Contact: Naresh Jadeja, Dy. Director – Email: deputy_dir2@gtu.edu.in Page 1

Report on

Virtual BAJA SAEINDIA hosted by

Gujarat Technological University

Gujarat Technological University has been trying through a number of innovative programs and initiatives, to significantly improve the quality of graduates/diploma holders that it offers to the industry and society.

In order to develop more intense interaction of academia and industries, Gujarat Technological University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd promoted BAJA SAEINDIA, a professional Society of Automotive Engineers. As a part of MoU signed, GTU will host the virtual rounds of the eight edition of BAJA SAEINDIA 2015 in Ahmedabad.

Commenting on the development, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Executive Director, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “BAJA SAEINDIA is dedicated towards providing the budding engineers a platform to showcase their knowledge and skills before the leaders of automobile industry. Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad is amongst the well known and respected institutions with world class infrastructure and technological support required for an event of this stature. We are delighted to join hands with GTU and hope to successfully conduct the virtual BAJA SAEINDIA 2015.”

GTU and the BAJA SAEINDIA aims to provide an opportunity for young, enthusiastic and talented engineering students, to showcase their passion for automobiles while encouraging them to conceive, design and fabricate 4-wheeled single-seater all terrain vehicles.

Virtual BAJA was organized on 1st and 2nd August 2014 at Gujarat Technological University’s Chandkheda Campus.

Contact: Naresh Jadeja, Dy. Director – Email: deputy_dir2@gtu.edu.in Page 2

Students from 330 colleges of India started coming to Ahmedabad from 30th July, 2014 and were given affordable hotel options for their stay for the competition. Student volunteers were present throughout the day at all recommended hotels for answering student queries and guiding them to get benefits of arrangements made by GTU. All student participants were given to and fro pick up and drop off facility from their hotel to GTU without any charges. Students started coming to GTU from bus transport service provided by A. D. Patel Institute of Technology and were given warm welcome at GTU. Event was inaugurated by Hon. Vice Chancellor of GTU Dr. Akshai Aggarwal in presence of Dr. Vadodaria, Registrar- GTU, Dr. Sudhir Gupte, Convener – Virtual Baja, Mr. Shaan Varma, Co-Convener – Virtual Baja, Mr. Subodh Morye, Convener – Baja SAEINDIA 2015, Dr. Partha Chattaraj, Jt. Convener – Baja SAEINDIA 2015 and Dr. K. C. Vora – Advisor – Baja SAEINDIA. Baja student & faculty participants, judges and principal of various colleges on 1st August, 2014. Dr. G. P. Vadodaria, Registrar – GTU welcomed all to Gujarat and GTU and talked about how this initiative was taken and journey so far in organizing this event. Dr. K. C. Vora, Advisor to BAJA SAEINDIA talked about how such event is helping students to learn out of classrooms. He mentioned various initiatives of BAJA and upcoming new formats of this competition. Mr. Subodh

Morye, Convener, BAJA SAEINDIA 2015 welcomed all to the virtual event and motivated them to prepare fully for the final event in February, 2015. Dr. Akshai Aggrawal, Vice Chancellor, Gujarat

Technological University in his

inaugural speech mentioned the importance of such events. He mentioned that all laboratories of colleges should be humming with activities and that is how we can make our nation proud. Dr. Aggarwal, said, “BAJA SAEINDIA is doing a commendable job of encouraging young engineering talent in the country by providing them a platform. GTU wants every engineering college/polytechnic to participate in competition of these kinds as it sharpens the designing skills of students and they learn how to work in team. Therefore we are happy to extend our support in conducting the first round of screening at our campus”

Contact: Naresh Jadeja, Dy. Director – Email: deputy_dir2@gtu.edu.in Page 3

Dr. Sudhir Gupte, Convener of Virtual BAJA thanked GTU Vice Chancellor, Dr. Vadodaria, Mr. Naresh Jadeja, Faculty volunteers, Student volunteers and administrative team of GTU for organizing this event in a grand manner. He thanked organizing committee of Virtual BAJA for putting their efforts and assured everyone for the great memories from this event. Virtual BAJA experience wall was inaugurated by Dr. Aggarwal and participants left memorable comments about their great experience at Gujarat Technological University and to this competition.

Contact: Naresh Jadeja, Dy. Director – Email: deputy_dir2@gtu.edu.in Page 4

More than 1500 participants from the 320 participating colleges from across the country presented designs of the buggy vehicle they plan to create for the finale in February 2015 in front of 50 plus judges from Automobile industry. Eighteen panel rooms were busy for two days at GTU where student teams were showcasing their innovation.

Student Teams making presentations before industry judges.

Faculty and student volunteers of Shakarsinh Vaghela Bapu Institute of Technology, Om Engineering College-Junagadh, Gandhinagar Institute of Technology, Sal Institute of Technology, Venus International College of Technology, A. D. Patel Institute of Technology, Growmore Group of Institutes, Alpha College of Engineering, Dr. Jivraj Mehta Institute of Technology contributed greatly in organizing this event at GTU.

Honourable Vice Chancellor Dr. Akshai Aggarwal had a special meeting with industry experts (judges) and organizing committee members of BAJA SAEINDIA to discuss industry expectations from Engineering graduates. Dr. Aggarwal also asked experts to contribute as mentors of GTU engineering students’ final year projects which were warmly welcomed by experts.

Contact: Naresh Jadeja, Dy. Director – Email: deputy_dir2@gtu.edu.in Page 5

Memories of the Virtual BAJA

Participants of BAJA SAEINDIA inspecting display Baja vehicles

Students -Judges interactions

Layout of 18 presentations rooms

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Virtual BAJA SAEINDIA 2015 Control room

Participants making presentations before Industry judges

Virtual BAJA SAEINDIA Venue: Gujarat Technological University

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Dignataries and participants during National Anthem

Dr. G. P. Vadodaria, I/C Registrar – GTU,

giving welcome address Dr. Akshai Aggarwal with Mr. Subodh Morye,

Convener – BAJA SAEINDIA2015

Dr. Akshai Aggarwal with judges and organizing committee members of BAJA SAEINDIA

Mr. Shaan Varma, Co-Convener - Virtual BAJA, Dr. Sudhir Gupte - Convener Virtual BAJA, Mr.

Naresh Jadeja, Dy. Director – GTU with judges and organizing committee members.

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This event was very well covered by print, e and TV media sharing details about the teams, innovation and spirit of the competition.

Contact: Naresh Jadeja, Dy. Director – Email: deputy_dir2@gtu.edu.in Page 9

Contact: Naresh Jadeja, Dy. Director – Email: deputy_dir2@gtu.edu.in Page 10