There is a need for strong partnerships between academic institutions and the industry, says Dean Radhika

In a conversation with Shiksha.com Dean Radhika at MLR Institute of Technology talks at length about the teaching methodology adopted by the institute. She goes into detail discussing Navaratnas educational framework which is based on one foundational concept: the importance of providing a rounded education to students.

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 research in engineering education revealed that students learn best when they are actively involved. Every class session is devised to include opportunities that engage the students in active learning. To cater to different learning styles different pedagogies like micro-projects, COTs (Concept Oriented Tutorials), ALS (Active Learning Strategies), field visits, experts speech etc are used apart from lecture-based teaching.

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

A: Our Navaratnas - educational framework is based on one foundational concept: the importance of providing a rounded education to students. This dynamic, holistic approach is interwoven throughout everything we do students are continually evolving, as are their learning needs. But this growth is far from limited to academics. In fact, the MLRITs curriculum ensures that our students develop into well-rounded individuals -- mentally, physically, emotionally, socially, and culturally. Indeed, tomorrow’s leaders require a 21st century skill set which isn’t found in the average classroom.

Students are taught the importance of academic excellence while simultaneously learning universal values, ethics, discipline, creativity, and personality development which stay with them during their academic years and continue throughout life.

The integration of formal and informal learning opportunities are designed to give students more than just classroom knowledge, but also the tools to apply this knowledge in the real world making them industry ready.

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

A: Everyone has to understand that our capabilities are far from fixed. We look for students who have ‘Growth mindset’ and not a ‘Fixed mindset’. Our research findings have shown that a student who have a positive attitude towards change and perseverance were successful in getting good pay packs and settled in good positions. Every student gets a platform to horn the skills. It’s with the “Growth Mindset” that students can transform and acquire the skills.

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

A: There is a need for strong partnerships between academic institutions and the industry as rapid developments are happening in the area of technology, which is transforming every possible domain. As an autonomous institute we have taken the flexibility to include industry experts as a part of our curriculum design. Apart from curriculum design there are immense possibilities of linkages in several other areas including placements, curriculum redesign, teacher re-orientation, affiliated science and technology parks, joint research.

The interactions are happening at the department level and are helping the Institution in upgrading the teaching-learning process and providing a different experience to the teachers and students. Some areas where interactions are happening include curriculum design and development, introduction of new industry focused electives, faculty and student training, projects for students, additional courses and certifications for students to increase their employability, basic and applied R & D.

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

A: Latest developments in technology, science, entrepreneurship and innovative growth have always been the focus at MLRIT.

We have an earmarked facility for Innovation and Entrepreneurship called CIE. From first year itself courses on 3D printing, IOT are offered. The idea was to let students tinker with devices and technologies while in first year and to try out their innovative ideas and learn while doing.

Our students Aishwarya Jaiswal & Shaik Aamir Hussain have received a Startup grant of INR 10 Lakhs for prototype development from IISC for their startup idea on vertical farms. These students are trained from first year in CIE and participated in many competitions from first year itself.

Ten projects received appreciation awards from IIT Madras IMPACT 2019 and two were selected for mentoring by IIT Madras. These projects are from first year students who were trained in CIE.

So far 18 student start-ups are incubated from CIE.