Student Induction & Orientation Programme ‘VidyaRambh 2026’
| Vidya Academy of Science & Technology (VAST), Thalakkottukara, Thrissur – a unit of Vidya International Charitable Trust – organised its annual Student Induction & Orientation Programme, “VidyaRambh 2026” for the newly admitted 2026 batch of engineering students, under the theme “Welcoming Minds, Building Futures. Together, We Begin.” The programme, held during 10-20 August 2026, aimed to facilitate a smooth transition for first-year students into college life by familiarising them with the institution, academic expectations, faculty, and support systems. |
| The programme combined a formal inauguration ceremony, branch-wise foundation courses, and a series of expert-led awareness sessions, motivational talks and co-curricular activities spread across the auditorium and respective departments. It brought together senior institutional leadership, alumni, and external resource persons from government, law-enforcement, healthcare and industry backgrounds. |
| Mr. Midhul P R (Tech Engineer at AMETEK Spectro Scientific, UAE, 2008–2012 batch,ECE Dept) was the Chief Guest for the inauguration ceremony held on 10 August 2026.The programme commenced with a formal inauguration ceremony held at the Pranavam Auditorium in the presence of the Chief Guest, Principal, faculty, newly admitted students and their parents. The day’s proceedings were structured to orient both students and parents to the institution, followed by department-level interactions and campus familiarisation. |
| Structure of the Programme (August 11–20, 2026) |
| Following the inauguration, the programme continued over seven working days (Days 1–7) combining branch-wise foundation courses with common auditorium sessions for all students. Each day was organised into periods covering academic foundation modules alongside dedicated slots for guest lectures, motivational talks and co-curricular activities. |
| 2.1 Foundation Courses (Branch-wise, parallel sessions) |
| All first-year branches – AIML, CE, CSE, ECE, EEE and ME – rotated through a common set of foundation modules delivered by respective faculty in their own classrooms across the week, including: |
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| 2.2 Common Auditorium Sessions – Awareness Talks, Guest Lectures & Activities |
| In addition to the foundation courses, all students came together at the Pranavam Auditorium for the following common sessions across the ten days: |
| Date | Session / Topic | Resource Person |
| 11.08.2026 (Tue) | Road Safety, Traffic Regulations & Responsible Road User Behaviour – “Every Student Matters” | Mr. Ramesh M, Joint RTO, SRTO Guruvayoor |
| 11.08.2026 (Tue) | UHV | Group Tutors |
| 13.08.2026 (Thu) | Library Awareness Session | Mr. Girishkumar P C (Librarian, VAST) |
| 13.08.2026 (Thu) | Motivation for Budding Engineers | Mr. Alex Chacko (Motivational Speaker and Research Scholar, GEC Thrissur) |
| 13.08.2026 (Thu) | Meet Our Alumni (respective departments) | Department Alumni |
| 14.08.2026 (Fri) | Awareness on the Dangers of Drug Abuse & Effective Stress Management | Dr. Sebind Kumar (Asst Prof & Head, Dept of Psychiatry, Government Medical College, Kasaragod) |
| 17.08.2026 (Mon) | Cyber Laws, Online Safety & Responsible Digital Citizenship | Adv. Jayasree (TLSC, Talappilly) |
| Legal Aid Lawyer & Cyber Law Practitioner | ||
| 17.08.2026 (Mon) | Digital Connect: Vidya Academy | Mr. Arun Xavier (Asst Prof – Sr Grade,EEE Dept) |
| 17.08.2026 (Mon) | Meet Our Alumni / Motivation for Budding Engineers | Alumni / Mr. Alex Chacko |
| 18.08.2026 (Tue) | Understanding the Startup Ecosystem | Mr. Hareesh K S (Co-Founder, Aevum Healthtech & Zapiens Innovation) |
| 18.08.2026 (Tue) | Mentor–Mentee Connect: Preparing for Talent Fiesta | Group Tutors |
| 19.08.2026 (Wed) | Awareness Talk: Anti-Ragging Regulations, Prevention of Sexual Harassment & Grievance Redressal Mechanisms | Mr. Arun Kunnambath (Senior Civil Police Officer, KPA Thrissur) |
| 19.08.2026 (Wed) | Campus Treasure Hunt | Group Tutors |
| 20.08.2026 (Thu) | Wellness Through Yoga and Sports | Ms. Gopika (Asst Prof, Physical Education Dept) |
| 20.08.2026 (Thu) | Talent Fiesta | — |
| Awareness Session on Road Safety & Responsible Road Behaviour |
| As part of VidyaRambh 2026, an awareness session titled “Road Safety & Responsible Road Behaviour – Every Student Matters” was organised to sensitise newly inducted students to safe and responsible practices on the road as they begin commuting independently, and to instil a sense of responsibility towards fellow road users. Mr. Ramesh M (Joint Regional Transport Officer, SRTO Guruvayoor) drew on his field experience in traffic regulation and enforcement to give students a practical, real-world perspective on road discipline, causes of accidents, and the legal and personal consequences of unsafe driving and riding. Key points covered included: common causes of road accidents among young and first-time riders (overspeeding, mobile phone use, non-use of helmets/seatbelts); legal age and licensing requirements and penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act; the importance of protective gear supported by real accident case observations; responsible road behaviour such as lane discipline, respecting pedestrians and signals, and avoiding triple riding and stunt driving; the dangers of drunken driving; and emergency response basics |
| A significant part of the session was devoted to the principles of defensive driving – encouraging students to adopt a proactive, anticipatory mindset. Core principles discussed included maintaining a safe following distance (the “3-second rule”), anticipating the actions of other road users, continuous scanning, adjusting speed to conditions, avoiding distractions, staying sober and alert, consistent use of protective equipment, planning an escape route, and strictly following signals and right-of-way rules. |
| Universal Human Values (UHV) ( 11/8/26) |
| The session on Universal Human Values (UHV) was organized on 11 August 2026 by the Group Tutors in their respective classrooms. It introduced students to the concept of harmony within oneself, with other human beings, with nature, and with society, highlighting its importance in personal development and ethical professional conduct. |
| Library Awareness Session (13/8/26) |
| In an insightful session designed to instill proactive learning habits at the start of college life, Mr. Girishkumar P C (Librarian, VAST) guided students through the complete ecosystem of the Vidya Central Library. The session acquainted students with the institution’s robust collection of over 38,000 books, academic journals and subscribed digital e-resources. Students were guided through the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) to search and locate titles efficiently, while also receiving a thorough briefing on membership registration, borrowing rules, and reading-room facilities designed to support their academic growth.Mr. Girishkumar highlighted the library’s vast holdings, including domain-specific reference books, national and international print journals, and general reading materials, while also familiarizing students with subscribed e-resource databases and digital archives. To enable smooth navigation of these assets, the session included step-by-step guidance on utilizing the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) for searching, locating, and reserving books. Additionally, key administrative aspects—such as membership activation, borrowing limits, renewal workflows, and reading-room decorum—were clearly outlined. |
| Motivation for Budding Engineers (13/8/26 and 17/8/26) |
| Delivered by Mr. Alex Chacko (Motivational Speaker and Research Scholar, GEC Thrissur) this motivational session drew on his own academic and research journey to encourage students to set clear goals, build strong fundamentals in their first year, stay curious beyond the syllabus, and make the most of co-curricular, project and research opportunities available on campus. |
| Meet Our Alumni (13/8/26 and 17/8/26) |
| As part of the Student Induction Programme, the various departments organized a “Meet our Alumni” session to help first-year students connect with the institution’s rich alumni network and gain insights from their professional journeys. The session aimed to inspire newly joined students by showcasing the achievements and career paths of alumni across different fields of engineering and technology. Each department organized dedicated interactive sessions where distinguished alumni were invited to share their experiences, challenges, and success stories with the incoming batch. |
| Awareness on the Dangers of Drug Abuse & Effective Stress Management (14/8/26) |
| The session conducted by Dr. Sebind Kumar (Asst Prof & Head, Dept of Psychiatry, Government Medical College, Kasaragod) sensitised students to the health, academic and social consequences of substance abuse, common warning signs and the influence of peer pressure, and equipped them with healthy coping strategies for managing academic and personal stress. Students were also made aware of the counselling support available on campus. |
| Digital Connect: Vidya Academy (17/8/26) |
| Mr. Arun Xavier (Asst Prof – Sr Grade,EEE Dept) walked students through the digital systems they would use through their course of study. It covered registration and navigation of the Vidya Academy ERP portal – for viewing attendance, timetables, internal assessment marks and academic notices – as well as setting up and using the KTU (APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University) student login for examination registration, hall ticket downloads and result viewing. Students were also advised on safe password practices and keeping their login credentials confidential. |
| Cyber Laws, Online Safety & Responsible Digital Citizenship (17/8/26) |
| Presented by Adv. Jayasree (TLSC, Talappilly, Legal Aid Lawyer & Cyber Law Practitioner) this session covered key provisions of cyber law, safe and responsible use of social media, protecting one’s digital footprint and personal data online, and recognising and reporting cyberbullying and online harassment – equipping students to navigate digital spaces safely and responsibly. |
| Understanding the Startup Ecosystem (18/8/26) |
| This session led by Mr. Hareesh K S (Co-Founder, Aevum Healthtech & Zapiens Innovation) introduced students to entrepreneurship as a viable career path alongside conventional employment. It covered the typical startup lifecycle from ideation and validation to incubation and funding, the role of the college’s innovation/incubation cell in supporting student ventures, and government schemes that support young entrepreneurs, with the aim of nurturing an innovation mindset among first-year engineering students. |
| Together for a Safe & Respectful Campus – Anti-Ragging, Prevention of Sexual Harassment & Grievance Redressal(19/8/26) |
| This session led by Mr. Arun Kunnambath (Senior Civil Police Officer, Kerala Police Academy, Thrissur) was organised to create awareness among newly admitted students on anti-ragging regulations, prevention of sexual harassment and the grievance redressal mechanisms available on campus, and to foster a safe, respectful and inclusive campus environment. The resource person emphasised the institution’s zero-tolerance policy towards ragging and harassment of any kind, and explained the channels available for reporting complaints – including the Anti-Ragging Committee, the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), the Grievance Redressal Cell and the Principal/HoD – assuring students that all complaints would be treated with confidentiality and sensitivity. |
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4. Overall Outcomes
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| VidyaRambh 2026 provided a comprehensive, well-rounded induction for the newly admitted batch of engineering students at Vidya Academy of Science & Technology, blending academic orientation with life-skills, safety awareness and co-curricular engagement. Feedback from the flagship awareness sessions indicates that students found the sessions relevant and practically useful, and the Academy intends to continue such structured induction and periodic awareness initiatives as part of its ongoing student welfare efforts.The seamless execution and engaging flow of the programme were successfully managed by the event coordinators Mr. Anil Melepurath (Asst Prof- Seln Grade,ECE Dept) and Ms. Divya Unni (Asst Prof- Sr Grade,ECE Dept) |
| The Editorial Team of News & Events joins the entire Vidya fraternity in extending heartiest appreciation to all involved on the successful conduct of the session that facilitate a smooth transition for first-year students into college life by familiarising them with the institution, academic expectations, faculty and support systems !!! |
