BITS Pilani celebrates convocation 2024, over 15,000 degrees awarded

Abstract

The BITS Pilani convocation marked the graduation of more than 15,000 students, showcasing outstanding academic and research achievements while strengthening its bonds with industry leaders and alumni. n Short

More than 15,000 degrees were conferred, including 3,893 to women graduates BITS Pilani achieves 81% national placement rate Alumni pledge USD 6 million to BITS endowment fund

BITS Pilani, an esteemed institution for higher education and innovation, held its convocation ceremony at the Pilani campus, awarding degrees to 1,832 students across BE, MSc, ME, and PhD programmes. Across all campuses, BITS Pilani awarded a total of 15,681 degrees this year, including Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP).

Notably, 3,893 women graduated, emphasising the institute’s commitment to fostering diversity in STEM fields. The ceremony was honoured by prominent dignitaries, including Chief Guest Dr S Somanath, Chairman of ISRO, and Guest of Honour Sanjay Mehrotra, President and CEO of Micron Technology. Both emphasised BITS Pilani's crucial role in fostering collaboration between academia and industry. Dr Somanath inspired students, underscoring India’s role as a global technology leader, while Mehrotra encouraged graduates to innovate and pursue inclusive development. PLACEMENT RECORD AT BITS PILANI

The institution recorded an impressive national placement rate of 81 percent, with the Pilani campus achieving 80 percent placements.

Graduates were placed predominantly in IT, banking, finance, and electronics, with top recruiters like Google, Microsoft, Cisco, and Goldman Sachs. Emerging industries, including high-frequency trading and supply chain management, also featured prominently, with firms like Tower Research Capital and Micron recruiting BITS Pilani talent.

BITS Pilani reported growth in PhD enrolments, achieving a compound annual growth rate of over 20 percent over the past five years, with 42 percent female scholars among over 2,050 current candidates. In FY 2023-24, the institute secured 72 research projects totaling ₹81.33 crore and filed 121 patent applications, reaching a cumulative 419 filed and 107 granted patents to date.

The event also saw the launch of the BITS Pilani Endowment Fund, with six alumni pledging $1 million each toward the $100 million fund for campus development projects.

The institution’s alumni network has significantly contributed to this year’s success, with over 150 alumni-led organisations offering internship placements. The institute celebrated alumni achievements with awards, including the prestigious BITS Ratna Award to Pratul Shroff, and Distinguished Alumnus Awards to accomplished figures across various sectors.