We focus on innovative learning opportunities & let students choose what they want to learn and how: ARIET Professor

In a conversation with Shiksha.com, Professor Momin Hamza Mohd. Iqbal at Alamuri Ratnamala Institute of Engineering and Technology talks in detail about the Institute’s teaching pedagogy. He shares methodologies and practices adopted, such as applied learning, project-based learning, workshops, seminars, mock interview session and presentations, to make students industry-ready. Iqbal is an MSc degree holder in Physics and B.Ed degree holder from Mumbai University. He has over seven years of teaching experience.

Read the excerpts of the interview below:

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

A: Alamuri Ratnamala Institute of Engineering and Technology has adopted multiple methodologies to impart quality and everlasting impactful education to students. It has several features such as:

• Smartboard teaching, to make classroom learnings interactive and fun
• Hands-on training, to implement the concepts of applied learning. Learning while doing is one the instrumental way to teach students the most difficult concepts easily.
• Field visit, to give students exposure to the corporate world
• Expert lecture, to learn from the experience of leaders of the corporate world
• Project-based learning, an extended version of hands-on training wherein students get to work on real-life projects
• Presentation, to boost their confidence
• Center of excellence, to enhance their entrepreneurial skills
• Industry-based teaching, to educate them on the latest upgradations and advancements in the corporate world

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

A: To prepare students well for tomorrow, we have combined our various programmes, unique curriculum structure and teaching strategies to align well with this rapidly changing and evolving environment and provide students with the right preparation and skills for the future.

If we provide more innovative learning opportunities to students and let them choose between how and what they want to learn, it will lead to better content retention and higher student engagement. Students will begin to see learning as a process, rather than a finite learning experience. Our college believes that these four types of learning methodologies would facilitate this transition:

• Project-based learning
• Place-based learning
• Entrepreneurial skills and courses​
• Round out the curriculum

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

A: While evaluating the students at the time of selection, we look for zeal and passion to learn and explore in them. We don’t want students to just earn a degree and move out, rather we want to help them create a career path for themselves. But, that’s only possible if the students are ready to work hard.

Apart from passion and hard work to succeed in life, a student must also

• Focus on soft skills
• Be digitally literate
• Be interested to learn continuously
• Use new and emerging technologies
• Develop Resilience

The above skills are common to any job role and we make our students enhance these skills by the means of various activities such as personality development workshops, mock interview sessions and group discussion rounds, various seminars and workshops.

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

A: We consistently update and upgrade our curriculum according to the industry and needs of society.  We keep analysing our teaching methodology, design and delivery of the curriculum and extra-curricular activities. We take initiatives in research and also take feedback from the industry experts to embed current industry-level practices in our education system.

Q: Is your college receptive to innovation, technology, science & entrepreneurship? How?

A: We have a dedicated practical lab, language lab, training and placement cell, project factory, workshop, entrepreneurship cell, programmes for entrepreneurial students and software-based student management and exam systems.

So, we are open to innovate, introduce the latest technological advancements to our students, use science to make learnings easy and fun and encourage entrepreneurship. And, this is an ongoing process