“Stay updated with the emerging technologies of the world such as artificial intelligence and data science,” S N Venkataraman, chief executive – ITC Packaging & Printing Business advised printing students. Venkataraman was the chief guest during the South Zone finale of the sixth edition of Print Olympiad held at the College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University.
He encouraged the students to devise inventive strategies aimed at enhancing productivity by integrating these cutting-edge technologies into the workplace. He emphasized that leveraging these technologies could streamline workflow processes, minimizing routine tasks and empowering engineers and designers to prioritize innovation and validation.
The South Zone finale of the sixth edition of the Print Olympiad is organized by the Offset Printers’ Association at the College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University, Chennai with the support of Arasan Ganesan Polytechnic College, Sivakasi.
Students and faculty from the College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University, Institute of Printing Technology, Chennai and Salesian Institute of Graphic and Arts, Chennai joined the event, eager to find out the winner of South Zone. Welcoming the audience Prof K Senthil Vadivu, head of the department of Printing and Packaging Technology, CEG, Anna University said it is an honour for the department to be part of the Print Olympiad, the only competition of its kind anywhere in the world.
Earlier, Prof Kamal Chopra, the project chairman, articulating its core objectives, emphasized that the Print Olympiad not only stands as India’s premier talent hunt in the printing realm but also boasts the distinction of being unparalleled globally. He highlighted that the competition’s primary objective extends beyond selecting a winner; rather, it aims to inspire students of printing and packaging technology to broaden their learning beyond the confines of textbooks.
This competition is made possible through collaborative partnerships with leading universities and printing institutions across the nation, solidifying its reputation as a trailblazer in the industry, inspiring innovation, and fostering excellence. Chopra presented a gold-plated ‘Proud to be a Printer’ pin to R Rashmitha, a third-year UG student of CEG for her initiative in assuming the role of photographer, single-handedly, for the event.
The guest of honor, Mohan Kumar, CEO of Prakash Flexibles, underscored the significance of remaining abreast and adaptable in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world. His words resonated deeply with the audience, inspiring them to embrace innovation and agility as guiding principles in an era defined by rapid transformation.
Provided a comprehensive overview, M Nandakumar coordinator South Zone, said, Initially the preliminary round of the Print Olympiad for the students studying in the printing institutions of South India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry) was held at virtual platform to select top five students of the region through MCQ test.
He congratulated Sreesankar E from Govt Polytechnic College, Palakkad, Shoranur, B Madhumitha, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Sc & Higher Edu. for Women, Coimbatore, Janis D and Praveen Kumar M S both from the Anna University, Chennai on being eligible for the South Zone Finale. Chief guest SN Venkataraman, along with the guest of honor S Mohan Kumar, presented certificates to these top five print students. Additionally, participation certificates were distributed to the first-round participants.
The South Zone Finale unfolded with an oral round, where students were presented with topics selected by the judges and tasked with delivering presentations within a designated time frame. The event commenced with the announcement of five diverse topics, granting participants the flexibility to select one according to their preference. Each student was then allocated a preparatory period, after which they were expected to deliver a speech lasting between five to seven minutes on their chosen subject.
Following the presentations, a question-and-answer session ensued, complemented by an audience poll to determine the winner based on predefined criteria. After the oral competition, judges shared their insights, commending all participants for their active involvement and offering encouragement for their future endeavors.
The members of the five-member jury were K Vipinendran, Associate professor Printing, Anna University, K Senthil Vadivu, Prof and head of printing at Anna University, D. Bhuvanesswari, deputy works manager, printing and stationery, government of Tamil Nadu, B Kumar, former professor of Anna University, and G N Visvakumar, Rajams Digital Offset Prints.
MS Praveen Kumar from College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University, was declared as the winner and was presented with a certificate and honored with the title of ‘Top Print Student South Zone’, thereby securing his eligibility to participate in the National Finale. In his address, Praveen expressed heartfelt gratitude to OPA, acknowledging their unwavering dedication. Describing the experience as truly remarkable, he underscored the wealth of knowledge gained throughout the process.
He extended appreciation to OPA for instituting the Print Olympiad, recognizing its invaluable role in providing participants with a substantial platform to showcase their talents and enhance their confidence. Praveen also advocated for the organization of more competitions akin to the Print Olympiad, proposing the inclusion of events like hackathons. Praveen said, “The Print Olympiad is helpful to express my views and learn so many things about our printing and packaging technology. Similarly, many more contests should be conducted to improve our thinking and knowledge.”
In his concluding remarks, Ashwani Gupta, co-chairman of the Print Olympiad project, expressed deep gratitude for the invaluable support of CEG, Anna University, towards this noble endeavor.
