June brought a refreshing burst of green to the IIIT-Bangalore campus, as the monsoon showers breathed new life into its surroundings. The month began with the celebration of World Environment Day, marked by a meaningful tree plantation drive—over 50 saplings were planted at HSR Sundervana, an area formerly used as a dump yard. An awareness session further underlined the institute’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
A key highlight of the month was the graduation ceremony of the first-ever graduating batch of the Post Graduate Diploma in Digital Product Design & Management (PGD-DPDM) by the Department of Digital Humanities and Social Sciences (DHSS). The pioneering cohort of 33 students stood out for their academic excellence and remarkable resilience.
The month also saw a vibrant exchange of ideas and collaboration. IIIT-B had the pleasure of hosting students from Jyothi Nivas PU College and CMRIT, along with delegates from NITI Aayog and the Director of Rutgers University. Another proud moment was hosting the Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge 2024–25, which focused on promoting entrepreneurial solutions for the inclusion and well-being of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). The Soapstone Fellowship for the Deaf 2024–25 was also hosted with great enthusiasm.
In addition, the institute conducted a practical training session on Online Security, and observed the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking through awareness initiatives.
A major academic milestone was the successful launch of the ‘Future Wireless Communications’ course by the IIITB COMET Foundation. Designed to bridge the industry-academia skills gap, this hands-on course is open to students from Tier-2 and Tier-3 engineering colleges across South India. With a strong emphasis on inclusivity and industry relevance, it is poised to build a future-ready workforce for India’s telecom ecosystem.
We were also delighted to welcome a new faculty member to our academic community.
On the campus front, sports and wellness activities flourished. The International Day of Yoga was celebrated with a campus-wide yoga session, and the newly inaugurated badminton courts with synthetic mats added to the sporting spirit.
Meanwhile, Naviiina has made a lively comeback with fresh, trendy spoofs, headlined by the much-loved Mr. Laapataa series.
Overall, June was a month brimming with achievements, meaningful engagements, and new beginnings, reflecting the ever-evolving and dynamic spirit of IIIT-Bangalore.