The Association of Computer Engineers (ACE), Department of Computer Engineering, Padre Conceicao College of Engineering, organized the Installation Ceremony of the ACE Student Council for the academic year 2026-27 on 19th August 2026. The event marked the formal induction of the newly appointed council members and included a technical seminar delivered by the guest of honour, Mrs. Komala Soares.

Padre Conceicao College of Engineering, established in 1997, has consistently upheld high standards in academics while promoting innovation, values, and inclusivity. Within the Department of Computer Engineering, ACE has remained one of the most active and consistent student bodies, creating platforms for students to engage, learn, and contribute through workshops, guest lectures, competitions, and its annual magazine.

Proceedings

The ceremony commenced with a welcome address by the compere, Ms. Sameeha Modak, and co-compere, Ms. Gracy Alok Prakash, who extended a warm welcome to the gathering and introduced the occasion. This was followed by a brief acknowledgement of the institution and the Department of Computer Engineering’s contribution to student growth.

The Head of the Department, Dr. Supriya Patil, welcomed the guest of honour, Mrs. Komala Soares, with a bouquet and addressed the gathering.

Installation of the ACE Student Council 2026-27

The newly appointed ACE Student Council for the academic year 2026-27 was introduced and formally installed. The council members took an oath of office, pledging to carry out their respective responsibilities to the best of their knowledge and ability.

Following the introduction of the council, the Executive Team took a group oath, pledging to fulfil their responsibilities for the ACE Student Chapter with dedication and integrity.

Guest Session

The Technical Lead, Ms. Gracy Alok Prakash, introduced the guest of honour, Mrs. Komala Soares, an accomplished academician with over 25 years of teaching experience, including 10 years at an engineering college. Mrs. Soares is an expert in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Embedded Systems, holds advanced qualifications in Machine Learning and AI from IIIT College of Engineering, and has recently submitted her PhD thesis on Internet of Vehicles (IoV) Security and Data Privacy.

Mrs. Soares has presented her research in journals, international conferences, and book chapters, and has designed an innovative hardware prototype, TinyOBU, which has been granted a patent by the Office of Intellectual Property of India. She addressed the gathering with an insightful and inspiring seminar on her areas of expertise, following which she was felicitated with a memento as a token of appreciation from the council.

Magazine Announcement

The Secretary, Miss Harshal Salunke, addressed the gathering regarding the upcoming edition of the ACE annual magazine. This year’s theme, “Engineering for a Greener Tomorrow: Environmental Sustainability & Our Role,” draws inspiration from the PO7 graduate attribute, which encourages social and environmental responsibility in engineering practice. Students were invited to contribute articles, poems, puzzles, news, humour, art, and photographs, and were requested to share copies of certificates for extra-curricular and co-curricular achievements with the faculty in-charge, Ms. Andrea D’Souza, for feature in the magazine.

Vote of Thanks

The Networking Lead, Mr. Ruben Pinheiro, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the Head of the Department, the guest of honour, faculty members, and all attendees for their presence and support in making the event a success.

Conclusion

The ACE Installation Ceremony 2026-27 concluded on a positive note, with the newly appointed council being extended best wishes for their journey ahead. Feedback was collected from attendees, and the event concluded with a group photograph of the council members. The ceremony successfully set the tone for an active and engaging year ahead for the Association of Computer Engineers.