Can escaping a futuristic AI lab or solving a fictional scientist’s disappearance make you a better engineer? At School of Technology Management & Engineering, NMIMS, Navi Mumbai, students proved that it could.
SVKM’s NMIMS addressed this by focusing on holistic, industry-aligned education. Its School of Technology Management and Engineering’s (STME) flagship festival, IGNITE 8.0, turned the campus into a playground for innovation, creativity, and problem-solving. The two-day carnival-themed event featured CodeChella, Fortune Teller’s Roll, Mission Mars, and Cypher’s Circus, designed to strengthen coding, strategy, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and technological know-how.
Students also competed in fan-favorites like Escape the Funhouse, solving AI and logic-based puzzles under pressure; Jack in the Box, building AI/ML projects with everyday objects while adapting to surprise twists; and Circo de la Muerte, piecing together AI-generated clues to solve a fictional scientist’s disappearance. These challenges helped develop analytical reasoning, creative storytelling, and teamwork.
Visionaries Who Made It Happen
At the inaugural ceremony, Dr. Arun Sharma, Director, NMIMS, Navi Mumbai reflected, “IGNITE 8.0 showcased the creativity, resilience, and leadership that define our student community at NMIMS, Navi Mumbai. It channeled their energy and imagination into a platform where knowledge met application, ideas drove innovation, and collaboration prepared them for impactful careers.”
Dr. Prasheel Pardhe, the Chief Guest for the event, emphasized ethical AI, saying, “IGNITE 8.0 stood as a powerful testament to the growing need for thoughtful, ethical, and inclusive conversations around responsible AI. Through this initiative, STME continued to lead from the front, fostering dialogue and a shared commitment to building AI systems that are fair, transparent, and human-centred.”
Dr. Preeti Gupta, Associate Dean, STME, NMIMS Navi Mumbai said, “Our aim was to provide students with a well-rounded learning experience, and IGNITE 8.0 embodied this vision. With its carnival theme, the two-day fest brought the campus alive with technical competitions, robotics challenges, coding sprints, entrepreneurial pitches, and fun activities—creating an unforgettable blend of innovation and festive excitement.”
Through hands-on, gamified experiences, IGNITE 8.0 showed that engineering education didn’t need to be confined to textbooks, producing graduates ready to innovate, adapt, and thrive.
About NMIMS Navi Mumbai
NMIMS Navi Mumbai, established by Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal (SVKM), offers industry-focused education with modern facilities and expert faculty across Management, Commerce, Law, Engineering, and more. The campus is driven by a vision to lead in technological and managerial innovation, nurturing global professionals and thought leaders.
Committed to holistic development, NMIMS Navi Mumbai shapes socially aware, resilient individuals ready to transform businesses and society. With a strong belief in innovation, diversity, and ethical values, the campus fosters creativity and excellence as part of the A++ accredited NMIMS family.
