SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday inaugurated the 11th National Conference and Exhibition on Emerging and Innovative Trends in Engineering Technology (NCEITEET) at the Government College of Engineering and Technology (GCET), Jammu, stressing the need to balance technological advancement with cultural preservation while promoting innovation among youth.
The two-day conference is being organised by GCET Jammu in technical collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur and in association with the World Consortium of Universities.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the newly constructed School of Architecture (SoA) building at GCET, built at a cost of Rs 19.71 crore, and extended his best wishes to students and faculty. He emphasised the importance of architecture in reflecting cultural and historical identity, urging students to adopt a forward-looking approach while remaining rooted in heritage.
Abdullah said that while modernisation is important, equal attention must be given to preserving cultural ethos, expressing concern over the declining focus on heritage conservation in construction practices across Jammu and Kashmir.
Highlighting the theme of the conference, he said discussions on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning were highly relevant and particularly significant for sectors like tourism.
Recalling his tenure as Tourism Minister, he said the use of AI could greatly improve visitor experience, destination management and service delivery in Jammu and Kashmir. However, he cautioned that technological adoption must be balanced with employment generation.
He said that in a region facing unemployment challenges, technology should complement human effort rather than replace it, noting that tourism remains a key source of livelihood across multiple segments.
The Chief Minister said attracting tourists is not difficult, but ensuring repeat visits requires consistent service quality and improved infrastructure. He referred to diverse tourism offerings including pilgrimage tourism such as Mata Vaishno Devi, border tourism at Suchetgarh, and leisure tourism across the Valley.
He announced that funds would be allocated this year for constructing an auditorium at GCET to improve academic infrastructure and support institutional activities.
Responding to a student’s demand, he also assured efforts to establish an incubation centre at the institution within the year, aimed at promoting startups and entrepreneurship among youth.
He said the government is committed to creating an environment where young people become job creators rather than job seekers, adding that supporting innovation and entrepreneurship is a key priority.
During the event, the Chief Minister released e-proceedings of the conference featuring 28 shortlisted research papers and visited exhibition stalls showcasing student innovations from Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country. He also interacted with participants and reviewed various technological demonstrations.
He further visited exhibitions by power companies and inspected facilities at the institution, including the School of Engineering.
Education Minister Sakeena Itoo, addressing the gathering, said innovation and research are essential for the future of education and stressed the need for institutions to evolve into centres of excellence.
She said students must be empowered to become job creators and highlighted the role of the newly inaugurated School of Architecture in shaping communities and infrastructure.
MLA Nagrota Devyani Rana, IIT Kharagpur Organising Chairperson Prof Raja Dutta, and GCET Principal/Director Sameru Sharma also addressed the event, emphasising academic collaboration and innovation-driven development.
Two GCET alumni shared their professional experiences, encouraging students to pursue innovation and perseverance.
The conference brought together academicians, researchers, industry experts and students from across the country to deliberate on emerging trends in engineering and technology.
