In the month of frosty breath giving way to warmth, the ICT Academy of Kerala journeyed forth with steady strides. As February unfolded, the academy’s door opened wide to host an array of events. From a job fair where women find their place to the Young Innovators Program, a seed thrown to nurture young minds – ICTAK’s past month is buzzing with stories to tell!
Breaking the Glass Barrier
The Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission (KKEM), in association with the ICT Academy of Kerala, organised a Job Fair connecting employers with potential candidates in various fields. This unique program, exclusively for women, ‘Thozhilarangathekk’ secured the participation of 10,386 candidates from 14 districts. And among the 20,959 interviews conducted, 8,883 candidates were shortlisted. By the end of the day, over 1,500 candidates succeeded in securing a job, making the venture a great accomplishment.
The responses received for this initiative across the districts were overwhelming. For instance, jobseekers from Wayanad faced transportation challenges to attend the job fair. The KSRTC quickly responded to the request for help and arranged three bus services to transport over 300 candidates to and from the venue, ensuring convenience and safety. This occurrence demonstrates how government departments and various sectors supported ICTAK in the successful execution of the job fair. This initiative by ICTAK and KKEM was a significant milestone in February, as it envisioned the future and aimed to empower women and achieve their career aspirations.
Quest for ‘SKOPE’
The inaugural issue of SKOPE, a bimonthly magazine published by ICTAK, got released this month. The issue includes an exclusive interview with Dr. Tony Thomas, Chairman of ICTAK and CDIO of Signify, a prominent global leader and information technocrat, sharing valuable insights on pressing themes in the tech world.
The magazine features many interesting articles, such as ‘Ensuring Safe Cyberspace’ on cyberbullying and cyberstalking, and ‘Forecasting Practices’ about the need to develop appropriate policy recommendations for agricultural production and consumption in Kerala. In another story, the author discusses how the latest James Cameroon movie ’Avatar- Way of Water’ took full advantage of modern technology to give an exciting and immersive experience in ‘Avatar: When creativity met technology.’ In addition, Mr. Vijayakumar M. CEO of Webyfy IoT Pvt. Ltd., discusses the ‘REACH’ framework for IoT application development, and the magazine concludes with a summary of ICTAK’s December events.
Exploring Metaverse and Health Informatics
The ICT Academy of Kerala organised two informative webinars in February that provided valuable insights into two technology-related topics. The first webinar, ‘Metaverse – the Future of Reality,’ covered the rapidly growing concept of the Metaverse. Mr. Raahil Kulshreshtha, the Founder and CEO of Hereafter Pvt Ltd., led the session and shared his extensive knowledge in VFX/Animation and gaming.
The ICT Academy of Kerala and the Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC) collaborated to host the second webinar titled, ‘Scope and Opportunities of Health Informatics,’ on February 19, 2023. Dr. Satheesan Balasubramanyam, Director of the Malabar Cancer Center and Professor and Head of the Surgical Oncology Department, discussed the current state of the field and its potential for the future.
A brief look into academic programs
The academy has been making waves in the educational scene with an avalanche of academic programs. From cutting-edge technologies like Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to the ever-evolving world of Digital Marketing, the academy is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the next generation of professionals is well-equipped.
The Faculty Development Program (FDP) on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence held at Viswajyothi College of Engineering from February 1 to 3 was a resounding success with the participation of 35 students. Meanwhile, at Rajagiri Viswajyothi College, the Long-term Training (LTT) on Digital Marketing from February 6 to February 21 was a whirlwind of activity, with 31 participants immersing themselves in the latest digital marketing strategies and techniques. Not to be left behind, Nirmala College also hosted an LTT program on CSA, ML & AI on February 2. On 7th February, the academy also conducted a project mentoring program at Marian College, Kuttikkanam. Finally, the academy wrapped up the month with an FDP on ‘Recent Topics in Computational Forensics, Techniques, and Tools’ on February 23 at Carmel College of Engineering and Technology.
Acabes Placement Drive
Acabes International Pvt. Ltd. conducted a three-day placement drive in partnership with the ICT Academy of Kerala hosted at Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology, Ernakulam, and Providence Women’s College, Kozhikode providing job opportunities for 122 candidates in total. The first phase, held on the 27th and 28th of February at the Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology, attracted over 1200 candidates. The last phase of the placement drive at the Providence Women’s College, Kozhikode, was a success with the participation of 585 candidates who came to showcase their skills. This event in February was a grand success as it recorded a total participation of 1833 candidates.
Young Innovators Programme (YIP)
The K-DISC designed the Young Innovators Programme to identify and build young innovators by providing necessary support for their advancement. Interns training was conducted as part of YIP in all 14 districts from 6th February to 16th February 2023. The program witnessed the participation of a minimum of 40 students from each district in Kerala, with the most participation coming from Kasargod district, which had 90 students attending the program. The internship was a short-term work experience that provided the students with hands-on training and allowed them to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios. The workshop’s ultimate goal was to help interns develop the skills and confidence needed to excel in their roles and contribute meaningfully in the future.
Departmental Workshop
The ICT Academy of Kerala and K-DISC collaborated to organise a departmental workshop from February 8th to February 22nd, 2023, to address real-life problems encountered by government departments and stakeholders. The workshop aimed to assist department heads in identifying problems within their respective departments, which were then curated by the CoP and placed on problem shelves. Each district saw more than 110 participants, with Trivandrum having the highest number at 140. Through active participation and collaboration, the workshop fostered a space for individuals to contribute their unique insights and experiences towards developing workable solutions for real-world problems.
Finalist in LinkedIn Talent Awards
The ICT Academy of Kerala has been named as one of the finalists in the category ‘Learning Champion in Academia – India’ in the LinkedIn Talent Awards 2022. The Talent Awards recognizes companies that lead the future of work through innovation and creativity based on their utilisation of LinkedIn Talent Solutions in India and activities on the LinkedIn platform. The Learning Champion in Academia award recognizes the institution that invested most effectively in learning and developing relevant skills. ICTAK always believes in the power of knowledge and the need to expand the horizon of knowledge. This nomination honours the academy’s commitment to the skills acquisition of its workforce.
Concluding Thoughts
ICTAK continues to prosper and thrive throughout this fabulous February with the same pulsating energy and spirit. The days are finally becoming longer, and we are more fruitful than ever. Revolutionary decisions were made like a Job fair exclusively for women, fueling and inspiring our journey ahead, bearing in mind that ‘sometimes it is better to find our own path and think out of the box.’
