Academic Archives | Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL)

by SSSIHL14/11/2020 Academic0 comments

World Diabetes Day 2020

Every year, 14 November is marked as World Diabetes Day to coincide with the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922.

The Dept. of Food & Nutritional Sciences, SSSIHL conducted a one-day webinar on 14 November 2020 led by Dr. V Mohan, Chairman and Chief of Diabetology, Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai. Dr. Mohan is also Member, Board of Trustees, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam. He is ranked among the 2% Scientists in the world and #1 Scientist in India in the field of Endocrinology and Metabolism by the Stanford University Global Ranking.

The topic of the webinar was: Are carbohydrates the main reason for the diabetes epidemic in India?

The session began with the welcome address by Dr. N Srividya, Head, Dept. of Food & Nutritional Sciences, SSSIHL, followed by an introduction by Prof. (Dr.) C B Sanjeevi, Vice Chancellor, SSSIHL.

Dr. Mohan, in his talk, elaborated about the correlation between carbohydrates and diabetes with scientific evidence. The highlights of his talk include: a revealing historical account of the increase in prevalence of diabetes in India, a holistic approach of restricting carbohydrate intake, adding sufficient protein and good fats to prevent diabetes, suitable alternatives to white rice, importance of physical activity etc.

Following the talk, a very interesting and informative question and answer session shed light on various queries of the audience.

#SSSIHLFoodNutritionalSciences #SSSIHL

by SSSIHL27/09/2020 Academic0 comments

National Nutrition Month Celebrations 2020

In line with the National Nutrition Month Celebrations 2020, the Dept. of Food & Nutritional Sciences, SSSIHL conducted an International e-conference on Nutritional and Health Interventions for Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Scenarios on 26-27 Sep 2020. The event included a Pre-conference webinar on 25 Sep 2020, Nutri-health Gardens–Sustainable Models for Food and Nutritional Security.

The event saw leading experts from various fields of health and nutrition bring together a plethora of scientific data and guidance on the current COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other expert advice.

Videos of each session are included below.

Inaugural Session: Intermittent Fasting – Is it for Diabetics?

Prof. (Dr.) C B Sanjeevi, Vice Chancellor, SSSIHL
The importance of intermittent fasting, ways of practicing it and precautions to be taken during altered metabolic conditions. His talk was interspersed with the latest and relevant scientific evidence and Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s message on fasting.

Session 1A: Challenges of COVID-19: Building Resilience in Youth

Dr. Parvathi U. Iyer, Director, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi
Major highlights on the ways to reduce the pandemic risk, its impact on the life of youth and empowering the youth with resilience.

Session 1B: Impact of Vitamin D status on COVID

Dr. Sunil Menon, Functional Medicine Expert, UK
Awareness of the inter-relationship between Vitamin D status of individuals and incidence of COVID-19 infection through scientific evidence and case studies. The talk discussed the health issues and infections linked with Vitamin D deficiency, its role in immune modulation and the optimization of Vitamin D levels during COVID-19 scenario.

Session 2A: Systems Approach of Ayurveda for Immune Protection

Dr. Savitri B Vasudev, Scientific Officer, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Dept. of Cardiology, Whitefield, and Ayurveda Practitioner, Pune
Cordial action needed for the maintenance of good health and also addresses the actions to be taken to reduce the virulence of the disease and to stop recurrence. Madam also brings forth the various ayurvedic strategies to complement innate immunity and the necessary ways to strengthen the acquired immunity.

PSession 2B: Battling Food Insecurity in the Pandemic and Role of Safety Net Programs

Manjula Malladi M.S., Assistant WIC/Chief Nutritionist, WIC Program, Dept. of Health, New JerseyThe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security and the possible effects on physical and mental health due to the lack of healthy and hygienic food. The various food programs and services provided to different sectors of the population in the United States. The adaptations made to the programs during pandemic to ensure food security of the population

Session 2C: Nutrition and Immune Function: Its relevance to COVID

Dr. B Sesikeran, former Director, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad
The impact of nutrition and lifestyle on innate and adaptive immunity. The role of nutrition from traditional Indian diets in enhancing immunity. The effect of ageing, obesity, gut microbiome on immunity, new predictors of inflammation, beneficial effects of intermittent fasting, role of micro and macro-nutrients in mitigating inflammation. Addressing discerning false claims, long-term consequences of COVID and emphasized on the need for urgent action.

Session 3A: Ayurvedic Diet and Lifestyle: A Holistic Intervention for Pandemic and Beyond

Dr. D Jayashree, Ayurvedic Physician and CEO, Shree Ayurvedic Multispecialty Hospital Pvt. Ltd., ChennaiThe perfect blend of Ayurvedic diet and regimen and its impact on one’s health, general preventive guidelines based on Ayurveda and the measures to promote immunity. Simple tips to prevent COVID-19 like nasyam, dhoop fumigation, yoga and dhanvantri mantra. Ways to keep up health by balancing the doshas, sequence of eating, fasting as a health maintenance tool and regimens during fever.

Session 3B: COVID-19: Doctor’s Experience on Treatment and Recommendations for Wellness

Dr. Meera Muruganandan, MD, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Boston University, BMC, Boston, USA
Various COVID-19 pandemic treatments and the necessary recommendations for managing stress and wellness. Timeline of COVID cases incidence, clinical presentation, risk factors, challenges faced in treatment as well as social challenges.

Session 3C: Feeding Options for the Elderly in COVID Scenario: The Sky’s the Limit

Ms. Aparna Marthi, Clinical Nutrition Manager, Lutheran Care Centre, Concord Village, New York, USA
Evidence showing the importance of the oral nutrition supplements, enteral nutrition, and its impact on gut health and an overview on parenteral nutrition.

by SSSIHL18/08/2020 Academic0 comments

The Spirit(-ual) of Life in Literature: Characters of Resilience

The Dept. of English Language & Literature presented an online webinar series – the first of its kind at the University – Lit-Treat: Webinar Series on Life, Language & Literature on 17 and 18 August, 2020.

The series invited a number of speakers, from luminaries in the Sai Organization to experts in English Literature, to address topics related to the title of the webinar series: The Spirit(-ual) of Life in Literature: Characters of Resilience.

Videos of each session are included below.

Plenary Talk – Job: Trials & Resilience

Sri K Chakravarthi (IAS Retd.), Chancellor, SSSIHL
Dwelling on the theme of the webinar – resilience – by drawing illustrations from the characters of Job from the Book of Ezekiel, and Satya Harishchandra from the Markandeya Purana, the talk highlights that the truly faithful ones can never be tempted to curse God or their fate despite unjustifiable tribulations that they are put through.

Academic Talk: Greying Characters of Mounting Spirit

Dr. B Venkata Ramana, Asst. Professor, Dept. of English Language & Literature, SSSIHL
The talk explores the characters of William Shakespeare as the springboard to discuss the theme of the webinar. Quoting copiously from Shakespearean plays, he evidences how aging characters display a mounting spirit because of their experience and wisdom.

Conversation: Characters of Resilience in Hardy and Hugo

Dr. Vivek Chauhan and Dr. Aruna Kumar Behera, Associate Professors, Dept. of English Language & Literature, SSSIHL
Conversation on two great literary classics: The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy & Les Miserable by Victor Hugo. The protagonists of both the novels, Michael Henchard and Jean Valjean respectively, are discussed as tragic heroes exhibiting extraordinary resilience.

Plenary Talk: Finding Resilience

Dr. Samuel H Sandweiss, MD
The talk addresses the topic of inner-resilience drawing from the speaker’s rich experience as a psychiatrist and as a devotee of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. He confirms love for and of God as an essential element for developing inner resilience.

Plenary Talk: Spiritual Nationalism Expounded by Indian Sages

Sri S Gurumurthy, Editor, Thuglak, Prolific writer, Chairman (Vivekananda International Foundation), Director (RBI Central Board)

Conversation: ‘Scholar Gipsy’ as a Symbol of Spiritual Growth in Arnold & Murdoch

Dr. Maitali Khanna in conversation with Dr. Dibba Bhargavi, Asst. Professors, Dept. of English Language & Literature, SSSIHL
An insightful presentation on the works of Matthew Arnold and Iris Murdoch.

Valedictory Remarks

Prof. (Dr.) C B Sanjeevi, Vice Chancellor, SSSIHL

by SSSIHL12/03/2020 Academic0 comments

Sustainable Future and Solidarity

Dr. Ross Jackson, a Danish-Canadian economist, author and philanthropist, visited Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and spoke to teachers and students of the Dept. of Management & Commerce about the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), which envisions a world of empowered citizens and communities, designing and implementing their own pathways to a sustainable future, and building bridges of hope and international solidarity. They do this by creating self-sustaining human settlements, which are in harmony with all aspects of life, including the cultural, ecological and spiritual dimensions. Several such communities across India and the world are now in existence, though a series of through grants and proactive initiatives.

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The effort is part of Gaia Trust, a Danish-based charitable association that he founded in 1987 to help promote a new, global consciousness which sees our entire planet as a living organism with Humankind as an integral part of the entity. To read more about the Trust, visit https://gaia.org

#SSSIHLManagementCommerce #SSSIHL

by SSSIHL29/02/2020 Academic0 comments

Symposium on Translational and Advanced Research Technologies (START)

The workshop brought together distinguished professors and scientists in the areas of Biosciences and Medicine.

Talks and discussions cantered on various topics: The importance of translational research and its applications, Green Chemistry: Plants as a Source of Bioactive Metabolites, Stem Cells: Their scope in Regenerative Research, How do we tackle resurgent drug-resistant Tuberculosis, Pharmaceuticals to Nutraceuticals – Why This Paradigm Shift, Oxylipid signaling in Health and Disease in plants and animals, and Hybridoma Technology in Health Care.

External experts and guests from: North Maharashtra University, National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Institute of Science, Central Food Technological Research Institute, University of Hyderabad, Defence Food Research Laboratory, DRDO

by SSSIHL28/02/2020 Academic0 comments

National Science Day 2020

Hundreds of budding scientists from ten high schools in and around Prasanthi Nilayam (including Sri Sathya Sai Primary School and Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School), along with SSSIHL students, put together an outstanding display of creative Science projects in celebration of National Science Day on 28 February 2020.

The day kicked off with an inspiring speech by Prof. (Dr.) C B Sanjeevi, Vice-Chancellor, SSSIHL, who started with an ode to Sir C V Raman (who inspired the National Science Day in India) and spoke on how lifestyle changes can mitigate many a modern disease, such as diabetes. He also elaborated on the hardships and sacrifices that Nobel laureates of the past (such as Joseph Murray and Barry Marshall) went through for the benefit of mankind.

Visiting students also got a tour of SSSHIL Central Research Instruments Faculty (CRIF).

The happy day ended with a prize distribution ceremony for the best Science projects.

by SSSIHL18/02/2020 Academic0 comments

Prof. Madhu Kapani – Lifetime Award

Prof. Madhu Kapani’s expertise in the field of Education spans 38 years. From a number of awards to teaching students from primary school up to Ph.D., to contributing content to written modules for M.Ed. programmes and speaking at and organizing Education conferences, she has contributed significantly to the field as a teacher, administrator and facilitator.

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Perhaps her most significant contribution has been to be an inspiration and role model in Value Education. She has numerous accolades in this area, and in particular, she has led the Dept. of Education at SSSIHL for several decades and ushered a whole generation of graduates equipped and willing to influence others on the path by example.

The Award was by the Indian Association of Teacher Education.

#SSSIHL #SSSIHLIntegralEducation #SSSIHLEducation

by SSSIHL17/02/2020 Academic0 comments

B.B.A. Students – Industrial Visit – Feb 2020

On 17 February 2020, II B.B.A. students of the Dept. of Management & Commerce visited were Volvo Construction Equipment, Bangalore as part of their annual Industrial visit. The students were given a tour of the factory that included the assembling of equipment. They also learnt about Volvo’s manufacturing process, the integration of Operations & Technology, and Sales & Marketing functions.

#SSSIHLManagementCommerce #SSSIHL

by SSSIHL14/02/2020 Academic0 comments

SSSIHL RBI Policy Challenge

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) wins both the State and Zonal rounds of the prestigious Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Policy Challenge 2020. Three students of the Dept. of Economics, under the guidance of Dr. Gopakumar K U (Asst. Professor, Economics), represented SSSIHL.

The RBI policy challenge is an annual competition conducted by the RBI for universities and colleges across India to spread knowledge about the framework of the monetary policy and other related monetary and banking issues among students.
At the state level, SSSIHL submitted an essay on Non-Banking Finance: Regulatory challenges and concerns, with a focus on how ethical considerations are a requirement in today’s regulatory framework.

At the Zonal level, competing with universities from other South Indian states, each of the state-level winners were asked to make a 15 minutes presentation on the topic, International Trade in Banking Services.

The presentations were judged by an elite panel of members that included Prof. Suresh Babu M (IIT Madras), Anuj Sethi (Senior Director, Ratings, CRISIL Ltd.) and Radhika Mervin (Associate Editor, The Hindu Business Line).

The SSSIHL presentation emphasized prospects and opportunities for Indian banks in opening subsidiaries abroad. They backed their proposal with historical data, economic theory and an empirical model.

The SSSIHL team will now compete at the final, national-level round in March 2020.

#SSSIHLEconomics #SSSIHL

by SSSIHL11/02/2020 Academic, Alumni0 comments

WordPress Training

WordPress is the world’s most popular content management system (CMS) that currently powers over 35% (almost half a billion) of all internet websites.

Early in 2020, at the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus, SSSIHL, Sri S Sayeesh, alumnus, SSSIHL and Principal Consultant, Mindtree Ltd., Bengaluru, conducted a WordPress training for administrators and content editors.

The sessions, conducted over two days for a three-hour duration each, included a detailed walkthrough of the various features of WordPress. Sri Sayeesh also presented live demos from a few professional websites built and authored by him.

#SSSIHL #SSSIHLAlumni