Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Wednesday urged students of the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Kottayam, to use technology responsibly and in ways that strengthen society, as the institute marked a major convocation with degrees awarded to hundreds of engineering and research graduates.
The ceremony, which conferred degrees on 386 BTech students, 84 MTech graduates and eight PhD scholars, also recognised academic excellence through 55 merit certificates. The scale of the graduating cohort reflected the institute's growing role in India's technical education landscape, where engineering institutions are increasingly expected not only to produce skilled professionals but also to shape ethical decision-makers for the digital economy.
Ethical Technology
Arlekar's message placed responsibility at the centre of the graduation moment, a reminder that India's technology sector is no longer judged solely by innovation or scale. As digital systems influence governance, commerce, communication and public life, the governor's appeal aligned with a broader policy conversation about the social consequences of emerging technologies, from data privacy and algorithmic bias to cybersecurity and misinformation.
For graduates entering a competitive market, the warning was also practical. The country's technology workforce is expanding quickly, but so are the expectations placed on it. Employers now seek engineers who can build reliable systems, researchers who can solve complex problems, and professionals who understand that technical choices can have legal, economic and human consequences. In that sense, the governor's remarks were not ceremonial filler but a direct appeal to the next generation of builders in a sector that increasingly shapes public trust.
The convocation also highlighted the continuing importance of institutions such as IIIT Kottayam in India's higher-education strategy. IIITs were created to strengthen advanced technical training and research, and their graduates are often expected to contribute to high-growth areas such as software engineering, artificial intelligence, data systems, electronics and applied research. The presence of eight PhD scholars among the awardees signalled that the institute is also deepening its research profile, not merely expanding undergraduate output.
Degrees And Recognition
The distribution of awards suggests a maturing academic ecosystem. The 386 BTech degrees represent the largest share of the graduating class, reflecting the institute's core undergraduate pipeline. The 84 MTech degrees indicate a parallel emphasis on specialised postgraduate training, which is increasingly important as India seeks more advanced talent in niche technology domains. The eight PhD scholars point to a research layer that can support innovation, faculty development and industry collaboration over the longer term.
The 55 merit certificates added another dimension to the event by formally recognising distinction rather than mere completion. Such awards matter in a higher-education environment where competition is intense and academic performance is often tied to placement opportunities, scholarships and research prospects. They also reinforce the idea that excellence in technical education is not limited to coding ability or exam scores, but includes discipline, consistency and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to institutional life.
The governor's intervention comes at a time when India is pushing to expand its digital capabilities while also confronting the risks that accompany rapid technological adoption. From public digital infrastructure to private-sector innovation, the country's growth story increasingly depends on engineers and researchers who can balance ambition with accountability. That balance was the central message of the day: technology is a force multiplier, but only when guided by ethics, judgment and social awareness.
For the graduating class, the convocation marked both an ending and a test of relevance. Their degrees open doors into industry, research and entrepreneurship, but the governor's remarks suggested that the real measure of success will lie in how they use their skills. In a country where technology now touches nearly every sector, the call to act responsibly is not abstract. It is a standard that will shape careers, institutions and public confidence in the digital age.