Students should believe that all knowledge can be understood through a process of reasoning, says HOD

In a conversation with Shiksha.com, Dr N Muruganantham, Associate Professor & Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed to be University), talks at length about the teaching methodology adopted by the institute. PMIST has gone above and beyond to help students become industry-ready, from delivering value-added courses to encouraging hands-on experience.

Dr Muruganantham holds PhD degree from Anna University, Chennai. He is having more than 15 years of teaching & research experience.

Read the complete interview below.

Q: What are the salient features of the teaching methodology adopted by your college? How does this differ from others?

A: Our teaching methodologies are purely based on allowing our students to think and innovate new ideas and transforms their ideas into useful society-relevant products and also giving solutions to societal problems.

Our Innovative Teaching Methodology includes:

• Power Point Presentation including animation and ICT Tools.
• Quiz and Riddle.
• Tutorials, Assignments and Group Discussions.
• Guest Lectures and Technical Seminars Invites Expert Persons.
• Mini-Projects and Case Studies.
• E-content developed by our Department Faculty.
• Face to Face: Chalk and Talk.
• NPTEL-Course notes and videos.
• Virtual Lab and Web based Learning.
• Industrial and Field Visits.
• Open Courseware and Open Source Software.
• Soft Skill Programme.

We differ from others as below, 

• Concurrent Career Development Programme/ In-plant Training/ Internship Programme/ Organising Open House, Showcasing etc.
• Product/ Process/ Demo/ Case Study/ Model and SW package development in all laboratory teaching.
• Appraisal of Staff by StudentsCounseling System

Q: How are you preparing your students to be Industry ready?

A: Industry readiness is indeed the utmost crucial skill for students today. To help them stand out of the crowd of so many graduates is important so they can secure good placements for themselves. To help them become industry-ready, we –

• Offer several Value Added Courses relevant to the programme and recent trends in the industries
• Facilitate energy management and auditing
• Provide Hands-on training in Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)
• Teach them Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Designing and Fabrication
• Provide real-time exposure on Renewable Energy
• Bring industry-oriented consultancy projects onboard

Q: What are the qualities you are looking for in student applicants? What qualities do they need to do well in your course?

A: Students, where the validity of an idea is determined by logic such as revelations, meditation, emotions or observations will do well at PMIST.

To perform better in curriculum, students should believe that all knowledge can be understood through a process of reasoning, without any external sources.

Q: How do you ensure that your course curriculum is up to date and meets industry requirements?

A: The department provides the platform for the students to acquire engineering skills and technological knowledge to shape the students future. Measurable outcomes in all activities are practised by updating the curriculum to meet the industry expectations and recent trends in research.

The department practising outcome-based learning to make the students as future technocrats with the aim of developing students for the professional practice of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, the department offered various programmes and extends its contribution towards different fields like Energy Conservation and Auditing, Energy Efficient Systems & Renewable Energy Systems.

Q: Is your college receptive to innovation, technology, science & entrepreneurship? How? Could you cite some examples of these?

A: Motivating every individual in PMIST to study, analyse, observe and replicate the principles, philosophy and practice of Social Engineering. Students are encouraged to involve in earn while learn. Providing many skill-oriented training like Motor Rewinding, PCB Design & Fabrication, LED Lamp Assembly and Solar Panel Installation among others.