‘Keonjhar Model’ Earns Praise from Australia at Celebration of GCE, Keonjhar & Curtin University Collaboration Event

Keonjhar: Five B. Tech graduates from Govt. College of Engineering, Keonjhar, is all set to embark on its journey to pursue a master’s degree in professional mining engineering at Curtin University, Australia, with the support of the District Administration, Keonjhar. To commemorate this collaboration between the Government College of Engineering, Keonjhar, and Curtin University, a grand event was organized on Friday at the Keonjhar Auditorium.

Rowan Ainsworth, Consul General of Australia in Kolkata, Denise Eaton, Trade and Investment Commissioner, Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Energy and Resources Group, Professor Mark Ogden, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Curtin University, Alex King, Deputy Director General of Trade and Investment, Western Australia, Nashid Chowdhury, Investment and Trade Commissioner, India-Gulf Region, Government Of Western Australia, Pratibha Sen, Destination Director, Australia (South Asia), IDP, graced the event virtually. The dignitaries present on the dais at Keonjhar Auditorium included Shri Ashish Thakre, Collector & District Magistrate, Keonjhar, Bishnu Prasad Acharya, CDO cum EO, Zilla Parishad, Keonjhar, Prof. Trilochan Sahu, Principal, Government College of Engineering, Dr. Soumaranjan Mallick, Head of Department (Mining), and the five students selected to pursue higher studies at Curtin University.

The program commenced at 10:30 AM. Dr. Satya Swaroop Panda, Project Officer, DMF Keonjhar, delivered the introductory speech. Later, Prof. Sahu, Principal of GCE, Keonjhar, extended the welcome address. Subsequently, the five students—Minarbha Sahu, Advik Kumar, Aquib Ahmed, Gitish Shekhar Nayak, and Saroj Kumar Biswakarma—and their parents were felicitated by the District Magistrate, Thakare, and Chief Development Officer, Acharya, with flowers, Uttariyas, and Mementos.

Consul General Rowan Ainsworth, in her speech, commended the efforts of the Keonjhar district administration, emphasizing that investing in students is an investment in the future. She expressed her belief that Keonjhar’s model would serve as a shining example for others in the days to come. Similarly, Professor Mark Ogden, in his address, elaborated on the various state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge research opportunities available for higher education in the field of mining engineering at Curtin University. All other speakers also highlighted the educational environment in Australia and lauded the Keonjhar district administration’s efforts in facilitating this collaboration.

Likewise, in their respective speeches, the five students expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the State Government for the opportunity bestowed upon them. They recalled the advice given to them by the Chief Minister during their meeting and pledged to dedicate themselves to diligent study to achieve their career goals and serve their homeland in the future.

In conclusion, District Collector Ashish Thakare delivered his speech, first extending his best wishes to all five students and their parents. Thakare emphasized that the Hon’ble Chief Minister and the State Government hold the education of students in the highest regard. Following this principle, the Keonjhar district administration, with the support of the District Mineral Foundation, has crafted a partnership program with the primary objective of providing quality educational opportunities to the talented students of the Keonjhar district. They will gain global exposure at Curtin University, and upon their return after completing their higher education, they will play a pivotal role in leading the world’s largest mining industry and contributing to the development of the Keonjhar district. Shri Thakare assured that similar opportunities would be extended to students from Keonjhar district who excel in various fields. He concluded his speech by expressing gratitude to everyone in attendance.

More than 200 students, including those from Keonjhar’s Government College of Engineering, Odisha School of Mining Engineering, and Dharnidhar Autonomous College, participated in the event held in the auditorium.