Mr. Dr. S.Manikandan has been working as an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department at Meenakshi Sundararajan Engineering College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He has done ME and PhD as part of his academics. He is a power electronics drives specialist with an amazing 10 years of experience in the teaching field. His areas of interest are E-vehicle and Machine learning and he has also published many research papers in journals of International and National repute.

MSEC Chennai

Being a Faculty of the EEE Department, what are your responsibilities towards the students?

"Providing job oriented education and amenities to students is my responsibility"

As an Assistant Professor of Meenakshi Sundararajan Engineering College, I need to take lectures regularly and assist students in their projects and academic queries whenever required. And ensuring students all around development, making them disciplined and monitoring their academic progress and performance also comes under the scope of my responsibilities.

How do you maintain healthy relations with the students and fellow faculty?

"By being a good communicator, listener and trusted person for them"

I use a simple concept called a two-by-ten approach through which I interact with my dear students about anything they would like to share, and this interaction is just for two minutes for 10 consecutive days. And to introduce practical perspectives towards subjects, I encourage them to participate in workshops and take real time projects where they can utilize their existing skills and learn new one. 

How do you introduce a practical and industry oriented approach towards subjects?

"By keeping ourselves updated with latest trends and requirements of industrial world"

We keep ourselves updated with the current trends of the industrial world and technologies being used there, and also strive to implement them in daily activities of our college. And workshops are also conducted by us where we invite smart people from the industry to share their ideas, experience and expectations with us, and this gives us better insight of how we can improve our teaching pedagogies and research facilities in college.

What best practices are offered by your department to students to help them gain necessary skills?

"Guest lectures, professional visits, counseling sessions and placement training are organized by us"

Our college offers various services to students including counseling and personality grooming sessions, placement training programs, internships, industrial visits etc. Also we regularly organize corporate lectures, summer training and internship, ecube and international conferences.

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How do you strategize and upgrade the curriculum of your institution to make it befitting for students?

"We regularly take feedback from students and suggestions from teachers and experts to update it"

We follow an outcome based curriculum to provide employment oriented education to students. And we regularly take feedback from students about the subject syllabus and teaching methodologies and changes they want to see in curriculum. Outcome based approach while designing and updating the curriculum help us a lot as goals are defined in the start and the roadmap becomes easy. In addition to this, inputs are taken from eminent industry experts and academicians to include new programs as per changing needs of the corporate sector.

What are your views upon the placements and higher education of students from your department?

"We are doing great and provide relevant training and information session to students for both the things"

We provide our full support and assistance to students for both higher education and placement by conducting appropriate personality development training, guest sessions and extra classes and we also provide coaching and counseling sessions to educate them about the scope, universities and institutions and about the application procedure as per their interests and course they want to pursue. 

How do you prepare your students to deal with this competitive world? 

"By encouraging our students to not compare themselves with others and participate in events"

For the purpose of preparing our students to compete confidently with this realistic yet challenging world, we keep motivating them to believe in themselves and not to compare their individuality with anyone as they are unique and best in their own way. We also ask them to participate in competitions and events organised by us and other colleges as well.

Which extracurricular activities are organized in college to enhance the skills of the students?

"We organise Social Beneficiary Innovation Program to select best project proposal of students and provide funds to them"

Our college organizes a Societal Beneficiary Innovation Program every year where students submit their project proposals and best projects receive financial assistance from Management and Industries. We also encourage them to develop innovative thinking capabilities so that they can utilize their knowledge, skills and experience to solve real world problems. 

What are the specific challenges your institute might be facing currently?

"Unavailability of funds to establish proper infrastructure for new programs is a hurdle" 

The collaboration between the industry eminent personalities and the faculty members of our college in curriculum development at university level may be a complex issue in my opinion. Because, ideally we would like to see university programmes able to keep up with the fast changing needs of the industries. Also we face hurdles in getting proper funds and highly qualified subject specialists. 

How does your institution enhance the faculty skills and prepare them as per industry standards?

"They are trained by training programs conducted jointly by our college and industry partners"

Our college has signed various MOUs with reputed institutions, industries and corporate houses to bring best learning opportunities for faculty in college and promote the ambiance of collaborative research and development in campus for students and faculty benefits.

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Any valuable advice which would you like to share with the students to have a prosperous career ahead?

"Find a job that suits your passion and skill set"

I would advise my students to choose a job that suits your passion and skills. Also upgrade your technical and soft skills aptitude skills. Define short term achievable goals for yourself and stay motivated and dedicated towards them.