SMVDU, 14 April: A three day “International Conference on Theory of Architectural Design – Global Practices and Local Milieu’, organized by Department of Architecture and Landscape Design (DALD) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University was inaugurated on April 14th, 2017 by Shri K. K. Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. The session began with an introduction giving a brief about the proceedings. Ar. Anoop Kumar Sharma, Organizing Secretary and faculty DALD, delivered the introductory note and presented the agenda for the Conference. Ar. Aditya Kumar Singh, HOD, DALD welcomed the dignitaries. Chief Guest, Shri K. K. Sharma, Vice Chancellor Dr. Sanjeev Jain and Prof. V. Verma, Dean Faculty of Engineering addressed the gathering. The session was concluded by a vote of thanks by Ar. Navin Gupta, Joint Organizing Secretary ICTOAD. The proceeding of the conference was released by the dignitaries. There are more than 65 papers, plenary sessions, technical sessions, workshop for students are scheduled and there is representation from almost every State of India and also from abroad.
The Chief Guest, Shri K. K. Sharma focused on the need of safe roads/walkways in old cities of the country, landscaping along the roads and around the buildings for betterment with special attention to the safety of the children and the aged. He further stressed on the improvisation of the unauthorized colonies with minimum dismantling/demolishing of the existing structures with a proper provision of basic amenities. He expressed the need to address the housing problems in the urban area, migration from the rural and better traffic managements in the metro-cities. He also expressed his satisfaction and congratulated the SMVDU, its students, faculty and leadership upon getting ranked under 150 top universities of India by MHRD. He also said on the occasion that the university must look for educational collaborations, sustainable education and education that inculcate the sense of global citizenship. Vice Chancellor Dr. Sanjeev Jain felicitated Sh. K K Sharma.