Dibrugarh: A group of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer trainees from the 2025 batch, currently undergoing their foundational training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, visited the Dibrugarh University Institute of Engineering and Technology (DUIET) on Saturday as part of their Winter Study Tour.The tour was an enriching exchange that brought together the country’s future administrators and one of Assam’s premier technical institutions.The Winter Study Tour forms a core component of the IAS Professional Course, specifically designed to broaden the trainees’ exposure beyond administrative theory. The programme takes them to a diverse range of institutions, including skill development centres, healthcare facilities, regulatory bodies, educational institutions and cultural organisations. Through such visits, officer trainees gain practical insights into curriculum design, training methodologies, apprenticeship models, research and development ecosystems and the day-to-day functioning of institutions that form the backbone of India’s development landscape.DUIET director Prasenjit Talukdar warmly welcomed the visiting officers, felicitating each of them with the traditional Assamese phulam gamusa. He subsequently presented an overview of the institute, covering its academic programmes, curriculum framework, research priorities and notable achievements, offering the trainees a clear picture of DUIET’s academic standing and institutional growth.A highlight of the visit was a technical session on “AI in Governance,” conducted by Abhijit Baruah, assistant professor in the department of computer science and engineering at DUIET. The session sparked considerable interest among the trainees, given the increasing relevance of artificial intelligence in modern public administration and policy delivery.Following the session, the trainee officers engaged in an open interaction with heads of departments, faculty members and students. The exchange proved particularly inspiring for students, as the IAS probationers shared their personal journeys, preparation strategies and the motivations that drove them toward one of the country’s most competitive examinations.“Interactions like these bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world administrative challenges,” said one of the visiting officers, reflecting on the value of the visit.The programme was attended by Juri Doley, assistant commissioner of Dibrugarh, who served as the nodal officer from the district administration. Gunadeep Chetia, senior programmer at Dibrugarh University, coordinated the event as the nodal officer from the university administration, ensuring the visit was both well-organised and productive for all participants.
