphor for human life, an avatar of love, self-giving and companionship in the service of humankind. On this occasion of the birth of the Divine Babe, let me recall for us the essential truth of every religious

belief: ‘Religion is a way of life; it is an endeavor to preserve the beauty of our conscience and intention in our actions. Religions can never be the source of fundamentalism and violence. But the root causes of all violence flow from the hidden agenda and opportunistic strategies of our rulers from time immemorial.

We are the makers and markers of our destiny. On this joyous occasion of Christmas, let us pledge to break the boundaries of superstitions and parochialism, be illumined by divine delight that embraces us all and relieve the world of suffering caused by misappropriated manifestations of spiritual sentiments and religious fundamentalism.

Let me conclude quoting from the Christmas Message of Pope Francis:

“Christ is born for us; let us rejoice in the day of our salvation! Let us open our hearts to receive the grace of this day, which is Christ himself. Jesus is the radiant “day” which has dawned on the horizon of humanity. A day of mercy, in which God our Father has revealed his great tenderness to the entire world. A day of light, which dispels the darkness of fear and anxiety. A day of peace, which makes for encounter, dialogue and, above all, reconciliation. A day of joy: a “great joy” for the poor, the lowly and for all the people…”

“….Where God is born, hope is born; and where hope is born, persons regain their dignity. Yet even today great numbers of men and woman are deprived of their human dignity and, like the child Jesus, suffer cold, poverty, and rejection. May our closeness today be felt by those who are most vulnerable, especially child soldiers, women who suffer violence, and the victims of human trafficking and the drug trade…..”

On this joyous occasion of Christ’s birth, I wish the Herald readers A Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year 2024.

Christmas get-together at SXUK

St. Xavier's University Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUKAA) organised a Christmas get-together for academicians and its well-wishers on December 20, 2023 at the university campus. Around 60 Principals of different schools and colleges of Kolkata and Vice-Chancellors of universities attended the programme.

At the beginning, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK presented a Christmas message to all participants. He said, "A thousand times in history, a baby has become a king. But only once in history did a king become a baby. As Christ visits us, he reposes in us the message and meaning of life and mission."

On the occasion of the birth of the Divine Babe, Father Raj recalled the truth of every religion, saying, "Religion is an endeavor to preserve the beauty of our conscience and intention in our actions. It can never be the source of fundamentalism and violence."

He further added, "We are the makers and markers of our destiny. On this holy moment, we should pledge to break the boundaries of superstitions and parochialism and be illumined by divine delight."

The gathering had an academic side to it where participants discussed current issues of the mobility of students from West Bengal to other cities, states and abroad.

The discussion was initiated by the inputs of Mrs. Jessica Gomes Surana, Principal, Loreto Day School, Elliot Road, followed by Dr. Deepali Singhee, Principal, J D Birla Institute and Prof. Suranjan Das, Vice-Chancellor, Adamas University.

Various issues related to the topic were discussed. Prof. Suranjan Das proposed to Father Raj to undertake a research project on the topic. Father Raj proudly responded, "Our university will take up this research project by a team of professors."

The team of students and faculty members of XUCAS presented heart-touching carols and dances depicting the Christmas message. Their performance was highly appreciated. All the participants led by Father Raj then joined together and cut the Christmas cake.

The entire programme took place on the open ground in the quadrangle of the academic block. The quadrangle was beautifully adorned. Thanks to Mr. Vatsal Chirimar and his team members for organising the programme.

Dr. Somak Sen

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SXUK celebrates Sishu Mela

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised Sishu Mela on December 19, 2023 at the Kulberia Primary School with pomp and ceremony.

The celebration was organised specially for the children, their parents and other stake holders from four adjacent villages namely Kanthalberia, Kulberia, Dharmatala-Panchuria and Jirangacha.

The event included various activities for children to participate in, like drawing, dancing, singing and a fancy dress competition, etc. Game stalls for critical thinking and logical reasoning were also there. Children found the event highly enriching.

Parents of the children and panchayat members of these villages also found the event highly interesting. SXUK, since its inception, has been maintaining a sense of belongingness and ownership among the community members with regard to the university’s initiatives to provide them with scopes for attaining a quality life.

Sweta Banerjee

LECTURE ON JESUIT EDUCATION

On December 16, 2023, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of St Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) delivered the third Annual Christmas Lecture at Parasmani, Santiniketan. Parasmani is the Centre for Research and Social Outreach of SXUK in Ratanpally, Bolpur.

Jesuit Fathers and members of the organising committee led by Fr. Jeyaraj Velluswamy, Rector of SXCK, inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp of knowledge. The event was attended by numerous Jesuit Fathers, Sisters, notable civil society members, dignitaries and approximately 130 professors from both Santiniketan and SXUK, along with research scholars from VBU and Ashramites.

Fr. Felix Raj began his lecture with the wise words, “Unless and until a seed falls to the ground and dies, it does not sprout and bear fruit” (John’s Gospel 12:24-26). He said that ‘unless we die to our selfishness, comfort, individualism and so on, we cannot rise and bear fruit. Every fall is an opportunity to rise’.

He highlighted the role and impact of education in general and then made a precise overview of the Jesuit Education, its methods and characteristics. He said that the Jesuit education flows from the Jesuit Order’s Spirit which is the reflection of the Ignatian charism.

And the Ignatian charism is found in the Spiritual exercises of Ignatius (a Manuel for spiritual growth), the Jesuit Constitution, the Jesuit motto, AMDG – (For the greater glory of God) and Magis (greater, greater and greater), the philosophy behind any Jesuit mission.

He said, “Educational involvement has been synonymous with the mission of the Society of Jesus which was founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola and six of his fellow companions.”

He elaborated the uniqueness and the various characteristics of the Jesuit education and explained why Jesuit education is popular all over the world and widely sought after by people. Father Raj answered a large number of questions from the audience. The program ended with lunch.

Prof. Sovik Mukherjee
Dr. Somak Sen

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Student Achievement

The Department of Economics of Calcutta University organised a 2-day National Workshop on "Capacity Building for Aspiring and Budding Entrepreneurs". Students were assigned to make a Business Pitch focussing on Value Chain Analysis.

Our 2nd year MBA student, Rishabh Agarwal and his team were adjudged the winners of the competition. Congratulations to them.

SXUK signs MoU with CRY

On 6th December, 2023, an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) has been signed between 'St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK)' and 'Child Rights and You (CRY)' at the University Campus, New Town.

The MoU has been signed by the Registrar, Prof. Ashis Mitra and Ms. Trina Chakrabarti, Director East & Volunteer Management, CRY with the blessings of Fr. Felix Raj, Vice-Chancellor, in the august presence of Dr. Indra Kanta Maitra, Controller of Examinations, Dr. Ranjeeta Mukherjee, Dr. Anuradha Roy Chowdhury, Dr. Prashna Samaddar, Mr. Saptarshi Hazra, Senior Manager, CRY Kolkata and Ms. Rubina Haque, Senior Executive, Volunteer Engagement, CRY, Kolkata.

The collaboration seeks to aim to enrich the experiential learning among students of the University by providing a practical dimension to it and to inculcate among them the spirit of public service and to make them a socially responsible citizen.

Dr. Prashna Samaddar
Assistant Professor, XLS

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Chidambaram Lectures and Releases book at SXUK

Mr. P. Chidambaram, former Union Minister and MP Rajya Sabha visited St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) on November 25, 2023. He delivered a special lecture on ‘The Future of Democracy’ and released a book, ‘Development, Decentralisation and Democracy’, authored by Father John Felix Raj S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK and Prof. Prabhat Kr Datta, an adjunct faculty. His lecture was highly appreciated by the audience.

Chidambaram in his address said, “The fundamental message that I wish to convey is that democracy has been, over the years, hollowed out in this country” and he explained that in detail.

Mr. Chidambaram was taken around the university and he spent some time in the Moot court of the Xavier Law School and the Law Library. He met with all the Jesuit Fathers of the university and joined them for a picture.

Significantly, the book is dedicated to the fond memories of an illustrious Jesuit Father Albert Huart who devoted his entire life to the great cause of value based education in Bengal in particular, and India in general. The book was released in the hall named after him. The authors bowed their heads down to pay their deepest respect to Fr. Huart.

Three dominant intertwined paradigms of social sciences, namely, development, decentralization and democracy weave the texture of the standalone chapters captured in three sections of the book running over 330 pages and bind them together.

While the first one refers to goal, the other two are regarded as instruments of achieving the goal – development of the people through their active participation. These concepts and their practices have metamorphosed in their content and underpinnings with the passage of time.

The book seeks to capture the changing nature and context and emerging conceptual dimensions in this regard and to examine and re-examine their validity in the light of realities in our country.

While the first section has 4 chapters, the second one has 5 and the last one has 2 chapters. The book begins with a chapter on redefining development in the historical context, and analyses the core and underpinnings of the concept of development to present before the readers a comprehensive and contemporary perspectives. Social values of development constitute the central thrust of the second chapter.

The third chapter attempts a critical appraisal of the economic reforms in India in which disinvestment figures prominently. As growing corruption is regarded as a threat to development, the authors have included a chapter on ethical governance for combating corruption.

There are 5 chapters in the second section which seek to describe and evaluate the experiences of the different models of decentralized governance in rural, urban and hilly regions. This section begins with an analysis of the role of civil society in the neo-liberal context of governance in India as it is regarded as an important contributor to the process of decentralization.

Decentralised governance and delivery of public services in the turbulent times is the central core of another chapter which analyses how Kerala could deal with the first phase of COVID-19 pandemic more successfully than other states with the help of the vibrant decentralised democratic structures at the grassroots and effective state-society relationship.

The last chapter in this section attempts a critical review of another innovative experiment of decentralised governance in one of the hill districts in India, Darjeeling in pursuance of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.

The third section of the book seeks to explore the dynamics of deliberative democracy in rural and urban India in the light of available empirical studies and highlights where the shoe pinches and what needs to be done to make deliberative democracy a more meaningful proposition in our country.

The book has been published by a reputed publisher in Kolkata. Mr. Aurobinda Das Gupta, Managing Director of the heritage publishing house of Kolkata readily agreed and did the needful.

Dr. Somak Sen
Assistant Professor
Dept of Mass Communication

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Dept of Mass Communication visits Radio New Town

Stepping into the vibrant hub of Radio New Town, the undergraduate and postgraduate students of Department of Mass Communication, St. Xaviers University, Kolkata (SXUK) found themselves amidst the pulsating rhythm of radio waves on November 20-21, 2023 with their mission to record two pieces capturing the essence of Newtown, an evolving ‘smart city’.

Nerves gave way to excitement as they entered the recording studio. Microphones donned, the students transformed into articulate storytellers, weaving narratives about Newtown’s inclusive spirit, its ever-growing infrastructure, and its promise as a liveable utopia. They spoke of its green spaces, its diverse communities, and its dynamic ecosystem, alluding to the city’s ‘work in progress’ charm. Interspersed with these insights were nuggets about their beloved SXUK, its rigorous academic environment, and the nurturing embrace of the Mass Communication department. They painted a picture of a student life teeming with intellectual pursuits and creative endeavours, perfectly complementing the dynamic spirit of New Town.

After the recording, the Station Manager who is also the senior Radio Jockey, Mrs. Ruthline Saha, gave our students a guided tour through the radio station that unveiled the magic behind the microphone. From the bustling newsroom to the serene editing suites, they witnessed the meticulous process of crafting compelling radio narratives.

Leaving Radio New Town, the students carried with them not just the thrill of their recorded voices, but also a deeper understanding of the power of radio and the transformative potential of storytelling. They had not only captured the essence of New Town, but also showcased the vibrancy of SXUK’s Mass Communication department, proving that even within the confines of a budding city, stories of inclusivity, progress, and academic excellence can find their voice.

Dr. Sithara Puli Venkatesh

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Dept of Computer Science hosts special lecture

In an effort to make the students aware on scope of further research, the Department of Computer Science, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a special lecture in online mode on November 18, 2023. The topic was ‘Generative AI: An Introduction to Generative AI Models’.

Dr. Shaja Arul Selvamani, Senior Director, AI/ML at CISCO, USA was the eminent speaker. He delved into the essence of generative AI, illustrating its practicality through examples of prominent generative models like ChatGPT, BERT, and LLAMA.

He discussed varied applications of generative AI, illuminating its impact across diverse industries and fields. A pivotal segment of the seminar revolved around a detailed elucidation of deep learning neural networks, linear regression, and logistic regression.

Faculty members and students of the Departments of Computer Science and Statistics found the programme highly enriching. Fr. Dr. Arockiasamy, SJ, Dean of Science expressed heartfelt gratitude to the speaker and all participants. Dr. Tuhin Utsab Paul, Head, Department of Computer Science coordinated the entire programme.

Dr. Sayan Das

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XBS students bag BOB Achiever's award

Xavier Business School (XBS) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated a momentous occasion in the Aruppe Hall on November 18, 2023 as its three students received the prestigious Bank of Baroda (BOB) Achiever's Award recently.

Rishabh Agarwal bagged the award for scoring the highest CGPA in first and second semesters, 9.45 out of 10. Debraj Nandi was awarded for his exemplary performance in sports and Franklin Sando received the award for his notable contributions in social work.

These three students are pursuing their MBA programme here and are in their third semester now. Each awardee received a cash prize of Rs. 31,000.

Mr. Divya Ranjan Ratha, Chief Manager and Head, and Mr. Pritam Dasgupta, Senior Manager and Credit Head, Education Loan Sanction Cell, BOB handed over the awards to the students.

The ceremony was marked by applause and cheers from fellow students, faculty members and staff.

Prionkur Bose

Ambassador of Vatican to India Visits SXUK

Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the ambassador of the Vatican in India, accompanied by His Grace the Archbishop of Calcutta, Most Rev. Thomas D’Douza and two Italian priests, paid a visit to the St. Xavier's University, Kolkata campus on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

The Vice-Chancellor, Fr. Felix Raj, SJ showed them around the campus and explained the gradual progress of the university. His Excellency Girelli was impressed by the clean and green campus and mighty buildings and assured the Vice-Chancellor of his prayerful support to the great educational service rendered by the University to the people of Bengal and India.

Archbishop Thomas D'Souza had blessed the foundation stone of SXUK in December 2013 and again blessed the buildings and the entire campus at the time of the inauguration of the university in July 2017. Within a short span of six years, there are 3500 students on the rolls.

The Vice-Chancellor, Fr. Felix Raj has introduced the next stage of development called 'SXUK Vision 2030'. Accordingly, SXUK will see both physical and academic expansions in the years to come.

SXUK hosts exhibition on environment safety

In a bid to foster awareness towards protecting environment among students and staff members, the Expert Committee for Environmental Education of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a poster competition and exhibition on November 10 and 11, 2023 at the university campus.

While inaugurating the exhibition, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “It is our responsibility to save Mother Earth and keep it worthy of living for future generations. We must think and work rationally to protect the earth and the environment.”

The exhibition was named ‘Xaverian Environmentalist’. On both days, students from different departments showed their creative skills by making posters.

Dr. Kaberi Datta, an academician from Sarojini Naidu College for Women was invited as the expert to judge the entries. Prof. Debatri Banerjee of SXUK also coordinated with her.

The theme of the competition was ‘Nurture: Nature.’ Posters made by the students exuded vibrant depictions of Mother Nature as they explained the ways to ensure a green, sustainable world. The audience was amazed by the variety of interpretations of the theme and applauded the efforts of students.

Students found the initiative highly enriching and realised their role in environmental conservation.

Dr. Rajrupa Sinha Roy
Convener - Expert Committee for Environmental Education
SXUK

Faculty of Commerce and Management organises special lecture

Faculty of Commerce and Management of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted a special lecture on organizational behaviour and leadership for its final-year students on November 7, 2023 in the university campus.

Mr. Vivek Nagpaul was the eminent speaker. He delivered an enlightening lecture on actionable insights, which he said “students should apply to enhance their leadership skills.”

He also discussed various topics related to organisational behaviour, from building consultancy to leadership qualities. He said, “Leadership plays an important role in our professional as well as personal lives.”

He asked students to identify good leaders and qualities they possess. “Qualities we admire in our role models are the ones we should try to emulate and inculcate in ourselves to become leaders of tomorrow,” he added.

An interactive session took place after his lecture. All faculty members were present.

Dr. Anupam Mitra

SXUK signs MoU to make New Town a smart city

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the New Town Kolkata Green Smart City Corporation Limited (NKGSCCL) recently aiming to make it an ideal smart city.

This MoU will help both SXUK and NKGSCCL to share expertise and resources in developing New Town as a smart city through collaborative efforts.

Father John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “Ours is a Jesuit university and it has been committed to the development of its neighbourhood areas since the beginning. Now we are looking forward to this collaboration as it gives a structured opportunity to work further.”

He also said, “This initiative will give exposure to our faculty members and students to work in industrial environment which has been emphasized in the New Education Policy.”

Areas where both SXUK and NKGSCCL will jointly work for preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) are establishment of Bee Corridor at Eco Park, Radio New Town, Smart Library, Day Care Centre, case studies on Fuljhuri under Project Impact base and strategy for development of Eco Park under macro impact case study.

The MoU is the reflection of the initiatives under the Smart City Mission, launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Govt. of India. It aims to carry out research and development works through collaboration between industry and academic institutions.

The university has selected a team of professors under the leadership of Prof. Soma Sur to work on this project in collaboration with NKGSCCL.

Dr. Somak Sen

XSLAJ hosts first edition of IGNITAC

Xavier Society of Law and Justice (XSLAJ), a society of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised the first edition of Ignatius National Trial and Advocacy Competition-2023 (IGNITAC) in association with Fox & Mandal, Khaitan & Co. from November 1 to 3, 2023 in the university campus.

While inaugurating the national-level trial advocacy competition, Rev Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “I am happy to see that XSLAJ is organising such a programme. I congratulate the participants from different parts of the country for appearing in this national level competition.”

The preliminary rounds were judged by esteemed Partners and Associates of Khaitan & Co., one of India’s oldest and leading law firms while the quarter and semi-finals were judged by distinguished guests from legal profession.

The final round was judged by Justice Ashim Kumar Banerjee, former Judge of the Calcutta High Court, WBCERC and Mr. Abhiroop Mukherjee, Associate General Counsel, ITC.

Students of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law emerged as the best team and were awarded a cash prize of Rs. 60,000, followed by Amity Law School, Kolkata as the Runner-Up along with a cash prize of Rs. 30,000.

The Best Memorial award was bagged by the students of Heritage Law School, Kolkata with a cash prize of Rs. 15,000. A student of Amity Law School bagged the Best Researcher award and received Rs. 15,000.

Two students of XLS got the Best Speaker and Best Witness awards and received Rs. 15,000 each. Participants enjoyed and learned a lot from this event.

Dr. Animesh Das

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SXUK organises Run for Unity

St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised the Run for Unity on October 31, 2023. The event started from the University campus at 7:30 am and ended around 8:30 am at the same place after taking a round of the Biswa Bangla Gate, New Town.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “I am happy to find that our students have actively participated in the Unity Run. It is necessary to instill the concept of unity in diversity in young minds.”

85 students of SXUK participated in the event. 25 student volunteers supervised the entire event along with Sandeep Mundra, Sports Officer, SXUK.

The event was organised according to the guidelines of the University Grants Commission to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Ballavbhai Patel, known as the Unity Day. Around 75,000 Unity Runs took place on this day across the country.

Sandeep Mundra

GREEN BENCHES AT ST. XAVIER'S UNIVERSITY, KOLKATA (SXUK)

SXUK inaugurated the Green Benches (Students Corner) on October 27, 2023. Located opposite to Mother Teresa Residence and next to the Food court, GB are a welcome gift to Xaverians as they return on October 30 from Puja vacation.

Students can use this section for study, meetings, group work, and chai par charcha.

At SXCK, ‘The green benches had become a part of the college heritage’. It's said that ‘Xaverians learn more about life on the green benches than classrooms’.

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Empowering Women at SXUK

In a bid to promote self-confidence, personal safety and empowerment of female students in and out of campus, St. Xavier’s University’s (Kolkata) Women and Gender Development Cell in collaboration with Kolkata Police, has introduced an invigorating Unarmed Combat Training Program for the female students at the university.

The initiative, aiming to equip women with essential self-defense techniques was inaugurated in the month of September by the Honorable Vice Chancellor, Rev. Father Dr. John Felix Raj in presence of the Women and Gender Development Cell and the training personals of Kolkata Police.

Rev Father inspired the participants with his words, “We believe that equipping women with self-defense skills is a vital step towards fostering a safe and empowering environment. This program empowers women to be proactive and assertive in challenging situations.” Dr. Antara Ghatak, Convenor of the Women and Gender Development Cell expressed her enthusiasm about the positive impact the program aims to achieve.

The training program designed by Kolkata Police and led by Inspector Prasant Heto, explained that the program not only focuses on physical techniques but also emphasizes mental preparedness and awareness of one’s surroundings.

Open to all female students at the university the training program encompasses a wide array of self-defense techniques, including martial arts, tactical maneuvers and situational awareness. Thirty-five female students are being educated on identifying potential risks and appropriate responses, promoting a proactive approach to personal safety.

Students and staff have welcomed the initiative with enthusiasm. Tithi Basu Ray, a student participant, shared her thoughts, stating, “I feel more confident and secure knowing that I possess the skills to protect myself if the need arises. It’s an empowering experience.”

The Unarmed Training Program is running on a regular schedule and is expected to witness increasing participation as awareness of its benefits spreads across the university community. St. Xavier’s University with its vision to create responsible citizens engages in such exercises cultivating a culture of empowerment and safety, ensuring a brighter and more secure future of women on campus and beyond.

Dr. Antara Ghatak

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Cultural Programme by XUCAS

St. 𝐗𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲’s 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 (XUCAS) organised a cultural show on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, being the last class day before the Pujas. The vibrant and colourful show brought out the best of talents among students and set them in the mood of celebrations. Happy Puja.

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JHEASA Conference held at SXUK

The zonal conference of the North Zone Jesuit Higher Educational Association of South Asia (JHEASA) was held at the St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) on October 7 and 8, 2023. Both, the university and St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata jointly organised the two-day zonal conference.

The theme of the conference was ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Higher Education, National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and its Challenges and Opportunities’. Around 35 participants, Jesuit Principals from different higher educational institutions and their collaborators attended the conference.

Dr. Partha Pratim Chakraborty, a noted academician of IIT, Kharagpur delivered the keynote address on AI and its relevance in Higher Education Institutions. Rev. Dr. Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK spoke on the NEP and its challenges and opportunities.

Father Raj said, “The change is necessary and crucial since it is keeping with emerging trends in global education. It encourages a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to learning.” He further said, “NEP 2020 emphasizes on practical learning outcomes and skill development of the learners which are in high need in a changing global scenario.”

There were sessions on the steps and techniques of hands-on training in AI. Fr. Joe Arun of LIBA, Chennai, and Secretary of JHEASA and Fr. Dominic Savio, principal of SXCK and the North Zone Coordinator were present. Fr. Arun shared about the global perspective of Jesuit education and the importance of India’s participation at the global level. Participants found the sessions highly impressive and fruitful.

Somak Sen

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Fellowship Tour to Thailand

SXUK Alumni Association organised an Academic and Fellowship tour to Bangkok from September 27 to October 1. A group of University Fathers and Alumni visited Assumption University in Bangkok.

Both institutions explored possibilities of exchange programs in the areas of Management, Law, Economics, Psychology and Language Studies.

Fr. Felix Raj and Mr. Glen Chatelier of AU welcomed this joint venture. They exchanged mementos in appreciation of the visit and efforts. We thank Vatsal Chirimar and his team (army without arms) for their meticulous planning of the whole trip and committed service.

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LCERI hosts symposium on incubation

Fr. Lafont Centre for Excellence in Research and Innovation (LCERI) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a symposium on incubation on September 23, 2023 at the university campus.

The symposium began with an orientation seminar on ‘Innovation, Incubation and Start-ups’ for the students. Prof. Asish Mitra, Registrar of SXUK delivered the inaugural address.

Dr. Siddhartha Das, Professor In-charge, Incubation and Entrepreneurship, IIT Kharagpur, Dr. Prabal K Sen, former Professor and Founder Chairperson, Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC), XLRI, Jamshedpur and Mr. Gaurav Kapoor, Chief Business Officer, Innovation Park, IIM Calcutta were the invited speakers.

Dr. Siddhartha Das and Dr. Prabal K. Sen addressed the audience on factors influencing success of incubation and entrepreneurship. Mr. Gaurav Kapoor shared videos of real-life cases.

The seminar was followed by a round table discussion between the faculty members of SXUK and external experts on the initiation of the incubation centre.

Dr. Soma Sur from Xavier Business School (XBS); Dr. Monalika Dey, Faculty of Commerce and Management; Dr. Debalina Chakravarty, Department of Economics; Dr. Asif Iqubal Shah, Xavier Law School; Dr. Monojit Dutta, Faculty of Commerce & Management and Dr. Tutun Mukherjee from XBS participated in the discussion.

Dr. Soma Sur, Hony Director, LCERI delivered the vote of thanks.

Somak Sen

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Dept of Mass Communication produces reality show

Students of Department of Mass Communication of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) directed and produced a reality show at the Fr. Gaston Roberge Studio, located in the university campus on September 22, 2023.

The fifth semester students of undergraduate programme in Mass Communication solely made the two episodes of the ‘Acting Ka Punch Nama’. It is a reality show to find the best acting talent from the students of SXUK through auditions. Twenty contestants from different departments of SXUK participated in the audition. Judges finally selected ten contestants for the final round.

Students were assigned roles of production personnel and were asked to prepare script and content for the show. They exhibited professionalism following ethical guidelines. They also received hands-on training on shooting a reality show by performing roles of director, anchor, marketing and PR professionals and technicians.

Promo videos were shot and exhibited earlier in the university for registration of contestants. Students found the session highly enriching.

Dr. Sithara Puli Venkatesh

LCERI organises Faculty Development Programme

In its continuous practice of upgrading the research skills of faculty members, Fr. Lafont Centre for Excellence in Research and Innovation (LCERI) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) conducted a two-day Faculty Development Programme on September 22 and 23, 2023 at the university campus.

The topic was ‘Advanced Trends in Research Techniques-Series-I: Qualitative Analysis using NVivo’. Dr. Arup Kumar Baksi, Professor, Aliah University was the resource person. He discussed various techniques of qualitative research and mixed methods. Participants learnt how to use NVivo and Orange software, which are now in demand in different subjects of social sciences for statistical analysis.

Research scholars pursuing their doctoral studies in SXUK also attended the programme.

Dr. Soma Sur

Father Felix Raj gets award from ISTD

Rev. Fr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) was honoured with the prestigious ‘Excellence in Learning and Development’ award at the sixth Eastern Regional Conference and Exhibition at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Kolkata on September 15, 2023 by the Indian Society for Training and Development (ISTD) in recognition of Father Raj’s remarkable contributions in the field of education and development.

Dr. Sitangshu Khatua, Dean of Xavier Business School (XBS) received the award on behalf of Father Raj. “Father Raj’s visionary leadership always inspires us and helps to elevate the educational landscape,” Dr. Khatua said while receiving the award.

Somak Sen

Dept of Mass Communication hosts special lecture in Sports Journalism

In an effort to make its students aware of nature and challenges in sports journalism, the Department of Mass Communication of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted a special lecture for its postgraduate students by an eminent journalist on September 15, 2023 in the university campus.

Mr. Amitabha Das Sharma, presently serving as the Senior Assistant Editor with The Hindu, Bureau Office, Kolkata was the guest speaker. The topic was ‘Nature and Challenges in Sports Journalism’.

Mr. Sharma in his delightful lecture shared a lot of information on how sports department in print media and audiovisual media organisations functions; how the reporters build up contact with sports personalities, coaches, sponsors; how do they manage to get information in advance about the preparation of the team, game-plans, etc.

He said, “You have to build up your contact deliberately. You must have unending energy to move around to get more relevant information.” He also asked students to remain careful of maintaining objectivity while reporting.

“You may be fan of a particular football or cricket team. But you cannot show your fandom through your reporting. It must be unbiased and informative,” he added.

Mr. Sharma also advised students to learn uses of camera professionally as media houses presently prefer to recruit those who possess multitasking qualities. “Engage yourself in learning all new technological innovations so that you can apply them in your professional career,” he added.

He also praised SXUK for starting sports journalism as a specialization course in its postgraduate programme in Mass Communication. “Very few universities offer sports journalism in India though it is one of the important areas in journalism. I believe SXUK will be able to train its students professionally,” he added.

The special lecture session witnessed the presence of postgraduate students of Department of Mass Communication, a few students from the postgraduate section of Department of English and from final semester undergraduate section of Department of Mass Communication.

The programme concluded with an interactive session. All the faculty members of the department were present.

Somak Sen

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Dept of Computer Science celebrates success of Chandrayaan-3

In a bid to celebrate the success of Chandrayaan-3 and the National Engineer’s Day, the birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, a pioneer in civil engineering in India, Department of Computer Science of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised an online lecture session by an eminent scientist on September 15, 2023.

The topic was ‘Remote Sensing Techniques and Its Applications’. Dr. Raj Kumar, Professor Satish Dhawan Scientist, ISRO and the former Director of National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO, Hyderabad was the guest speaker.

In his inaugural speech, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “As an Indian, I am proud of success of the Chandrayaan-3's landing on the Moon. It was a stroke of genius in Indian engineering.”

Dr. Raj Kumar conducted an informative session on ‘Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications’ as part of the virtual celebration of Chandrayaan-3's recent success. He also narrated missions of ISRO and expansion of India's space programme that once started with INSAT and NaVIC.

Prof. Kumar also presented a few case studies showcasing the successful application of remote sensing technology in various engineering projects including Chandrayaan-3.

The event was conducted to enlighten students about the importance of remote sensing technology in the field of engineering. The programme concluded with an interactive session.

Dr. Tuhin Utsab Paul

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SXUK celebrates Teachers’ Day

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata celebrated the Teachers’ Day on September 5, 2023 in the university campus to commemorate the birth anniversary of Shri Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the first Vice-President of India.

On this auspicious day, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK delivered an insightful speech on ‘Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP)’ to instill the noble values of Jesuit education and teaching among the young and promising faculty members of the university. He said, “IPP is based on spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. It promotes Jesuit education.”

Quoting St. Ignatius, who himself was a teacher, Father Raj said, “As we practice physical exercises daily to keep our health fit and fine, we should practice spiritual exercise daily to keep our lives blessed by the God.”

After narrating the life sketch of St. Ignatius and his efforts to promote the Jesuit education across the world, Father Raj said, “Goodness begets goodness. As we know well, it gets contagious. The relationship between teachers and students must be based on love, belief and mutual understanding.”

“Education can change the whole world. Jesuits across the world has been promoting education through their relentless service since time immemorial,” he said. While narrating the pillars of Ignatian spirituality, Father Raj stressed on six values – spiritual exercises, prayers, meditation, contemplation, examen and discernment.

Signifying the importance of Jesuit education across the globe, he said, “It forms men and women for others through ingraining competence, conscience and compassion among them. It fosters personal and cooperative study, discovery and reflections.”

He further said, “If students will be able to imbibe these qualities, then they will turn to agents of bringing social change.” To make this happen, proper cooperation and collaboration are needed among teachers and students, he added.

As a part of Ignatian pedagogy, Father Raj mentioned about Praxis, which is a continuous process. It requires reflection of work, followed by action which again ends in reflection.

“It is necessary for a teacher to understand the student’s life and culture. Socio-political and cultural analysis of the surroundings helps a teacher in delivering quality education. It is equally necessary for the students to know their teacher well,” he said.

He directed the teachers to encourage questioning by students in every class as it is required to meet the queries of students. He mentioned about students’ involvement in group work, conducting sessions of problem solving and cooperative learning to be incorporated in classroom teaching. “Every class should end with a summary note,” he added.

He advised teachers to mentor their students regularly and engage them in writing for journals, magazines, participation in seminars and conferences, etc. “A teacher must make portfolio of every student through regular tests and assessments,” he said.

He referred to a few books authored by Paolo Freire, the Brazilian philosopher and Gustavo Gutierrez, a Peruvian theologian where Ignatian world view is mentioned in various contexts. He advised the teachers to read these books as they would add more to their trove of knowledge.

A small cultural programme took place after his lecture where students and a few teachers participated, followed by cake cutting and a high tea. Dr. Manali Bhattacharya was the convener of the programme. Ahona Ayushmati Guha Majumder and Swarnava Hati, two students of Xavier Law School (XLS) were the emcees.

Somak Sen

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SXUKAA celebrates Philanthropy Day

St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUKAA) celebrated the Philanthropy Day through conducting a blood donation camp and eye check-up camp respectively on August 25 - 26, 2023 in the university campus.

SXUKAA organises the Philanthropy Day Celebrations every year coinciding with the birthday of their beloved President, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J. on August 26.

On that day, all the Jesuit Fathers, Sisters, Officers, faculty members, support staff members, students and alumni members celebrated the birthday of their beloved Father Raj.

Around 200 people including faculty members, support staff, students and alumni members of SXUK donated blood in the blood donation camp. The medical teams from the Blood Bank of Bidhannagar Sub Divisional Hospital and the Kothari Medical Centre Blood Bank cooperated with SXUKAA in collecting and preserving blood.

A free eye check-up camp was organised on August 26 for the benefit of poor villagers of Kanthalberia and Kulberia, the neighbouring villages of SXUK. Around 200 villagers got their eye sights tested free of cost by medical professionals.

SXUKAA will provide spectacles to 120 people and sponsor the cataract surgery of 30 patients, identified in the camp.

In the evening of August 26, SXUKAA celebrated Father Raj’s birthday through a cultural programme. A short video on the life of Father Raj was shown, followed by a cultural performance by the students.

“Rev. Dr. Felix Raj has dedicated his life for the service of society. Recommitting ourselves to the cause of the society as ‘men and women for others’ is perhaps the best gift that we can give Father”, said Mr. Vatsal Chirimar, Hony. Secretary of SXUKAA.

Father Raj spoke about how he was deeply inspired by the simplicity and humility of St. Teresa of Calcutta, with whom he shares his birthday. He thanked the alumni for their generosity and their attachment with their alma mater.

On the Philanthropy Day, the members of SXUKAA recommit themselves to the cause of the society apart from carrying out several philanthropic activities.

Vatsal Chirimar

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SXUK and Webel jointly organise refresher course

As a part of MoU signed between St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) and Webel, the two organisations jointly conducted a one-week Refresher course on ‘Data Analytics and Machine Learning’ from August 21-26, 2023 at the university campus.

Participants from various colleges, universities, industry and government organisations enrolled for the refresher course. The workshop was conducted in blended mode.

Dr. Tuhin Utsab Paul, Head, Department of Computer Science; Dr. Tanushree Biswas, a faculty member of Xavier Business School and Mr. Kaushik Halder, Commercial and Education Manager, Webel were the conveners and inaugurated the programme on August 21, 2023 in online mode. They explained the scope of the course to the participants.

Experts discussed different topics related to data analytics in the week-long refresher course along with practical sessions. Dr. Tanushree Biswas took a session on ‘Introduction to Data Sciences’. Dr. Dreamlee Sharma, University of Delhi conducted a session on ‘Hypotheses Testing and Regression.’

Dr. Manisha Pal, Head, Department of Statistics, SXUK delivered a lecture on ‘Cluster Analysis and Factor Analysis’. Dr. Sayan Das of Dept. of Computer Science discussed ‘Machine Learning & Data Analytics’.

Experts from Webel-Fujisoft-Vara Centre of Excellence took the practical sessions. Mr. Sourabh Mukherjee, Associate Managing Director, Accenture delivered a speech on ‘Industrial Application of Data Science and AI’ on the concluding day.

At the valedictory session, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj. S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “There is a high need of such collaborative programmes which are helpful for participants to learn from industry perspective”. He also highlighted the importance of data analytics and then distributed the certificates to participants.

Dr. Tuhin Utsab Paul

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata congratulates Naman Chandak (Student of B.M.S. Hons., Roll No.- 0147, Semester- III) for his achievement.

Report published in The Telegraph on August 27, 2023

Dept of Mass Communication organises special lecture

Department of Mass Communication of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) conducted a guest lecture session by an eminent professional to groom its postgraduate students on August 25, 2023. Students from the Department of English also attended the session.

Mr. Siddhartha Roy, Chief Executive Officer, Response India was the speaker. He discussed how to shape the future of an organisation through creating a meaningful brand and developing strong faith among consumers for its eternal existence.

Mr. Ray said that brands are not developed in one day and it requires a long perseveration of a company to build up belief among its consumers. He further explained why students of communication studies should understand vision, mission, and goal of a brand and its purpose.

He advised students to work hard in their professional life to meet the objectives of the organisation. He shared examples of famous brands like Gillette, Dove, etc. and history of their growth. An interactive session took place at the end. Students found the session highly enriching.

Dr. Manali Bhattacharya

SXUK hosts Anti Ragging awareness debate

In a move to generate awareness against the practice of ragging, St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted an Anti Ragging awareness debate on August 23, 2023 in the university campus.

The Anti Ragging Committee of SXUK in collaboration with Xavier’s University Debating Society (XUDS) conducted the event. The theme of the debate was to address the issues of ragging and its prevention with a special focus on the role of contemporary media.

While delivering the inaugural address, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “It is a moral obligation of every individual to denounce all forms of oppression and violence, including incidents of ragging or bullying in our society.” He further said, “Ragging is a social evil. We should prevent the practice of ragging. We should educate our children right from the beginning so that they won’t participate or indulge in practice of ragging.”

“SXUK as a family is committed to foster a society built upon the principles of love, freedom, and fraternity,” he added. Ten teams, comprised of two speakers in each team participated in the debate. All of them were the students from different departments and schools. While five teams supported the move, rest five teams argued against the move.

The event witnessed an impressive exchange of arguments and ideas, reflecting the critical importance of media in preventing ragging.

Dr. Tanmoy K Pal

SXUK Placement Office organises guest lecture

In a bid to prepare its postgraduate students for placement and interview, the Placement Office of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with Department of Commerce organised a special lecture by an eminent professional on ‘Placement talk and work culture’ on August 16, 2023.

The guest speaker was Mr. Anirup Sen, Chief Operating Officer of Jardine Henderson Limited, Kolkata.

In his delightful speech, Mr. Sen stressed on the importance of knowledge and its application in professional areas. He stated that students must have strong will to learn beyond syllabus and step out of the comfort zone. He also shed light on the art of toggling short-term conflicts that may arise in workplace and using it to meet long term objectives.

He further added that coordination and team work alongside individual competency are the keys to survive in the corporate world. Sharing his professional experiences, he narrated how challenges moulded his leadership skills.

The session ended with an interactive session followed by vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Mario Martin Louis, the Placement Officer of the university.

Dr. Mitra Goswami

SXUK celebrates Independence Day

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated the 77th Independence Day in the university campus on August 15, 2023 with great pomp and participation.

Amid the presence of Jesuit Fathers, Sisters, Officers of the university, faculty members, support staff members, students and other dignitaries, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK hoisted the National Flag infront of the Britto House.

The present audience collectively chanted the National Anthem, “Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka Jaya Hey….” The security personnel officially honoured the National Flag after the Vice-Chancellor had hoisted the same.

In his Independence Day speech, Father Raj first wished everyone a happy Independence Day. He then addressed the audience with a note on the sacrifices made by the patriots to make our motherland free from the clutches of the foreign rule.

He said, “We are following their footsteps to dedicate our lives for the progress and development of our country”.

Recalling the Jesuit philosophy of forming men and women for others, Father Raj said, “SXUK has carried out a series of activities in last one year to commemorate the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, announced by the Government of India.”

He said, “We have observed the Constitution Day, celebrated the Earth Day and the International Yoga Day where faculty members, support staff and students of this university actively participated.”

Keeping in view the changing pattern of education, he said, “We have commenced the 4-year UG programme from this year. The new curriculum empowers the students to enhance their skills, values, creativity and independent thinking.”

Father Raj said, “SXUK has been continuously working for the development of the higher education. This year, we have awarded UG and PG programme completion degrees to 770 students.”

“Beginning its journey in 2017 with only 400 students, SXUK is now the home to around 4000 students enrolled in 17 different undergraduate and postgraduate programmes,” he further added.

In a historic move on part of the university, Father Raj said, “We have conferred the D.Litt (Honois Causa) on Mamata Banerjee, Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal this year in the fourth Convocation ceremony for her generous contribution in the field of higher education.” “She generously instituted the St. Mother Teresa Chair Professor for peace in the university,” he added.

Praising the research outcomes of the university, Father Raj said, “We are happy to announce that one of our professors, Dr. Manonita Kundu Das has recently coordinated a capacity building project with ICSSR funds.” He further added, “We have started 3 more Ph.D programmes in Law, Social Work and Psychology from this year.”

While talking on the social work carried out by SXUK, Father Raj said, “We have recently conducted a 10-day tailoring workshop for the poor women from the neighbouring villages. This project was in collaboration with Seva Kendra, Kolkata and WBSEDCL.”

Regarding the industry-academia collaboration, Father Raj said, “Our Law School has signed an MoU with the NUJS. Initiated by the Department of Computer Science, we have signed MoU with Webel. We are about to sign an MoU with NKDA for development of New Town.”

Expressing his deep love and care to the alumni members of the university, Father Raj said, “St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association has been regularly carrying out series of philanthropic and fellowship activities in and around the city and in different parts of the state. The 3000-member strong association is highly supporting and promoting different academic activities of the university.”

Father Raj equally expressed his deep grief over the recent happenings in Manipur, caused by fundamentalist and divisive forces. He said, “The Independent India is for everyone. Everyone must experience the spirit of freedom. We must be peace-makers spreading harmony, fellowship and brotherhood everywhere.”

While concluding, he quoted the words of Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore and advised everyone to stand with a righteous attitude courageously infront of all odds and carry out the work with dedication. He said, “As Xaverians, we must have the courage, freedom and boldness to stand for peace and justice. We must have minds without fear, and hold our heads high to let our country awake.”

Somak Sen.

Akashvani felicitates SXUK students

Students of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) were felicitated by Akashvani Kolkata on August 5, 2023 at the G D Birla Sabhaghar, Kolkata for their participation in a contest, organised by Akashvani as a part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.’

Esha Chakrabarty, a postgraduate student of Department of English, SXUK bagged the first prize among the contestants of four universities of West Bengal.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK congratulated the students on their success. He said, “Our students have made us proud through their creative performance. I wish our students to participate in more such cultural activities.”

In a bid to spread the cultural ethos of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ among the students of higher studies as directed by the Government of India, the Akashvani Kolkata visited the SXUK campus on July 24, 2023. They organised a quiz contest on Indian history, literature, Indian culture and global politics in the university campus. An extempore was also held on topics like ‘Khelo India’, ‘Putul Nach’, ‘Bangla Rock’, etc.

The entire event was coordinated by Dr. Manali Bhattacharya and Mrs. Krishna Roy, Deputy Chairperson and Assistant Chairperson of Students’ Board respectively. Both of them equally expressed happiness on the success of the students. A large number of students from the University of Calcutta, Jadavpur University and Rabindra Bharati University also participated in the contest.

Aparajita Roy

Dept of Mass Communication, MA Semester 3

Caption: SXUK students were felicitated by Akashvani Kolkata

SXUK celebrates Feast Day

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated the Feast Day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus at the Britto House in the university campus on July 31, 2023.

Most Rev. Thomas D’Souza, the Archbishop of Calcutta celebrated the Eucharist for the university community. He also visited the entire campus and had a lunch with the Jesuit Fathers as a part of the celebration.

He was very appreciative of the infrastructure of the university which has been developed within a short span of time. While delivering the sermon, he applauded the work of the Jesuits and the contribution of the SXUK towards the development of higher education in the state of Bengal as well as in the country.

Archbishop also appreciated the social works carried out by SXUK as a whole in the neighbourhood villages. He further said that he was happy to see the mission of the SXUK is keeping in line with the Jesuit motto of Magis and Nihil Ultra (Nothing Beyond).

Father Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK thanked the Archbishop for his visit and his wholehearted support to the Jesuit work at SXUK.

Somak Sen

XLS celebrates Fifth Foundation Day

Xavier Law School (XLS) celebrated its fifth Foundation Day on August 3, 2023 in the university campus.

While delivering the inaugural speech, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) said, “Starting in 2019, XLS has stepped into fifth year today. We are hopeful to see energetic law graduates soon who will dedicate themselves for the sake of the nation through their legal insights and expertise.”

Shri Moloy Ghatak, Minister of Law and Public Works, Government of West Bengal was the Chief Guest. In his speech, he mentioned notable achievements of the state government in framing various legal schemes for the marginalised section of the society.

The Guest of Honour was Shri Sukumar Mondal, Registrar and Deputy Secretary of the West Bengal State Legal Services Authority (SLSA). He highlighted different activities carried out by the SLSA to protect women and children in West Bengal.

Shri Abhijit Kumar, Assistant Director of the Acid Survivors & Women’s Welfare Foundation, an NGO was the special guest. He discussed social works carried out by his NGO for victims of acid-attack. An interactive session also took place with two acid-attack survivors, Smt. Moyna Pramanik and Smt. Sunita Dutta. Both of them were felicitated by the university.

In the second session, Md. Saifullah Khalid spoke on the theme ‘Violence against women’. A poster competition was held by the students of XLS. All the faculty members and students attended the both sessions.

Dr. Ranjeeta Mukherjee
Dr. Rajrupa Sinha Roy

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Dept of Economics organises the orientation programme

Department of Economics organised the orientation programme of its both undergraduate and postgraduate sections on August 1 and 2, 2023 respectively.

Dr. Achyut Chetan, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Studies and Dr. Subhanil Chowdhury, Head of the Department of Economics greeted the new students to the university. Dr. Achyut Chetan delivered the welcome address. All the faculty members of the department introduced themselves.

Dr. Swapan Chakraborty, a faculty member of the department narrated the history of the university. He also explained the significance of the motto and crest of the university. To make the students familiar with the administrative structure of the university, he made a presentation. He also explained the vision and mission of the university to the freshers.

Dr. Subhanil Chowdhury explained the four-year undergraduate (UG) curriculum and the syllabus to the UG students. He equally explained the course curriculum to postgraduate students also. He also gave a light on mentorship, guest lectures by eminent academicians and professionals, Annual Economic Summit, workshops, field surveys, seminars and conferences conducted by the department.

Dr. Sayantan Bandhu Majumdar discussed the ‘Code of Conduct’ for the students, rules and regulations to be followed, different scholarships, examination patterns, etc. He also acknowledged students on various societies of the university like Xavecos, Xposure, Xinephile, etc. He also discussed various facilities like library, hostels, sports, infirmary, canteen facilities, etc.

Dr. Poulami Chatterjee and Dr. Debalina Chakravarty explained the importance of service learning and outreach programmes.

Dr. Chayanika Mitra, PG Coordinator and Placement Coordinator of the department explained the details about the functions of the Placement Cell of the department and the University. She also advised what the students are expected to do to facilitate better placement. A brief summary of earlier placements was also presented.

Dr. Chetan addressed the students on the Jesuit Legacy in Higher Education and explained the significance of ‘Cura Personalis’, ‘Magis’, ‘AMDG’ and ‘Nihil Ultra’. He also explained different financial assistance offered by SXUK to the poor students.

As a part of the orientation programme, the department organised a special lecture for the freshers on August 4, 2023. Dr. Achin Chakraborty, Professor, Institute of Development Studies Kolkata (IDSK) was the resource person. It was an enriching session and students interacted with Dr. Chakraborty at the end. All the faculty members were present.

Dr. Subhanil Chowdhury

Dept of Social Work organises orientation programme

Department of Social Work of the St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised the orientation programme for its seventh (7th) batch of Master of Social Work programme for the new academic session (2023-2025) on August 2, 2023.

Dr. Rupa Biswas, Head of the Department greeted the freshers and introduced the faculty members of the department. She also shared the history of the University, its motto, mission, vision and value framework to the students. She said, “SXUK is committed to deliver quality education to its students always.” She also narrated the administrative structure of the university to help the students understand its functioning system.

Dr. Srenwantee Bhattacharjee, another faculty member of the department enlightened the students on Jesuit legacy and education in the second session. She discussed the contributions of the Jesuits in the field of education throughout the country.

The third session was conducted by Dr. Jacob Islary on the facilities and services provided by the university. He discussed the administrative structure and working procedure of different administrative offices in the university. He also narrated various amenities available in the academic building, utility building and hostels, etc.

The fourth session was taken by Dr. Sucheta Paul. She explained the rules and regulations to be followed by the students. She discussed the policy making bodies of the University, ongoing academic programmes, semester system of education, admission and registration procedure, different committees and their functions, feedback and attendance system, etc. Dr. Paul also explained the examination pattern in detail. She put forth the importance of specialisations, field work and its relevance.

The fifth session was held by Mr. Sukhendu Bank, Social Work Coordinator of the department. He defined the importance of field visits and its relevance in Social Work course. He gave a proper analysis on summer internship, block field work and rural camp. He also emphasised on regularity and punctuality as essential qualities to be a professional social worker.

The orientation programme came to its conclusion through a motivational speech delivered by Dr. Achyut Chetan, Dean of Faculty of Arts and Social Studies.

Dr. Rupa Biswas

SXUK organises Faculty Orientation Programme

SXUK conducted a faculty orientation programme on induction ceremony for the new batches of undergraduate and postgraduate sections of Faculty of Commerce and Management and Faculty of Arts and Social Studies on July 22, 2023. The resource person was Rev. Fr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK.

The programme took place in two sessions. The first session was held for the Faculty of Commerce and Management and the second session was for the Faculty of Arts and Social Studies.

In his delightful lecture on how to make the freshers oriented towards the culture of SXUK, Father Raj said, “We should always bring the students to the Xaverian line.” While addressing the teachers on how to make the students familiar with the university, he said, “We should give our students a personal and warm welcome right at the beginning so that they will be able to settle down in the new atmosphere and feel home here. We should continuously motivate them so that they will be able to study properly.”

While focusing on the importance of induction programme, he said, “We are conducting induction programme every year to generate concerns for university among our students. Concerns only bring commitment.”

Repeating the vision of the SXUK ‘to form men and women for others’, he said, “The motto of the SXUK is ‘Nihil Ultra’ which means ‘nothing beyond’. Therefore, we all should make sure that the students will understand the mission and vision of the university rightly.”

Giving a light on the values of Jesuit education, he asked the teachers, “Help the students to build up their leadership. Assist them to be committed towards their responsibility so that the nation will grow as a whole.”

A set of guidelines on induction programme and related documents were also shared with the faculty members. The entire programme took place at the Board Room of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor. The programme concluded with a brief interactive session.

Sovik Mukherjee & Somak Sen.

LCERI starts new Ph.D batch

Father Lafont Centre of Excellence in Research and Innovation (LCERI), the research wing of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) commenced its fifth batch of Ph.D programmes for the new academic session on July 19, 2023.

In his inaugural speech, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “I wholeheartedly welcome the young research scholars to the university. I wish them to give their best in doing quality research on different areas.” Father Raj also briefed the new scholars on the Xaverian ethos.

Prof. Ashoke Ranjan Thakur, former Vice-Chancellor of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology and West Bengal State University was the Chief Guest. He also delivered a motivational speech on research and ethical values and inspired the new scholars.

Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar, SXUK briefed on the rules and regulations of the university. Dr. Soma Sur, Hony Director, LCERI delivered the vote of thanks. All the supervisors were present.

LCERI presently runs Ph.D programme in eight subjects. It started three new Ph.D programmes in Law, Psychology and Social Work this year.

Somak Sen

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SXUK organises Orientation programme

St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) organized an Orientation programme on Inter-religious Studies for Global Citizenship course for its faculty members on July 14, 2023. Rev. Fr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK was the resource person.

In his delightful address, Father Raj touched upon various issues pertaining to the academic study of religion, understanding of spirituality in the context of the global religious landscape, essence of religious pluralism and inter-religious dialogue. He also said that the goal of the faculty orientation was to achieve a deeper and broader understanding of the value systems in different religions and the basic philosophy required for global citizenship. “This is expected from the faculty members to pass on the same to our students”, he added.

Prof. Sovik Mukherjee, the Course Coordinator shared the details of the modular syllabus, course plan, CO-PO mapping and evaluation plan. The programme ended with an interactive session.

Sovik Mukherjee

SXUK celebrates International Yoga Day

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) observed and celebrated the International Yoga Day on June 21, 2023 in the university campus. The theme of the Yoga Day was ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ i.e. Yoga for the welfare of all in the form of ‘One World - One Family’.

While inaugurating the grand event, Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK complimented the students, faculty and staff members for participating in Yoga practice. He said, “Everyone should practice Yoga regularly. It helps in unifying body and mind.” He further said that regular practice of Yoga not only strengthens immunity power, but also fosters mental strength.

Mr. Ajay Gupta, Pranayama Instructor spoke on the relevance and benefits of practising Yoga in a stressful world. He also engaged the participants in various ‘asanas’. Students, faculty and staff members found the session highly enriching.

Mr. Sandeep Mundra

SXUK organises workshop on business fundamentals

In a bid to give a professional exposure to its students, Faculty of Commerce & Management, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUAA) conducted a two-day workshop on ‘Mastering Business Fundamentals: Strategies for Success in a Competitive Landscape’ on June 15-16, 2023 in the campus.

The first day of the workshop trained participants on developing business plans, exploring funding options, implication of law in business, block chain and cryptocurrency, etc. Hands-on training on data crunching to real-time decision making was also imparted. The day-long training also included practical exercises on public relations.

The second day of the workshop included sessions to enhance students’ understanding of the role and relevance of academia in industry. A session on six sigma and business process re-engineering enlightened students on reinventing a whole business end to end model and focused on application of theoretical knowledge to real life situations.

Eminent industry professionals were invited as resource persons. Participants found the workshop highly enriching. All the faculty members of the department were also present.

Dr. Mitra Goswami

SXUK conducts workshop on Capacity Building

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) is organising a 2-week Capacity Building Programme (CBP), sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi for young faculty members of social science from June 12 to 24, 2023 in the university campus.

Dr. Shashi Panja, State Cabinet Minister for Industries, Commerce and Enterprises inaugurated the programme in the presence of Father John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor, SXUK.

Dr. Panja applauded the efforts and invited SXUK to get associated with her Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare in future for carrying out development projects at various level.

Father Raj said, “An educational institute as a centre of knowledge must collaborate with other institutes for the growth of knowledge.”

He also announced that SXUK has already signed an MoU with Webel and is working on some innovative projects with the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA), Judicial Academy and West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS).

The first day of the workshop witnessed participation of young academicians from different parts of the country. Eminent professionals have been invited to give hands on training. Dr. Mononita Kundu Das of Xavier Law School is the Director of the programme.

- Mario Martin Louis

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SXUK conducts workshop for rural women

In a humble effort to empower rural women, Centre for Social Outreach (CSE), a unit of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in association with Seva Kendra, Kolkata started a 10-day workshop on tailoring from June 12, 2023 in the university campus.

This workshop aims to promote the economic condition of rural women from the neighbouring villages through imparting hands on training on tailoring. It would continue upto June 23, 2023.

While inaugurating the programme, Father John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “This is one of the many programmes we plan to conduct. A university as a temple of knowledge must always be in touch with neighbouring villages. 15 sewing machines will be handed over to the participating women after they complete the training programme.” He further added, “Such workshop will continue for the women of the nearby villages.

Experienced trainers from Seva Kendra would conduct the workshop. All the participants will receive a training completion certificate. SXUK has a plan to set up a vocational training centre for the rural women in the second phase.

The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) sponsored the project as a part of their CSR initiative. Fr. Anthony Rodrigues, Director, Seva Kendra and Mr. Subhasish De, Regional Manager, WBSEDCL were present in the inaugural programme.

Thanks to Mr. Sukhendu Bank, Coordinator, CSE, SXUK and student volunteers for their active and efficient organisation of the programme.

Dr. Somak Sen

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SXUK and Webel sign MoU

In a historic move, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) and WEBEL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part of Industry-Academia collaboration on May 31, 2023 at the university campus.

The MoU was signed by Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, SXUK and Randhir Kumar, Secretary, IT & E Department, Government of West Bengal and Managing Director, WEBEL.

Expressing appreciation for such an effective step, Father Raj said, “It will pave a new way forward for the generations to come.” He further said that this new journey would make the students of SXUK more professional.

Randhir Kumar deliberated on the need of such industry-academia collaboration to bridge the gap in skill development of students and make them industry ready.

The MoU shall pave the way for using the Centre of Excellence, Industry 4.0 and Webel Animation Academy for the students, researchers, and faculty members of the university. The major thrust areas of the Centre of Excellence are Data Sciences and Cyber Security, 3D printing and Animation and VFX.

Students of SXUK may use the laboratories and other facilities at Webel for existing courses. New undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in collaboration with Webel are in pipeline. Short Term certificate courses, diploma courses, Faculty Development Programmes and student workshops may be offered by SXUK in collaboration with Webel.

Students would also get opportunity to work on live project during their internship. There will be placement opportunities for them in future also.

Faculty members and research scholars may use the facilities at the Centre of Excellence. The MoU will directly benefit the departments of Computer Science, Statistics, Mass Communication, Commerce, Economics and MBA having specialisation on Data Analytics.

Dignitaries like Puspal Ghosh, Senior Vice President (Education), WEBEL; Kausik Halder Manager (Education & Commercial) WEBEL, Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar, SXUK and Dr. Indra Kanta Maitra, Controller of examinations were also present. Dr. Tuhin Utsab Paul, Head, Department of Computer Science explained the MoU in detail.
Dr. Tuhin Utsab Paul

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Campus Placement for MSW 4th Semester Students

Action Aid Kolkata conducted an On-Campus interview of Social Work students to hire interns for their West Bengal office. The Department readily arranged for the session on 24.5.23 in the University campus. Mr. Surajit Neogi, State Head for West Bengal and Ms. Reshmi Ganguly, Programme Manager conducted a written test and interview of the students. Reported by Dr. Rupa Biswas

Dept of Mass Communication organises documentary screening

As a tribute to Mrinal Sen, an eminent film director and screen writer, the Department of Mass Communication of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a documentary screening on May 18, 2023 in the university campus.

Premendra Majumdar, Vice-President of Federation of Film Societies of India and General Secretary of the International Film Critiques was the Guest of Honour.

While delivering the inaugural speech, Rev. Father John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “Mrinal Sen was very close to Father Gaston Roberge, a pioneer in film appreciation movement in India. Sen often visited Chitrabani, the media research centre of St. Xavier’s College which was set up by Father Roberge.”

He further added that Mrinal Sen used to have long discussion with Father Roberge on socio-political issues and its reflections in Indian cinemas.

Mr. Majumdar, a recipient of several national and international awards said about huge contribution of Mrinal Sen in Indian films. He addressed Sen as a ‘social reformer’ too. He further expressed his hopes to get collaboration of the students of SXUK in activities of film federation.

Starting with a small documentary on life sketch of Mrinal Sen, the department showed six short films on different socio-cultural topics. All these films were made by the undergraduate and postgraduate students of the department right from scripting, direction and shooting. The subjects range from hand pulled rickshaws of Kolkata and its future, life of sex workers and challenges faced by them to come back to mainstream of life, life of textile workers to many other socio-cultural issues.

Dr. Reshmi Naskar was the convener of the programme. Deans of all schools, faculty members and students attended the show.

Somak Sen

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Moot Court Society hosts XavJudice’23

The Moot Court Society of Xavier Law School (XLS) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised the Annual Intra Moot Court Competition ‘XavJudice 2023’ from April 26 to 28, 2023 at the university campus.

During his inaugural address, Rev. Father John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, SXUK said, “When a coin is tossed in the High Court, either it falls upon a Xaverian Judge or a Xaverian Advocate.” He then unveiled the trophies infront of the dignitaries’ present.

The proceedings of XavJudice’23 were held in five courtrooms aiming to inculcate the feeling of mooting among the students. 114 students across all semesters of XLS participated in the preliminary rounds. Faculty members of XLS performed the role of judges.

The second day witnessed a gamut of strong, convincing arguments and reasoning adopted by the teams. Judges were satisfied with the performance and shared their valuable feedback.

On the third day, Advocate Sanjukta Roy from the Calcutta High Court, Ms. Anjali Karmakar from Techno India University, Ms. Shrinkhala Jaiswal from LawSikho and Mr. Victor Nayak from Department of Law, UEM joined the event as judges for the semifinals.

Sharmistha Ghosh, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Hooghly and Ayan Majumdar, Deputy Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, West Bengal were judges in the final round. A stellar show of advocacy was witnessed which had a resemblance to the finest courtroom proceedings. Students found this programme highly enriching.

Dr. Rajrupa Sinha Roy

Faculty of Science celebrates National Technology Day

To keep its students aware on latest technological advancement, Faculty of Science of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated the National Technology Day by organizing a 3-day workshop from May 11 to 13, 2023 at the university campus. The topic was ‘Data Analytics and Machine Learning.’

Dr. A. Arockiasamy S.J., Dean, Faculty of Science inaugurated the workshop. Dr. Bhaswati Ganguli, an eminent academician from Department of Statistics, University of Calcutta was the keynote speaker. She highlighted the different aspects of machine learning for data analysis.

Mr. Sourabh Mukherjee, Associate Managing Director, Accenture explained relevance and uses of artificial intelligence (AI) in data management and cloud computing in industries.

On the first day of the workshop, Dr. Manisha Pal and Dr. Tanushree Biswas took sessions on ‘Exploratory Data Analytics’ and ‘Descriptive Statistics’ respectively. Dr. Shuvendu Chakraborty took a lab session on different testing techniques using R software.

The next two days were packed with theoretical and practical sessions. Dr. Dreamlee Sharma delivered an insightful lecture on ‘Statistical Inference’ and ‘Regression Analysis’, two important technological areas in research.

Dr. Sayan Das discussed uses and importance of AI, machine learning and data analytics, followed by a practical session by Dr. Shuvendu Chakraborty. Dr. Manisha Pal conducted a special session on the relevance of categorical data analysis.

During the valedictory session, Rev. Father John Felix Raj. S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK highlighted the importance and need of AI and robotics in modern civilisation. He also distributed the certificates to the participants.

Students from various colleges and universities pursuing graduation and postgraduation programmes in Computer Science and Statistics participated in the workshop. Deans of other schools were also present. Dr. Tuhin Utsab Paul was the convener of the workshop.

Dr. Sayan Das

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Dept of Commerce organises special lecture

In a bid to prepare the students for recruitment drives and interviews, Department of Commerce (Morning), St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a special lecture for its M.Com students on May 18, 2023.

The topic was ‘Job Interview: Myth & Reality.’ Mr. Sandip Chatterjee, Vice President, Gamut Infosystems Ltd. was the eminent speaker.

Mr. Chatterjee discussed insightful examples from interview scenarios to debunk common misconceptions. He briefed on certain etiquettes that are required to be followed by job aspirants at the time of interview.

He advised students to have clarity on subject, practical application, current affairs and to sharpen their technological proficiency. An assertive approach is always preferred, he added.

He asked students to focus on areas of improvement to become more competent. An interactive session took place at the end.

Dr. Mitra Goswami

SXUK organises FDP on teaching style

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a Faculty Development Programme for its own faculty members on May 4, 2023. Prof. Jebamalai Vinanchiarachi, eminent academician and former Principal Advisor to Director General, UNIDO was the resource person. The theme was ‘Teaching Teachers: Styles and Professionalism’.

While inaugurating the programme, Rev. Father John Felix Raj, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said that it is the Xaverian practice to invite erudite personalities to share their valuable advice. “We all are teachers as well as leaners. Teaching and learning is a continuous process,” he added.

While addressing the young faculty members of SXUK, Prof. Vinanchiarachi said, “Our education makes students eligible to make entry to employment; but not for employment.” Focusing on present education scenario, he said that a good teacher is realised for the purpose of education.

Advising teachers to remain committed to their goals, the veteran academician said, “A teacher should be intellectually trained, morally upright, spiritually inspired and socially committed to lead the nation.”

To be successful as a teacher, he advised the faculty members to remain as “a learning teacher and not to act as a learned teacher.” He directed the faculty members to act as “a logical thinker, an aggressive achiever and a gentle helper” throughout and maintain right proportional balance in all three aspects. “Good sense of humour helps a teacher to come closer to students and assists in imparting better teaching-learning process,” he said.

He also guided the faculty members to remain active in research works and how to write quality research articles and publish the same in internationally acclaimed journals.

In his concluding words, Prof. Vinanchiarachi said, “Don’t teach students to read; make them think critically.” He further advised teachers to give real life examples while teaching to sharpen students’ analytical frame of mind.

The FDP was concluded with an interactive session. All faculty members of SXUK attended the programme and found it highly enriching. Dr. Tanushree Biswas, Assistant Director of IQAC, SXUK coordinated the programme.

Somak Sen

SXUK hosts National Conference

In a bid to excel more in research work, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a national level conference on ‘Contemporary issues in Accounting, Finance and Management’ on April 29, 2023 in the university campus.

It was a collaborative effort by the Faculty of Commerce and Management, Father Lafont Centre for Excellence in Research and Innovation (LCERI), SXUK and the Indian Accounting Association (IAA), Kolkata.

Prof. Jasraj Bohra, President, IAA delivered the inaugural address. There were two sessions in the conference. A total of 56 research papers were presented by academicians and research scholars on different topics related to the theme. Renowned professors from different universities of India moderated parallel plenary sessions.

Among the dignitaries present were Dr. Ananda Mohan Pal, President, IAA, Kolkata branch; Dr. Satyajit Dhar, Secretary, IAA, Kolkata branch; Dr. Amitava Roy, Dean, Commerce, St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata; Dr. Amalendu Bhunia, Dean of Arts and Commerce, University of Kalyani, etc.

Faculty members and students of SXUK, academicians and research scholars from different colleges and universities attended the conference.

Dr. Soma Sur

Dept of MSW celebrates Earth Day

In an attempt to keep its students aware of sustainable development, the Department of Social Work of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated the Earth Day on April 25, 2023.

Faculty members of the department directed the students to explore avenues to contribute to the well-being of Mother Earth. Students came up with innovative ideas and discussed. They also participated in poster preparation and made slogans related to sustainable development.

At the end of the session, students took pledge to reduce the wastage of energy, food and water; refrain from using electronic gadgets like smart phones, tabs, television, etc. for an hour every day, recycle electronic waste and clothes, use water and other natural resources judiciously, etc.

They were also taught to use dustbins, segregate wet and dry waste, reduce the use of plastic and were advised to acknowledge others on the same in their surroundings.

Dr. Rupa Biswas

XLS hosts first edition of Xavier mediation competition

Xavier Society for Law and Justice (XSLAJ), a unit of Xavier Law School (XLS) organized the first edition of Xavier Mediation Competition - 2023 (XMC) in association with the Khaitan & Company, Advocates & Solicitors and Parnasree Jeewandeep Seva Sansthan, Kolkata from April 19 to 21, 2023 at the university campus.

Justice Ashim Kumar Banerjee, former Judge at the Calcutta High Court was the Chief Guest. More than 100 students of XLS and other colleges and universities spontaneously participated in the event.

The competition was spread across three days with a series of sessions, judged by eminent partners & associates of Khaitan & Co., one of India's oldest and leading law firms. The final round of the same was judged by Hon'ble Justice Dr. Sambuddha Chakrabarti, former Judge at the Calcutta High Court and Chairperson of the Tax Tribunal, and by Mr. Shounak Mitra and Mr. Subhro Chatterjee, Partners at Khaitan & Co.

The award for the Best Negotiating Pair and Best Mediator was bagged by Jindal Global Law School, Haryana along with a cash prize of ₹25,000 and ₹12,500, respectively. Students from South Calcutta Law College won the runners up prize and a cash prize of ₹15,000.

The award for the second runners up - negotiating pair and the cash prize of ₹10,000 went to the Symbiosis Law School (SLS), Nagpur.

Partners from Khaitan & Co. declared that the winners of the first prize would be given an internship at their organisation. The event was organized in partnership with 91.9 Friends FM, Rasu's - The Spice Station, Yogayog Courier Pvt. Ltd. & Orient Graphics.

Dr. Animesh Das

SXUK organises Xavrang 2023

Students’ Board of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised the much-coveted Xavrang 2023, the annual fest of the university on April 12 and 13, 2023 in the campus.

After a two-year gap due to COVID-19 pandemic, this year Xavrang witnessed a huge gathering of students of SXUK and many other colleges and universities, who spontaneously participated in a series of events in these two days.

In his inaugural speech, Rev. Father John Felix Raj, S.J, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK congratulated the Students’ Board for organising the fest. Amid the presence of visitors and participants of other colleges and universities, he said, “We offer a vibrant academic atmosphere which includes cultural ethos and pathos. Come, see and enjoy what SXUK is.” His words were greeted with thunderous applause of the audience.

The ceremony kicked off with the cutting of cake in the presence of Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, all students, teachers, staff members of the university and external participants. Students from 43 colleges and universities participated in 63 events belonging to literary, cultural, management, debate, street plays (nukkad-natak), sports, legal issues, economic events and photography sections, etc.

Professor-in-charges of different cultural societies run by SXUK gave their valuable inputs in arranging different events. Each event was judged by experts invited from academic and industrial sectors.

The two days were filled with fun and joy. The campus wore a different look as students bedecked themselves with colourful dress. Proper security arrangements were there to avoid any untoward incident.

The fest concluded with a prize distribution ceremony and a coruscating DJ performance by Sush and Yohan Music, Mumbai which witnessed a maddening presence of students at the last day.

Dr. Manali Bhattacharya

SXUK organises guest lecture by Kiran Bedi

Research Development Cell of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a virtual session with eminent administrator Dr. Kiran Bedi, the former Lt. Governor of Puducherry and an IPS officer on April 3, 2023. She was invited to give a guest lecture on ‘Fearless Governance’.

While delivering the inaugural address, Rev. Father John Felix Raj, SJ, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK stressed on the need of good governance in institutions, particularly in educational institutions. “There is a need to develop robust leadership quality”, he added.

Dr. Kiran Bedi discussed the moribund administrative system as she found it while serving as the Lt. Governor of Puducherry. She advised everyone not to bow down but to face the situation in order to be a successful leader.

She also made a virtual tour of her latest book namely ‘Fearless Governance’. The book is translated in Hindi, Tamil, Marathi and Malayalam, based on the ground realities as she witnessed in Puducherry. At the end, a brief interaction was held between Dr. Bedi and faculty members in online mode.

The entire programme took place in a video conferencing mode at the Albert Huart Hall, Arrupe Building. All faculty members and students of SXUK attended the programme.

Dept of Social Work organises special lecture session

In a bid to make the students aware of women empowerment, Department of Social Work, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) conducted a special lecture session on April 3, 2023. The topic was ‘Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005’. Dr. Utpal Raha, a faculty member of Xavier Law School was the resource person.

Dr. Utpal Raha said that domestic violence is a social malady which leads to fatal consequences. The Government has empowered women sect by implementing the Act. Victims should address their issues to the judiciary without hiding, he added.

Dr. Raha discussed salient features of the Act and said that the implementation of the law is a first step to address the problems arisen. He urged every victim and their well-wishers to bring the incidents of domestic violence to the notice of the judiciary.

He further said that students and professionals of social work should play significant role in making people aware of the Act and take steps to eradicate the social evil. The lecture was followed by an interactive session. Students found the session highly enriching.

Dr. Rupa Biswas

Dept of Social Work organizes special lecture

In a bid to make its students aware of sustainable development, the Department of Social Work, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a special lecture on March 22, 2023. The topic was ‘Forest, Livelihoods and Development: Bengal Experience’.

The resource person was Michael Islary, a Senior Programme Officer, Centre for People’s Forestry, Hyderabad. He discussed the lifestyle of tribal population living in forests and their rights to the natural resources for their sustenance.

While highlighting their ways of livelihood in Bankura, Sundarbans and Sandeshkhali, Mr. Islary spoke about the issues and challenges faced by the tribal inhabitants regularly. He cited their dependency on non-timber forest products in sustaining their livelihoods.

Mr. Islary stressed on forming capacity development, advocacy and policies by both the government and non-government organisations for providing quality life to the tribal people in these areas. He also encouraged students to work as social workers in ecological domain.

Dr. Rupa Biswas

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Students’ Board of SXUK organises health camp

Students’ Board of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a health awareness camp on April 3 and 5, 2023 in the university premises as a part of social activity. The camp was open to all students and staff members of SXUK.

On the first day, eye check-up for students and staff members took place in collaboration with Sunetra Eye Care, Kolkata. Dr. Amitava Biswas, Director of Sunetra Eye Care and Mrs. Neena Biswas, Head, Department of Optometric were present. Around 200 students and staff members underwent eye check-up.

A health talk on balanced diet in association with Fortis Hospital, Kolkata took place on April 5. Dr. Mita Shukla was the eminent speaker. Dr. Sanjay Garg discussed mental health and stress management and Dr. Sanjukta Dutta gave a detailed insight on basic life support training.

Doctors and Registered Medical Officers (RMOs) measured blood pressure, random blood sugar and ECG of the students and staff members. Those who needed also consulted with a cardiologist. The camp witnessed huge participation of students and staff members.

Dr. Manali Bhattacharya

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Dept. of Economics hosts national level conference

Department of Economics of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with the Jesuit Economic Association of India (JEAI) organized a two-day national conference on March 24-25, 2023 at the University campus. The theme was ‘Contemporary Issues in Economic Theory and Policy’.

In his inaugural speech, Rev. Father John Felix Raj, S.J. Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said that India is passing through a crucial economic challenge which needs to be controlled with effective policy making and implementation. While appreciating the initiative of the department to organise a conference on such a relevant topic, Father Raj expressed that the issue would be properly debated and discussed in this conference.

Prof. Prabhat Patnaik, Emeritus Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) delivered the keynote address on the poverty of mainstream economics. He said, “Economy, as envisaged in the mainstream tradition, is incompatible with a production economy.” He further said that in a money-driven world, where money acts as a store of value, the logic of mainstream economics does not hold. He also gave insights into a few policy issues of mainstream economics.

Among the other dignitaries present were Prof. Pinaki Chakraborty, Former Director National Institute of Public Finance and Policy; Dr. Himanshu, Associate Professor, JNU; Dr. Tanika Chakraborty, Associate Professor, IIM-Calcutta; Prof. Anup Kumar Sinha, President, Bandhan Bank; etc. They also delivered separate lectures on related issues.

A bunch of research scholars and academicians from Jesuit institutions like Loyola Academy Secunderabad; St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad; XIM University, Bhubaneshwar, Xavier Institute of Social Sciences, Ranchi; St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata; and other colleges and universities presented their research papers in the conference. A total of 40 research papers were presented in ten different technical sessions. All the faculty members of the Faculty of Arts and Social Studies also attended the conference.

Dr. Subhanil Chowdhury

Dept. of Economics hosts Third Annual Economic Summit

Department of Economics of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) in association with Xavier’s University Economic Society (XAVECOS) organised the third Annual Economic Summit on March 23, 2023. The theme was on ‘Emerging Challenges and Policy Framework for Developing Countries.’

While delivering the inaugural speech, Rev. Father Dr. John Felix Raj S.J; Vice-Chancellor of SXUK stressed on formulating effective policies to meet the socio-economic challenges in developing and underdeveloped nations. He said that plans must be drawn to make holistic progress. He further congratulated the students from different parts of the country for joining this summit along with their research works.

Dr. Rohit Azad, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) delivered a lecture on ‘Triple Indian Crisis’, created by the COVID-19 pandemic, post-pandemic recovery challenges and climate change.

A panel discussion took place where Prof. Achin Chakraborty, Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata; Prof. Manabi Majumdar, Centre for Studies in Social Science Calcutta and Dr. Anirban Mukherjee, University of Calcutta participated.

More than 250 research scholars and students across the country participated in the summit and presented their research works on sustainable development goals, social sector, trade and development, banking and finance, etc.

Shashibardhan Sharma, a research scholar of JNU bagged the best paper award. He submitted a research paper entitled ‘Cheating in second price auctions and emotional responses’.

Muhammad Abdul Majid Bhat of Madras School of Economics won the best paper award at postgraduate students’ category. His research work was on energy intensity and productivity in the Indian manufacturing firms. Dipanjan Paul and Shouyja Basu of SXUK bagged second and third prizes respectively.

In the undergraduate section, Nandini Sen and Sayoni Sen of Heritage College, Kolkata won the first prize. While the second prize was bagged by Shreyaj Ghosh, Shoumi Chatterjee and Chandrima Roy of SXUK, the third prize went to Aniket Ghosh and Vyom Pandey of Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda.

Dr. Devleena Majumdar

Prof. Felix Wilfred lectures on social exclusion at SXUK

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised an extension lecture on ‘Principles and ways to overcome social exclusion in Asia’ on March 11, 2023 at the university campus. The speaker was Prof. Father Felix Wilfred, an eminent academician and theologian from Chennai.

Formerly associated with the University of Madras as the Chairperson of the School of Philosophy and Religious Thought, Prof. Wilfred is the Founder-Director of Asian Culture for Cross-Cultural Studies (ACCS), Chennai.

Father John Felix Raj, S.J, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK felicitated Father Wilfred on behalf of the Lafont Centre of Excellence in Research and Innovation (LCERI), the research wing of SXUK. In his welcome address, Father Raj reminisced his memories of student life at Vidyajoti College of Theology, New Delhi where he had first met Father Wilfred.

While referring to the practices of social exclusion across the world, Prof. Wilfred narrated his experience of visiting cities in Asia where he witnessed the culture of ‘ghettoization’ that isolates one from others. He said, “Social exclusion is a multi-layered phenomenon. It happens through social, political, cultural and economic aspects”.

He referred to untouchability as the most widely practised process that indulges in social exclusion. “This is a social evil which has been in practice since the mediaeval period throughout the world”, he added.

Referring to Nelson Mandela’s movement to rise against apartheid in South Africa, Father Wilfred said that depriving one from getting opportunity is a perpetrated attack on one’s self-respect and dignity. He said that more equity is needed than seeking equality in society to overcome exclusion. He mentioned Mahatma Gandhi who once said, “Natural resources are for the use of entire human family”.

Father Wilfred strongly criticised the present education system that ingrains the concept of competition among children. He said that it results into rat-race that empowers one student to disparage others and brings disaster to their future. He also added that parents are equally responsible for this as they pamper their children to practise social exclusion in this way. Citing the inequality in getting opportunity to pursue higher education, he said, “It still remains locked in the coterie of rich and powerful class of society”, he added.

In his concluding words, Prof. Wilfred recognised Father Raj’s ‘monumental’ and ‘significant’ contributions to the development of higher education in the state. Besides praising SXUK’s efforts to make holistic development through inclusive education policies, he urged all stakeholders of the University to come forward and join this noble mission to make a better tomorrow.

All faculty members, staff and postgraduate students of the university attended the programme.

Somak Sen

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Dept of Computer Science organises session on interdisciplinary research

In an attempt to make the students aware on scope of further research, the Department of Computer Science, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised an open house session by Mr. Saurav Mukherjee, Vice President, Corporate Treasury of Goldman Sachs on March 4, 2023. The topic was ‘Scope of Interdisciplinary Study & Research in India & Abroad’.

It was an interactive session with the faculty members and students of the Department of Computer Science and Department of Statistics. Mr. Mukherjee explained several concepts of data analytics, machine learning and their wide applications in industry regarding real-life applicability. He further mentioned different aspects of algorithmic trading, Robo advisory, Data Engineering and Data Visualization, Causal Inference, Decision under uncertainty during the interactive session.

Citing his decade long professional experience, he advised the students to keep open an alternative way in career. The session enriched the students to explore emerging domains of data science and machine learning for suitable application in the industry.

Dr. Sayan Das

LCERI conducts workshop on advanced research techniques

In a bid to keep the research scholars updated on recent developments, Fr. Lafont Centre for Excellence in Research and Innovation (LCERI) conducted a two-day workshop cum training session on February 17 and 18, 2023.

The topic was ‘Advanced Research Techniques: Structured Equation Modelling (SEM).’ The workshop was for the enrolled Ph.D. scholars and faculty members of SXUK. The resource person was Dr. Gautam Bandyopadhyay, an eminent Professor, NIT, Durgapur.

Scholars were introduced to the fundamentals of statistical techniques in this workshop. They were taught to measure and analyse relationship between observed and latent variables. All the participants found the workshop highly enriching.

Dr. Soma Sur

Student Board of SXUK organises blood donation camp

Responding to the needs of society, Student Board of the St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a Blood Donation Camp in collaboration with the Association of Voluntary Blood Donors, West Bengal on February 17, 2023 in the university premises.

A total of 400 students, volunteers of the Student Board, faculty members and non-teaching staff members of the university donated their blood enthusiastically. Rev. Fr. John Felix Raj, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of the University congratulated the donors for participating in such a life-saving programme.

The donors were given food packets after they had donated blood. The camp ran smoothly as adequate medical facilities were available.

While inaugurating the programme, Debasish Sen, the Chairman of Housing and Industrial Development Corporation (HIDCO), West Bengal said that the organisation has been planning to conduct many such programmes. The HIDCO expects assistance of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata in carrying out their social development programmes in near future also, he added.

Dr. Manali Bhattacharya

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SXUKAA organises XAV-MILAN

The Xaverian spirit of remaining in unison forever was witnessed when St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUKAA) hosted the first-ever Alumni Reunion (Xav-Milan) on February 11, 2023. The campus was abuzz with a festive atmosphere; it witnessed an overwhelming response from its proud alumni who came together to reminisce about their time spent at this prestigious institution.

The event began with Rev. Fr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, SXUK and President, SXUKAA, welcoming the alumni and alumnae with a nostalgic note of homecoming. Rev. Fr. Jeyaraj Veluswamy, SJ, the first Chancellor and Rev. Fr. John Felix Raj, SJ, the Founder Vice-Chancellor of SXUK were felicitated by SXUKAA on the occasion.

Father Veluswamy spoke about how this institution grew within a few years. “I still remember when Father Raj had expressed his vision of building St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata and today to see this institution achieve success in academics and research couldn't have been possible without the blessings of the God and the untiring support of teachers, students and alumni association which brings the concrete structure of brick and sand to life.”

Fr. Dominic Savio, Principal of St. Xavier’s College, Calcutta was also present at the meet. The Governing Body members of SXUKAA led by the Hony. Secretary, Mr. Vatsal Chirimar, were also felicitated on the occasion. Emotions ran high as old friends bonded and faculty members reunited with their mentees.

Proceedings took a musical turn with The Loko Express, a popular band in Kolkata, setting the mood performing a variety of hits from different genres, getting the crowd grooving and singing along to the tunes. Following the band performance, a DJ night was organized. Another highlight of the evening was the sumptuous dinner. The menu consisted of a variety of cuisines, including Indian, Chinese, and continental. The night ended with revisiting old memories and a promise to rekindle it every year.

Sayantika Dutta
Editor, SXUKAA

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SXUK celebrates Seventh Foundation Day

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated its seventh Foundation Day on February 8, 2023 with pomp and ceremony.

In his inaugural speech, Rev. Fr. John Felix Raj, SJ, Vice-Chancellor, SXUK enlightened everyone with the message of a Jesuit society that is being followed by everyone in the University.

While describing the journey of the University from ideation to foundation, he emphasized on establishing the value system here according to the Jesuit values.

Rev. Fr. Jeyaraj Veluswamy, S.J. was the Chief Guest who shared the reflection of Jesuit values and the Ignatian pedagogy in teaching-learning process here. He congratulated the faculty and staff members of the University for their dedication to meet the objectives.

The holy foundation prayer was read out by Father Mourlin K, S.J. All the faculty and staff members, class representatives of every class and volunteers were present.

Dr. Somnath Banerjee

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SXUK confers D.Litt on Mamata Banerjee

In a historic move, Father John Felix Raj, Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) conferred the D.Litt (Honoris Causa) on Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal in the fourth Convocation ceremony on February 6, 2023 in the presence of Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose, Governor of West Bengal.

The university felicitated Dr. Mamata Banerjee with this great honour in academics for her contribution in the development of higher education in the state. Fr. Raj handed over the citation to her and the Governor called it an occasion “where a deserving woman leader has been honoured with a degree”.

Dr. Banerjee dedicated this honour to the common people, especially to the weaker sections of the state.

The programme began with the inauguration of Loyola Tirtha by the Chief Minister, the newly constructed administrative block that houses the Office of Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor and other officers.

The university’s executive council recommended Mamata’s name for the honour in recognition of her “exemplary contribution to social development and education in the state”, Father Felix Raj said in his inaugural address. He also read out the annual report and narrated the activities of the University in different academic and administrative sectors. After that, the Chief Minister was conferred on the prestigious degree.

While delivering the Convocation address, Dr. Mamata Banerjee praised the University for imparting quality education and compared it with renowned universities of the western nations. She acknowledged the numerous social development programmes that the university undertook since its inception in various sectors and extolled the activities.

Besides congratulating the degree recipients and wishing them for a robust career ahead, she further advised the students of SXUK to carry on the rich legacy of the institution through generation. Students and faculty members cheered at her message amid loud applause.

She also announced to introduce a government-sponsored Saint Mother Teresa Chair Professor at the university. “Today, I propose from the Government of West Bengal a respected chair for the sainthood of Mother Teresa at the St Xavier’s University so that it can work for education, and a message can go to the world; Yes, Bengal gives full respect to mothers”, she said.

“St. Xavier’s University and College have been producing gems through decades who have been contributing their best to develop the country”, she added. She directed the students and its alumni members to keep reminiscing and follow the ideals that they learnt from this ‘temple of academics.’ “She became an honorary alumna of the university’s alumni association on Monday,” said Father Felix Raj. She was also accorded with an honorary alumni membership card and a memento by Vatsal Chirimar, Hony Secretary of St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association.

Governor was equally effusive in praising the University for its decision to confer the prestigious D.Litt (Honoris Causa) on Mamata Banerjee as he equalled her with Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, Winston Churchill and many other renowned personalities while addressing the august gathering.

Strongly criticising the nexus between politics and education that have been crippling the academic scenario in many universities, the Governor admired the politics-free education and campus of SXUK and expressed his happiness to find “a happy marriage of knowledge and statecraft”. Expressing his desire to find the University to emerge as one of the best academic hubs of the world in future, the Governor venerated the quality of missionary education across the world including the Xaverian family.

A total of 770 students received their degree completion certificates in this convocation day. Out of them, there were 113 rank holders who secured first, second and third positions respectively in different programmes.

Out of these rank holders, 60 students belonged to postgraduate programmes and 53 students belonged to undergraduate programmes. There were 33 medal recipients who were awarded with gold, silver and bronze medals. Two faculty members of the University were also felicitated for completion of their Ph.D. programmes during their service.

The first issue of the university’s research journal namely ‘St. Xaviers University Kolkata Journal of Interdisciplinary Research’ and the magazine ‘Xaverianum 2022’ were also inaugurated.

The programme concluded with a hope to meet new heights in future.

Somak Sen.

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IQAC organises awareness programme on Intellectual Property Rights

In a bid to make the faculty members aware about rising threat of fake information, plagiarism and other issues related to research works, the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised an awareness programme on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) on January 20, 2023. The resource person was Abhishek Sen, representative of the Patent Office, Kolkata, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India.

This guest lecture session was held under the ‘Kalam Programme for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness Campaign’ (KAPILA) and ‘National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission’ (NIPAM), as per the UGC guidelines. Mr. Sen discussed various types of IPR – patents, trademarks, copyright and trade secrets, etc. He mentioned and guided teachers how to make copyright of their individual research works, how to get patents and prevent copying or misusing their valuable works and data by others.

He further discussed several IPR related acts like Trademarks Act, 1999; Patents Act, 2005; Copyright Act, 1957; and Designs Act, 2000 and analysed the loopholes. The session witnessed huge participation of all faculty members, followed by an interaction. All participants were given online certificates by the Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India.

Dr. Somak Sen.

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Department of Statistics organises lecture on resampling method

In a bid to nourish students more on statistical knowledge, the Department of Statistics, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata organized an invited talk on February 1, 2023 for the postgraduate students of Statistics, Computer Science and Economics.

The speaker was Dr. Tapan Kumar Chakrabarty, an eminent Professor of Statistics from North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong. The title of his talk was ‘Statistical Insights through Resampling Methods’.

Prof Chakrabarty spoke at length on how the appropriateness of measure of central tendency for a given data set can be examined through resampling, and how one can get an indication of the distribution of a statistic through it. He discussed the Bootstrap method for resampling, using examples for a clear understanding, and indicated the Jackknife method.

The lecture motivated students to explore areas where such resampling techniques would be helpful. The programme concluded with an interactive session.

Dr. Manisha Pal

SXUK celebrates Annual Sports Day

Like every year, St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted its Annual Sports on January 28, 2023 to display sporting skills of its students. A plethora of sport-events were arranged for both men and women.

Arun Lal, former Indian Cricketer was the Chief Guest. During his deliberation, Mr. Lal urged students to actively participate in sports as it helps to widen the horizon of mind. He also shared his experience of promoting exuberant youngsters to build up their sporting career.

The presence of Ajit Tete, Deputy Inspector General, Border Security Force (BSF) graced the occasion.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J, Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK expressed his immense happiness to find students on the track. He appreciated the efforts of the University Sports Society members.

The BSF contingent mesmerized the gathering through a brilliant musical performance. Faculty members and students cheered at the participants while they were performing at different events. The programme concluded with prize and medal distribution to the winners, followed by a cake-cutting ceremony.

Sandeep Mundra
Convener, Sports Society

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SXUK conducts virtual training programme to promote research quality

To maintain the quality of research, Fr. Arrupe Central Library of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with the university’s Research Development Committee on Intellectual Property Rights, Legal and Ethical Matters, Research conducted a virtual training programme on Turnitin Feedback Studio on January 20, 2023.

Mr. Akshay Prasanna, a senior consultant of Turnitin, PES- South Asia conducted the training session. He narrated the functions of Turnitin feedback studio and differentiated between plagiarism and similarity index.

He further discussed process of plagiarism test, creating virtual classroom through the software, and various other assessment procedures. The programme ended with an interactive session with the students.

Dr. Stephen G and Dr. Gitu Singh

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SXUK celebrates Republic Day 2023

Academic development is highly necessary for holistic growth of the country, these words were reaffirmed by Rev. Fr. John Felix Raj S.J, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) while celebrating the 74th Republic Day of India in the University premises on January 26, 2023.

Amid the presence of faculty members, non-teaching staff members and students, Father Raj hoisted the National Flag and delivered the Republic Day speech. Citing the rich cultural ethos of the nation, he stressed on strengthening the bonhomie and cooperation more among the citizens of the country.

Giving reference to the economic development of the country, Father Raj said that the country’s present GDP stands at US$ 3.8 trillion and the government hopes to make it US$ 5 trillion by 2030.

Focusing his concerns on the inclusion of more students in higher education, Father Raj stated that only 24% students have enrolled in higher education institutions till now in India, which is lower than many western nations. He appreciated the plans of national government to increase it upto 50% by 2035.

He further said that both public and private universities of this country should play a constructive role in fulfilling the objectives. Out of 1070 universities, there are right now 430 private universities in the country who have been contributing for the educational development of the nation, he added.

He also stressed on building a positive attitude in everyone to make the nation ‘strong to stronger’.

Dr. Somak Sen.

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SXUK celebrates Annual Christmas Gathering

As the entire world is all set to celebrate the Holy Christmas vacation soon, St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association (SXUKAA) equally organised a Christmas get-together for the faculty and staff members of the University on December 20, 2022 in the campus.

Rev. Fr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata and President, SXUKAA greeted everyone and delivered his Christmas message. “Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ; an occasion of hope, joy, love and peace. I wish all of you get your dreams fulfilled in this auspicious period,” he said.

Prof. Suranjan Das, Vice-Chancellor of Jadavpur University and Dr. N.K. Chakrabarti, Vice Chancellor of West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences were invited as guests and they equally shared their Christmas message to the present audience.

Father Raj was felicitated by Vatsal Chirimar, Hony Secretary, SXUKAA. Audience entertained carols, sung by a few faculty members and staff of SXUK. The spirit of Christmas was celebrated and shared among the Xaverian family members.

Vatsal Chirimar

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Annual Christmas Lecture at Parasmani, Santiniketan

Rev. Fr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-chancellor of St Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) delivered the second Annual Christmas Lecture at Parasmani, Santiniketan on December 17, 2022.

Fr. Raj spoke on ‘Brahmabandhav Upadhyay: A Prophet for all seasons. Teachers, noted civil society members and other dignitaries from Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan and SXUK attended the programme. Parasmani is the Centre for Research and Social Outreach of SXUK in Ratanpally, Bolpur.

In his delightful address, Fr. Raj narrated Upadhyay as a paradoxical figure who played a key role in the struggle for independence, along with Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, Aurobindo Ghose and others. Father referred to Upadhyay as a forgotten prophet of India’s search for nationhood and modernity.

While narrating life sketch of Upadhyay, Fr. Raj mentioned about Animananda who along with the former founded a school following Vedic tradition in Calcutta in 1900. Fr. Raj hailed their ideas of reviving the notion of teacher-student relationship in terms of knowledge sharing and building a stronger nation.

It was on Tagore’s request that Brahmabandhav Upadhyay shifted their school from Calcutta to Santiniketan with Animananda as a teacher there, he added. This incident was the onset of establishing today’s Visva-Bharati. Fr. Raj also shared Upadhyay’s contribution to Indian Christian theology.

While concluding, Fr. Raj invited the faculty members from both SXUK and Visva-Bharati to work jointly for research and innovation in related sectors. He also urged the students from both institutions to co-assist their teachers in research works.

Somak Sen

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Dept of Commerce (Morning) organizes guest lecture on Behavioural Finance

In a bid to introduce a topic by eminent academician, the Department of Commerce (Morning), St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organized a special lecture on ‘Behavioural Finance’ to its undergraduate students on November 25, 2022.

Mr. Saurav Das, Professor-in-charge, Department of Commerce of St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata was the resource person. Using various scenarios with similar and contrasting situations, Prof. Das demonstrated how human and market behaviour changes in different situations influenced by several factors like individual perception, knowledge, time, resources, etc.

Students were asked to respond to cases and situations and select from available options. Their responses and behaviour patterns were analysed. Mr. Das explained the concept of behavioural finance with respect to investment pattern and stock price changes. Students found the session highly enriching.

Dr. Mitra Goswami

LCERI conducts FDP on R software

To upgrade the quality of research and enable its faculty members remain updated with new technologies, Father Lafont Centre for Excellence in Research and Innovation (LCERI), St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organized a Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on November 25, 2022. The topic was ‘Scope of R in Data Analysis’.

Dr. Saurabh Agarwal, a professional trainer of R, Python Softwares, Predictive Analytics Solutions Private Limited was the resource person. The FDP was organized to train the faculty members on data collection and analysis using R software. It will enable them to analyse data in a scientific way. R is an open-source software with immense scope of application with its large collection of libraries.

Dr. Soma Sur

Department of Mass Communication organizes guest lecture on Media Management

Department of Mass Communication, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata organized a guest lecture on Media Management and Entrepreneurship on November 16, 2022 by eminent industry professional. Mr. Satyaky Chowdhury, Vice President, Aaj Tak group.

Mr. Chowdhury discussed the technical uses of various equipment in industry and unlimited career opportunities in media industry in India and abroad. He narrated stories of Radio Jockeys who started from a low profile at the beginning and later rose to top positions through hard work and perseverance. He further analysed multiple angles of a news story and different presentation styles as per varied editorial policies practiced by national and international media organisations.

While interacting with students, Mr. Chowdhury responded several career oriented queries of the students and assured them of a bright future ahead if they would meet the standards of the industry. He also stressed on doing post-graduation in Mass Communication citing huge competition in industry.

Mr. Chowdhury was brought to the studio of Department of Mass Communication where he found the technical equipment of industry standard and praised a lot. He advised students to practice maximum with equipment so that they would meet the industry requirements in near future.

Dr. Somak Sen.

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Department of Mass Communication conducts study tour to newspaper office

In a bid to acknowledge its students with the functions and procedures of media industry, the Department of Mass Communication, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a one day visit to the office of The Times of India (TOI), a reputed English daily on November 12, 2022.

A total of fifteen students along with two teachers of the department namely Dr. Reshmi Naskar and Dr. Nitesh Tripathi visited the daily’s Kolkata office to learn how the media industry runs its programmes and manage other tasks.

Mr. Sunanda Sarkar, Resident Editor, TOI guided the students regarding the news processing on daily basis to printing and circulation of newspapers. He also delighted the students on media ethics and analysed why and how it becomes necessary to suppress certain facts to avert unrest in the society. He further discussed on career prospects in print journalism.

Dr. Nitesh Tripathi

SXUK organises international seminar on Sustainable Development

To keep pace with the global concern of saving the Mother Earth for generations, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a one-day international level virtual seminar on sustainable development on November 11, 2022. The theme was ‘Sustainable Development, Public & Private Finance and Leadership’.

In his inaugural speech, Rev. Fr. Dr. John Felix Raj, SJ, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, SXUK called everyone to come forward and join the noble aim of saving the Mother Earth through quality research works, plans and programmes.

The Research and Development Cell of SXUK focused on the need for promoting global collaborations towards multidisciplinary research culture through this seminar. 307 participants attended the seminar from various parts of the country. It was a delightful discourse to the attendees as eminent academicians and professionals across the country joined as resource persons.

Dr. Sisir Basu, Professor, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, Banaras Hindu University; Dr. Deepak Kumar Behera, Vice-Chancellor, Kaling Institute of Social Sciences; Fr. A. Arockiasamy S.J., Dean, Faculty of Science, SXUK; Dr. Ronald Malicdem, Professor, Operations and IT, Ateneo Graduate School of Business, Philippines; Mr. Pier Luigi Migliorati, Deputy Head, Equities and Corporate Risk Division, Bank of Italy, Italy were distinguished resource persons.

Dr. Mononita Kundu Das

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Student Board conducts workshop on artificial intelligence

Student Board of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) hosted a workshop on the application of futuristic technologies involving artificial intelligence, robotics, drones and 3D printing for its members on November 7, 2022 at Aruppe Hall inside the campus.

A team from International Steam Research (ISR) guided the students and provided hands-on training. The welcome address was delivered by Mario Martin Louis, Placement and Training Officer, SXUK.

Dr. George Panicker, Founder and CEO, ISR explained the purpose of the workshop and introduced the students to interesting futuristic situation. With the available materials, participants were assigned individual tasks. The ISR team members assisted participants in carrying out their tasks while facing any difficulty.

The workshop aimed to promote spirit of teamwork and smart thinking among the students. A practical demonstration was also given by the ISR team. The workshop enlightened the participants to learn the importance of solving problems, experiment based learning, developing open mindset and enhanced critical thinking.

Dr. Manali Bhattacharya

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Department of Mass Communication hosts session on Science Journalism

In a bid to acknowledge students on growth and nature of Science Journalism in Indian media scenario, the Department of Mass Communication, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organized a special session on November 9, 2022 for its postgraduate students.

Named as ‘Science Journalism and its dynamics’, it was conducted by Dr. Manas Pratim Das, a Programme Producer of All India Radio, Kolkata office. Dr. Das spoke on various avenues of Science Journalism and gave references to several reputed science journals like ‘Scientific American’, ‘Dream47’ and publications by Vigyan Prasar.

He discussed the scientific heritage of the country narrating how Jamsethji Tata had established the Indian Institute of Science as advised by Swami Vivekananda. He also narrated about interesting tangent of science in movies namely ‘Erin Brokovich’ (2000) and ‘Interstellar’ (2014), especially on its portrayal of black holes.

Dr. Das had also mentioned the popularity of science journalism in the cyber space with sites like popsci.com and vigyanprasargov.in. Students found the session highly informative and engaging.

Dr. Reshmi Naskar

SXUK forms new Student Board

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) conducted the investiture ceremony of the Student Board to welcome the new members on October 17, 2022. 69 members have been inducted in the board this year.

Rev. Fr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK shared his views on the necessity of forming students’ board, grooming of leadership qualities, duties and responsibilities to be carried out as students, etc. He wished the newly formed board members a fruitful journey. Fr. Raj also handed over badges to the members. The ceremony was held at Fr. Albert Huart Hall in the University campus.

Dr. Manali Bhattacharya

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Dept of Mass Communication hosts special lecture on Environmental Journalism

To make the students aware on sustainable development and efforts made by international bodies to save the Mother Earth, the Department of Mass Communication, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a guest lecture for its postgraduate students on November 3, 2022. The topic was ‘Environmental Journalism: The need of the hour’.

Jayanta Basu, renowned environmental journalist and columnist was the resource person. He narrated how climate change across the world has become a global threat and resulted into burning of Amazon, carbon sink, etc.

He also referred to the deterioration of East Kolkata wetlands as a local threat. Citing examples from his own drafted reports published in different dailies, he discussed various issues held responsible for global climate change and recommendations of COP26 and COP27 to avert the same. Students found the session highly enriching.

Dr. Reshmi Naskar

Department of Mass Communication conducts workshop on fake news prevention

To keep students aware on fake news and its prevention, Department of Mass Communication, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organized a fact-checking workshop on November 2, 2022 for its postgraduate students.

Mr. Joydeep Das Gupta, Editor, News Sense and a certified trainer from Google News Initiative, India Training Network was the resource person. Citing the need of Internet and its varied uses in modern world, Mr. Das Gupta helped students learn to distinguish between misinformation and disinformation.

He referred to a few examples of clickbait news and narrated about various web based tools of fact-checking which can be accessed easily and help us to check the validity of information. He discussed how an individual can do a reverse image search of a photo and get to know the authenticity of clickbait news.

He suggested to use apps like Google Image Search, TinEye, and Baidu for this. Similarly, a reverse video search can be done to check the authenticity of video like InVid and Frame by Frame. He further emphasised the importance of these apps to combat menace of fake news as a responsible citizen. Students found the hour-long session highly informative.

Dr. Reshmi Naskar

XBS introduces finance lab for its students

Xavier Business School (XBS) inaugurated its much sought-after finance lab for its MBA students having specialisation in finance on November 1, 2022. With this introduction, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) strengthens its MBA curriculum more professionally.

Mr. Abhishek Dube, NSE Mumbai was invited as a resource person to address the students on financial market related topics. The guest lecture session continued for two days. He briefed the students on stock market working, releasing of IPOs and analysed the same. He also guided students on how to log into and operate NSE SMART, the finance lab portal. Students also learnt how to buy and sell stocks, how to invest in different stocks, etc.

Dr. Sitangshu Khatua

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