Outreaching Education Boundaries

Second Knowledge Expedition at Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok by JIS Group Students

Knowledge sharing is considered as one of the salient features of teaching learning practices of the 21^st Century. Innovation can be brought about not only through assimilation of texts and classroom lectures but also by analysis, integration, comparison and exchange of skills, expertise, insights and know-how of other countries and cultures across the world. It has been observed that in the current scenario, our perennial pursuit for innovation can be assuaged effectively by fostering a knowledge sharing culture amongst students, teachers and institutions globally. In keeping with this ism JIS Group Educational Initiatives, one of the largest education conglomerates in West Bengal has strategically collaborated with Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok one of the oldest and leading education establishments imparting higher education in technological field. Both the institutions nurture a muti-cultural learning ethos to bring about sustainable development in technological research, outreach and higher education initiatives.

A remarkable initiative bearing testimony of such progressive efforts happened when recently the brightest students across the engineering colleges and departments under JIS Group were sponsored to participate in the knowledge camp which was organised by Asian Institute of Technology. This session was conducted during 5^th January to 16^th January 2014, in Bangkok, Thailand. Two faculty members from JIS Group of Institutions, Prof. Sajal Saha and Prof. Baisakhi Das accompanied the students as their project mentors in this assignment.

The two weeks training programme was designed to give the students exposure across the diverse fields of signals and systems, satellite communication, augmented reality, remote sensing, health GIS, energy engineering and management, 3D computer graphics, nano technology, transportation engineering, urban safety and management, advanced mapping techniques. Further, students received a golden opportunity to interact with the renowned scientists and professors of NSTDA, NASA, JAXA (Japan aerospace agency), AIT and Bangkok University. This apart, they derived a real time exposure on nano technology and optoelectronics and telecommunication at GIS lab and opto electronics lab respectively, At GIS lab they were taught about quantam GIS software which enabled them to develop the GIS map of their respective colleges. The students also explored the academic and heritage tourist destinations of Thailand like Bangkok University, National Science and Technological Development Agency, National Science Museum, , Bang-Pa-In Palace(summer palace of the king of royal govt. of Thailand), Bang Sa, arts and crafts center, Ayutthaya (ancient capital of Thailand), Bang Pu to name a few.

Cross-cultural programmes were organised to bring about a synergy between education and extra-curricular activities wherein people from both the cultures got acquainted and  shared each other’s thoughts, aesthetic and creative expressions.

This holistic knowledge sharing experience was not only beneficial for the cause of training the students with contemporary cutting-edge insights and skills but also helped them to imbibe a spirit of global connect, bridging the wide chasm of cross cultural inhibitions and differences while simultaneously empowering them with the limitless possibilities of knowledge.