The Hindu Business Line : PanIIT ’08: ‘Project’ that looks at creating a better India

Chennai, Aug. 26 PanIIT, an umbrella alumni organisation of all seven IIT institutes, on Tuesday announced the annual IIT Global Conference — PanIIT 2008.

Unveiling the programme, the Chairman of PanIIT 2008 and Managing Director of Saint Gobain Glass India, Mr B. Santhanam, said the fifth consecutive annual global conference to be held between December 10 and 21, at IIT Madras campus would bring together IIT alumni, comprising policy makers, leading academicians, thought leaders, industry captains, from across the world. “We are not looking at this as an event but an ongoing project — as the participants would discuss and debate ideas, issues and find solutions to create a better India,” he said.

Several global leaders including founder of Mittal Steel - Mr L.N. Mittal, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Nissan - Mr Carlos Ghosn, the Chief Operating Officer of Procter & Gamble - Mr Bob McDonald, Prof C.K. Prahalad, and the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, would deliberate on various topics under discussion. McKinsey & Co would be the knowledge partner for the programme while Google, State Bank of India and Tata Group were major sponsors.

Special sessions

The three-day conference would have special sessions and panels on topics such as research, technology, entrepreneurship, rural transformation, infrastructure, renewable energy, innovation and education.

“We expect about 3,000 IITians from all over the world to establish old bonds and network with fellow alumni,” he said.

So far about 400 participants have been registered, he added.

Several concepts that have emerged out of earlier global conferences of PanIIT programmes are running successfully, he said.

These programmes were conceptualised to repay the society.

Currently, PanIIT is pursuing five nation-building projects such as IITians for ITI (to provide technical and vocational education by creating institutions), Indo-US Collaboration for Engineering Education and ‘Parikrma’ for transforming lives of under served children.

There is also a ‘Reach 4 India’ programme meant to help rural people in getting employment and Stimulating Education & Enhancing Development (SEED) to offer e-learning.

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