Chennai: Vice-president C P Radhakrishnan on Sunday urged the graduates to uphold constitutional values, respect diversity and strengthen national unity.Speaking at the 22nd convocation of SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) here, he asked students to place the larger national interest above narrow self-interest.“Research achieves its highest purpose when it serves society. Let your knowledge and innovation create solutions that improve lives and contribute to the welfare of humanity. Students’ innovation and hard work should contribute to the progress, security and prosperity of Bharat,” Radhakrishnan said.Speaking at the convocation, Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar also urged the students to use the knowledge and learning in the interest of society, people and the nation.C Muthamizhchelvan, vice-chancellor of SRMIST, highlighted the institution’s academic, research, innovation and outreach milestones over the past year.On SRMIST’s upcoming electronic cooling centre, he said, “As India scales AI compute, semiconductor packaging, and electric mobility, thermal management is becoming the critical foundation for sustainable growth. Every high-density chip and EV power module depends on efficient cooling. Through the upcoming electronic cooling centre, SRMIST is investing in this foundational capability, helping build the thermal technologies that will enable India’s chip, AI, and mobility ambitions to scale.”The vice-chancellor also administered the pledge against drugs to all graduates and students.A total of 11,684 graduates were eligible for degrees this year under the faculty of engineering and technology. At the Kattankulathur and Vadapalani campuses, 8,084 degrees were conferred, comprising 7,926 undergraduate and postgraduate graduates and 158 PhD scholars.VIT chancellor T R Paarivendhar, pro-chancellor (administration) Ravi Pachamuthu, pro-chancellor (academics) P Sathyanarayanan and others took part.
