Dr. R. Udaiyakumar is the Principal in Kathir College of Engineering, Coimbatore, India. He holds a Ph.D. degree, apart from Postgraduate and Undergraduate in the technical field. He has authored a book on “Digital System Design'' and published more than 30 papers in International Journals. He has been serving in this field for more than 22 years. His areas of research include Low Power VLSI architectures, Antennas and Electron Optics. He is a Recognised Research Supervisor for guiding Ph.D. scholars in the faculty of Information and Communication Engineering. 

Kathir College of Engineering

What are the key factors that keep you connected with the education sector?

“The opportunity to interact with highly-educated and capable young thinkers” 

We should not treat Education as a revenue stream or a business for profit. As an academic, I always enjoy interacting with young thinkers who are always up-to-date and capable of finding effective solutions to problems. Accordingly, the key factors that appeal to me are: 

  • Providing Knowledge Transfer 
  • Imparting required Skills 
  • Building a very good attitude 

What is your philosophy of leadership?

“The ability to work with a strong team is crucial to success”

The best leaders are always team players. Nothing can be accomplished without a strong team. Every new initiative should be tested by the leader and passed on only after the leader is convinced of its success. My leadership style fits into this category 

How does the curriculum of your college ensure the best practice of industry?

“By focussing on experiential learning and practice-based modules”

 At Kathir College of Engineering, we ensure that students are involved in a lot of activities that enhance their Higher Order Thinking skills. A good quality engineer should only be produced through practice-oriented Learning as it provides the best preparation for their future career. We make use of an AI-driven Edu-Tech Platform. The platform captures learning outcomes automatically and teachers can analyze them to guide them in essential areas. 

What do you think your responsibilities to the Institution and the students are?

“To impart the best possible technical education to budding engineers”

My role as the Head of Institution is to provide the assurance that the best practices we employ are always geared toward producing graduates who are industry-ready. Throughout the year, all activities, both curricular and extracurricular, are planned accordingly. Through inclusiveness, my responsibility would be to plan for the goals of our institution to achieve our vision and mission.

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What do you think should be the Institution’s top priority over the next 10 years?

“Enable students with professional and innovative knowledge”

  • The goal is to produce engineers rather than graduates 
  • Critical thinking and creative thinking are two of the most important skills that all students should possess 
  • They should be industry ready by tackling real-time industry issues for their projects 
  • Be a good citizen for the country 

What would you like people to know about your Institution they may not know?

“Digital profiles for the students and a unique startup studio”

We do not believe that quality education can be provided only by established institutions. Our startup studios are providing quality engineering education with an international flair. As part of their studies, students help their associated companies solve problems. To make sure our students' learning behaviour is recorded minute by minute, we generate a tamper-proof Digital Profile. As a passport to the industry, the Digital profile is incredibly valuable. 

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What are some of the biggest challenges in the higher education sector?

“Incompetency in terms of imparting skill-based domain knowledge”

  • Students are not given the required awareness of the corporate world.
  • Nowadays, there is less interest in Engineering Education.
  • In India, GER can be improved only by providing quality education and producing a lot of employable graduates. 

Any suggestions you would like to give to the current aspiring students?

“Being self-reliant and motivated is highly essential”

We ask you to leave the herd mentality behind. The best thing for your friend doesn't necessarily mean the best thing for you. Choosing the right institution and the right degree program can make all the difference to your future. Don't rely heavily on others and focus on your own growth first. At the very least, you should complete a Graduate Degree rather than dropping your studies in school. 

Don't always think of becoming an employee. Being a good employer is also possible. Investigate your options and try to achieve success.