INDIA EDITION
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COLLEGES AND INSTITUTIONS IN
KARNATAKA
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Dr. P. Shyama Raju, Founder and Chancellor
UNIVERSITY
THE ART OF MAKING A RECESS R ECE SS ION-PROOF
JANUARY 2020
CA CAM MP PUS US
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Higher Education Digest January 2020
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Higher Education Digest January 2020
Connecta
January 2020
Vol - 2 Issue - 1
Colleges and Institutions in Karnataka Special (India Edition) Editor in Chief
Dr. Manoj Varghese
Managing Editor Sarath Shyam
Consultant Editors
Dr. Johny Andrews Navya Venkatesh Shyam S
Jessica Jo Stanly Lui Emma James
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Art and Design Ajay K Das
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Higher Education Digest January March 2019 2020
MANAGING EDITOR’S NOTE
Karnataka: The Home of Excellence
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he year 2019 wasn’t satisfactory for businesses across the country. As per the reports published by the Economic Times, “India’s GDP growth has dropped to 4.5 percent in the July-September quarter of 2019-20, a free fall from the government’s ambitious call for a double-digit growth not so long ago.” Apparently, the decline in the economic activities happened last year has not really affected the recruitment activities in India’s premier colleges. For instance, Bangalore based Reva University and RV College of Engineering saw a considerable increase in the number of companies visiting the campus offering salary packages ranging from Rs. 4 LPA to Rs. 50 LPA. It is not just the colleges in Bangalore that performed well in this difficult time. Many excellent institutions that do not have a Bangalore address
have also managed to attract recruiters to their campus and grab high-paid jobs for their students. However, Karnataka as a state has so many things to be done to become a global hub of education. The state has been able to establish the capacity, as the number of higher education institutions increased three-fold in the last 10 years. Now, the need of the hour is to bring them on par with international standards to ensure quality skilled and technical manpower. In this issue, we have picked ‘10 Must-Watch Colleges and Institutions in Karnataka’ to help aspirants in India who are looking for a cutting-edge education that will prepare them to be the leaders of tomorrow. On the cover, we feature REVA University that stands apart from its peers with its innovative model of education and faculty members of high caliber. Enjoy Reading.
Sarath Shyam
Higher Education Digest January 2020
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ADVISORY BOARD
Dr. Kuldeep Nagi, Ph.D, MBA, BSc. Program Director of Ph.D, Recipient of Fulbright Fellowship Award & Dan Evans Award for Excellence and Writer columnist.
Dr. Ajay Shukla, Ph.D, MBA, BE. Dr.Varughese K.John, PhD, MBA, MPhil, MCom, LLB.
Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Higher Education UAE
Program Director, MS in Management Program, GSATM - AU
6 Mr. Sreedhar Bevara, MBA, B.Com Senior General Manager: Panasonic Middle East & Africa, Thought Leader, Speaker & Author of ‘Moment of Signal’ (Amazon’s International Bestseller)
Mr. Amulya Sah, PGD PM & IR, PG Diploma in PM&IR (XISS Ranchi) Senior Director HR. Head HR group Samsung R&D Institute India,Transformative HR Leader, Change agent, Digitization facilitator, Engagement architect, Trainer and Diversity champion.
Major General (Rtd.) Dr. Sunil Chandra, VSM (Vishishta Seva Medal), Ph.D, M. Phil, MA, M.Ed, PGBDA Ex-M D Army Welfare Education Society, ExCOO GEMS Education - India, Ex- Addl Dir Gen - Army Education, Mentor - Adventure-Pulse
Asst. Prof. Dr. Suramya Mathai, Ph.D,M.Ed,MA,BA. Teachers Training Expert, Writer, Author, Speaker & Social Worker
Higher Education Digest January 2020
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Higher Education Digest January 2020
MENTOR’S MANTRA
ACADEMIC VIEW
10 - 13
24 - 26
40 - 42
Do not Underestimate the Kids
How to Do What You Love to Do?
How is Technology Changing Education?
Caroline Dahl, PhD, Technology Innovator, RISE
Ashwani Kumar Prithviwasi, Principal & Managing Director, Delhi Collage of Art (DCA)
Pallavi Upadhyaya, Principal, Delhi Public School - Raj Nagar Extension, New Delhi
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T H E A R T OF M A K IN G A R EC E SSI O N - P R O OF C A M P U S Higher Education Digest January 2020
BOOK REVIEW
The Alchemist and Paulo Coelho’s Magical Lessons on
‘How to Follow Your Dreams’
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32 - 35 BMS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
The Gateway to New Age Innovation
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36 - 39
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M.S. ENGINEERING COLLEGE
Making Socially Responsible Engineers
44 - 47 RV COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Driving Life-Changing Innovations
48 - 52 T.A. PAI MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
The Smile of Success
Higher Education Digest January 2020
MENTOR’S MANTRA
Do not Underestimate
the Kids 10
How was your experience at the Tekla workshop? What is your opinion about India’s effort in encouraging a girl’s early interest in technology? The girls were brilliant. Curious and keen to understand what I taught, with the streak of independence necessary to make technology their own. We used a modular electronics kit that I developed for Tekla, which changes behaviour depending on how you put it together. The girls learnt to solder in no-time, and then proceeded to put together circuit modules to create everything from a darkness-activated night light to turntable-controlled motors and speakers. The kids got to keep all gear that they made. Just like any bunch of kids, their prior experience varied. One girl proudly told me she had constructed a solar cell at home! She was ultrafast at soldering and could name several components. Others had never seen a printed circuit board before. India is a large and diverse country, and if the smart girls and teachers that I met at Tekla Mumbai are anything like the rest of the population, India clearly has a bright future ahead. As the Chairman at Stockholm Makerspace and Board Member of Makers of Sweden, Technology Innovator at RISE, what is your take on the major differences between Indian STEM education system vs global studies? What should be the focus of Indian educators to reach the global standards of STEM education? While I’m no expert in Indian STEM education, I do have experience from other countries. The Swedish educational system offers a playful learning environment with minimal hierarchy. Of course, in order to make anything better we need numbers on how things are today, so we keep tabs on kids’ enrolment, have women instructors and a governmental decree to focus on digital
Higher Education Digest January 2020
India is a large and diverse country, and if the smart girls and teachers that I met at Tekla Mumbai are anything like the rest of the population, India clearly has a bright future ahead
11 Caroline Dahl
Encouraging a girl’s early interest in technology cuts a path toward strengthening our society and ensuring that the initiative can develop competence and produce research at the highest possible levels. The Tekla Festival was founded by Swedish recording artist Robyn with the aim of getting more girls involved in STEM. This year, under the guidance of Caroline Dahl, PhD, Technology Innovator at RISE, Chairman at Stockholm Makerspace and Board Member of Makers of Sweden the Tekla workshop was held at Experimental Theatre, NCPA on December 2019, where girls of age between 11 and 15 from schools of Mumbai took the opportunity to explore, learn and enjoy STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). In an exclusive interaction with the Higher Education Digest, Caroline Dahl talks about her experience at Tekla Workshop, STEM education in India and many more.
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The challenge will be to marry the digital era with traditional topics so that the journey becomes seamless, and traditional topics are wholly accepted as the mission-critical elements that they are
Higher Education Digest January 2020
skills. In practice, this has translated into a lot of software development, probably because several hugely successful software companies have sprung out of Sweden. Besides, the infrastructure is already there in the shape of a ton of touchscreens, half of which we carry in our own pockets. I think these kids will miss out. Algorithms and apps are all fair and well, but without hardware you will, literally, miss an entire dimension to the digital world. I visited a major electronics firm in Shenzhen and learnt about China’s own effort to build makerspaces in all schools. They shipped relatively standardized toolkits so that kids and teachers share a common technical language across the country - the same fundamental idea as in so-called FabLabs, a type of standardised workshop, tinkerspace or makerspace. Makerspaces serve to democratize technology. While Sweden has yet to officially catch up and endorse open tech spaces for people - young or adult - as head of Stockholm Makerspace, I have met many teachers at Swedish schools who travel far to reach us, curious of what’s essential for a creative learning environment. The answer to their question is independence, accessibility and ownership. We jointly crowdfund space,
machines and tools, have minimal hierarchy and a quorum of excellent people to uphold a culture that is both playful and helpful. Importantly members have access around the clock and are met with as little red tape as the board can bare in order to sleep at night. There are tinkerspaces around in India, associated with schools and available to children. That’s great, and it’s important that access to both space and equipment remains as open as possible to children so that living tinker spaces do not turn into museums of technology. In an effort to support this culture, the Tekla crew left all soldering equipment with the schools that participated. At present, what are the biggest opportunities and challenges in the STEM education sector? This era of connectedness and information sharing means that a wealth of resources is available, opening up possibilities to collaborate across borders, and bringing knowledge of both local and international needs to individuals. Any figure of authority will feel challenged by this reversal of traditional roles. And it’s both their challenge and opportunity to keep the information free and feed kids’ curiosity. You can take abstract terminology and turn it concrete by focusing your class’ attention on applications of STEM, and how they’re changing the fabric of society. Because building something to fix a problem will always beat abstract learning just for the sake of a degree. Organizations as diverse as the Swedish Academy of Sciences and Makers’ Asylum in Mumbai even take this to an international level, letting students team up to tackle the UN Sustainability Development Goals. Do not underestimate the kid. While, digital education has the capability to change the educational landscape, what are the challenges for a traditional STEM facilitator in the tech-driven world? I think the main challenge is to assert her or his rightful space in STEM development. In the digital era, I may be able to control motor speed and direction from a pretty and user-friendly interface. But unless I pair that motor spin with traditional textbook examples of mechanisms of converting rotational motion into other forms, I could never build a robot. And lifting my robot arm sideways requires ancient Euclidean coordinate maths. And why pay lots of money for tons of 3D printer filament when I can optimize robot structural strength using civil engineering principles? As the robot lifts a heavy weight, my low-density robot will
also teach me about the limitations of solid mechanics when my robot’s centre of gravity swiftly moves beyond the table and crashes to the ground. Basically, a kid will pick up traditional STEM knowledge whether they want to or not, ideally before they crash their projects. The challenge will be to marry the digital era with traditional topics so that the journey becomes seamless, and traditional topics are wholly accepted as the mission-critical elements that they are. What are the biggest concerns you hear regarding the education opportunities of girl students available in India? How do you help them overcome that? We like to think we’re getting pretty good at this equality thing, because we know that it was worse some years ago. But we live in a world where not every person is allowed to bike, publish, go to university, run companies and own property like other regular human beings. Even if all those showstoppers were sorted overnight, arcane ideas still have momentum. That momentum haunts both the people affected and the world as a whole, because the world won’t reach its full potential. Thankfully there are excellent female mentors and role models, Indian all-girl schools featuring female STEM instructors, and awesome dads who push their tech-curious daughters to go to events like Tekla where they make friends with other tech-curious girls and go off and create their very own counter-momentum. No one wants to be an odd-ball (besides, it’s lonely) and by creating this parallel universe full of advanced tech amazons who playfully wield scientific concepts at you, suddenly it’s completely acceptable to be the really nerdy girl who plays with circuits and deconstructs a cellphone for fun. I also made a techy friend at Tekla in Mumbai, and in 2020 we’ll ping each other over Skype and deconstruct satellite electronics to try make it modular. It’s not just girls who make friends at Tekla. What is your advice to the girl students in India who wish to live a full and independent life? The world has never been more connected, so try to find your dream team - online or offline - reach out to mentors, have oversized targets (you’ll grow into them) and strive for the supportive environment that is necessary for you to learn without hesitation and create without restraint.
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Higher Education Digest January 2020
THE ART OF MAKING A RECESSION-PROOF
CAMPUS By Sarath Shyam
Higher Education Digest January 2020
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ocated at Yelahanka, close to Bangalore International Airport, REVA University stands apart from its peers with its innovative model of education and faculty members of high caliber. In fact, the Founder and Chancellor of REVA University, Dr. P. Shyama Raju believes in perfection at all levels and has truly established a ‘temple of learning’ at REVA, where all students from all walks of life can enter to learn and grow. He says, “The vision and mission of REVA University are based on creating leaders with moral and ethical values who can lead the society in the right direction. We also emphasize on Research, which is an important aspect of the University for disseminating knowledge to the student community.” At present, REVA University offers 28 Undergraduate Programmes, 22 full-time Postgraduate Programmes, 2
Higher Education Digest January 2020
part-time Postgraduate Programmes, 18 Ph.D. Programmes, and several Certificate/Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma Programmes in Engineering, Architecture, Science and Technology, Commerce, Management Studies Law, Arts & Humanities, and Performing Arts. Dr. Shyama Raju shares, “Our programmes are designed based on the indepth analysis and research with emphasis on knowledge assimilation, practical applications, hands-on training, global and industrial relevance, and social significance.” Bearing in mind the emerging trends in education and demands from students, REVA has always been placing adequate stress on revisiting the curriculum occasionally to understand the demands of the industry. With this in mind, the University has added on programmes on offer for the year 2020 such as B.Tech in Aeronautical Engineering, B. Tech in Information Science & Engineering, B.Tech in
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Dr. P. Shyama Raju, Founder and Chancellor
Dr. P. Shyama Raju, Founder and Chancellor of REVA University is the key person of the University. As a philanthropic gesture of giving back to society, Dr. P. Shyama Raju founded the REVA Group of Educational Institutions under Rukmini Educational Charitable Trust. The main goal of the University is to provide worldclass education and holistic learning experience to the students while creating opportunities for the young generation to excel.
Higher Education Digest January 2020
Computer Engineering (Artificial Intelligence & Data Science), B.Tech in Computer Science & Systems Engineering, and B.A in Tourism, History & Journalism. “In recent years, technology is changing rapidly and embracing the most modern technology is not an easy task. However, we have taken every step to meet the global standards by updating the technological knowledge to embrace the shift happens in the technological world. Also, the multicultural environment with a high concentration of international students makes us out from the crowd,” pinpoints Dr. Shyama Raju. A staunch believer in youth power, Dr. Shyama Raju inspires his team to spend maximum time and spirit with the youth, influencing their lives in all ways possible. He adds, “We at REVA bring in a professional approach in designing our courses that are well researched and thoroughly curated. From the day of its inception, the programs are articulately aligned with the student’s goals. This helps them streamline their ideas and plan their future as meticulously as possible.” Today, REVA faculty members and students alike are creating waves across the world, excelling and representing the country on global platforms.
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A Research-Intensive University Research plays an inherent part in the teaching-learning process at REVA. Teachers are either research scholars or pursuing research studies in their respective subjects with special emphasis on multidisciplinary work. They belong to the crème de crème of the academic world. “Our faculty members balance their role as knowledge facilitators and receptors. Inculcating curiosity in the minds of the learners is important to make them a part of the knowledge exchange process. Each faculty of REVA duly inculcate curiosity in learners by encouraging knowledge exchange and active participation of students,” opines Dr. Shyama Raju.
Higher Education Digest January 2020
REVA’s laboratories are equipped with most modern equipment that helps students to acquire practical skills and in-depth knowledge in the subject
REVA hosts weekly Faculty Development Programmes (FDP) through which the educators will engage in interactive sessions on their subject matter and way beyond that as well to polish their knowledge. These FDPs enhance their planning and execution that keep them abreast with the advancements in the industry. FDPs are also multidisciplinary, which provide them with a bigger scope for research and knowledge sharing in their subjects. At the outset of bursting technological progressions worldwide, REVA faculty members update their knowledge and skills regularly to stay abreast of technological advancements. Dr. Shyama Raju explains, “The majority of the faculty members have been engaged in sharing researchrelated experiences and interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary collaborative work by appreciating the research contributions of colleagues. Thus, making the campus vibrant and conducive for research and research-oriented activities.” REVA University also encourages faculty members, research scholars and students by providing financial help to travel and take part in various academic and research-oriented events. As a result, the students and faculty members have come up with innovative ideas and products that are beneficial for society. Dr. Shyama Raju proudly says, “Our students have invented REVA E-notes Android App, REVA News Feed Android App, REVA Bus Tracker, and many more. The presence of well-experienced and well-qualified faculty members has been our greatest strength. Most of these faculty members have doctoral or postdoctoral degrees.” REVA University considers research as the primary activity to enhance the teaching-learning process and to develop a unique identity as a university that addresses social issues through the precise application of Science and Technology
19 innovation. The Research and Innovation Council of the University aims to liaise continuously with various funding agencies, R&D institutions, industries, and faculty members of REVA University to facilitate innovative and cutting-edge research studies in different fields. In addition to that, collaboration with various research organizations, R&D club, Research and Innovation Club, REVA Research Conclave, and annual conferences enable the students to focus on developing innovative ideas that offer value to the society and help students to face challenges. “Today, research skill is a highly appreciated skill in many industries because any career aspirant should know how to gather information from authentic sources to complete a project or to prepare a report. Thereby, our graduates come out as individuals with well-rounded aspects,” pinpoints Dr. Shyama Raju. Offering Global Standard of Education Global education is a must in the seamless world of education that we are in today. To provide global standards of education, REVA University has collaborated with
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various educational institutions and universities of repute around the globe, which help the students to excel in their academics. The University also conducts international educational trips and student exchange programmes for the students to understand different educational systems prevalent in the world. Dr. Shyama Raju says, “We have an International Centre at REVA to provide the best programmes in collaboration with top-league International Universities. This way, we create knowledgeable students of international standards under the expertise of international faculty and industry personnel while pursuing their Undergraduate or Postgraduate Degrees at REVA. Faculty members from foreign universities visit our campus and engage in knowledge exchange sessions with the students. “ The collaboration of REVA with foreign universities provides the students with the opportunity to take up summer and winter school programmes that help them to obtain the experience of student life at these universities. The University also offers internship programmes abroad to the students that provide them with global exposure to jump-start a successful career. REVA has collaborated with universities such as RWTH Aachen University, IQS School of Management – Universitat Ramon LLull, University of California, Riverside, Florida International University, Management Development Institute of Singapore, Universal College of Learning, New Zealand, ETSAB, Barcelona, The University of Alabama, Oklahoma State University, Michigan Technological University, to name a few.
REVA University campus is a diverse, sociable community, where imagination thrives and ambitions are realized
Higher Education Digest January 2020
On the other side, REVA strongly believes that a strong industry-academia tie up is a must for any student to benefit from a University programme. In this direction, REVA makes it a point to involve the industry in as many layers as possible in the teaching-learning process. “The industry collaborations of are helpful for students in obtaining necessary credentials that meet the requirements of current industry trends. The internship programmes and technical certifications related to industrial research and projects act as the stimulus for learning amongst the students,” claims Dr. Shyama Raju. The engaging partnerships of REVA accelerate competent instructional practices, professional development, strategic planning, academic learning, and skill-based learning in the students. Indeed, REVA University offers unparalleled facilities to the students that enrich their theoretical and practical knowledge to make them job ready. Dr. Shyama Raju adds, “As an integral part x`of the learning culture at REVA, students engage in a proactive approach in education. As we equip students with the necessary theoretical knowledge related to their programmes, it becomes increasingly important to impart the practical aspects, which is the core of their learning experience.” The industry tie-ups of REVA NEST include Seventh Sense People Development Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Biozeen-Bangalore Biotech Labs Pvt. Ltd., CII, National Entrepreneur Network (NEN), Electronics Sector Skill Council India (ESSCI), Finnish Russian University Corporation Telecommunication (FRUST), Arthavidya, EMC, Oracle Academy, SAP, Intel, VMware IT Academy, Infiction Labs, All India Technical and Management Council, and Janpat. To keep up with the pace of changing technology, REVA University introduced REVA NEST, a technology business incubator within the campus to help students to build their entrepreneurial skills. REVA NEST offers internship programmes to students in various domains. Institution’s Innovation council - IIC recognized by MHRD Govt. of India works with REVA NEST to transform innovative ideas of students into prototypes. NEST TBI encourages early-stage start-ups and growth stage startups by providing expert mentors who help the start-ups to accomplish their goals. “With the present age employers keen on employing youth who are not only innovate in their thinking and action but also are enterprising and consider entrepreneurship as an alternative. At REVA, we give priority to nurture the spirit of entrepreneurship through University-industry collaboration,” explains Dr. Shyama Raju. REVA has a tie-up with Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad for an intrinsic entrepreneurship programme that exposes
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students to the innate practices of business. Some of the ventures of REVA students/alumni of the University are Dhanaina Technologies Pvt. Ltd., SANDCUBE Analytics, Tacnik Technology Pvt. Ltd., WLEND, and Hind Electric Works. These innovation and entrepreneurship cells of REVA identify and encourage the ground breaking ideas of young talent by organizing periodic workshops, discussions, seminars, hackathons, idea competitions, community outreach programmes, training sessions, industry visits, innovation campaigns and entrepreneurship awareness camps to fit the students for the rapidly changing industry. “Our students acquire various skills and qualities during their study. They acquire various qualities such as organizing skills, communication skills, entrepreneurial skills, compassion, time management, research skills and relevant industry skills,” shares Dr. Shyama Raju. REVA University plays an integral role in developing the personality of the students. The faculty members of the University allow the students to take up leadership roles to organize various events such as seminars, workshops, festivities, championships, fresher’s day, and so on. Because of the presence of multicultural students on the campus, all students will enhance their communication skills, especially face-to-face communication. The University also has internship programmes, overseas training programmes and placement training programmes helping the learners to develop relevant industry skills based on the subject of study. Most importantly, the University students learn how to manage their valuable time by handling multiple commitments without missing the deadlines. They also develop critical thinking and problem-solving attitude during their studies, which qualify them for a long-lasting career. “We understand the needs of the youth today in a digital world. Our classrooms are ICT
Higher Education Digest January 2020
REVA University provides world class infrastructural facilities to conduct all required preplacement and placement activities
supported, wherein faculty and students can access material online. The entire campus being a Wi-Fi enabled campus has added value to the teaching-learning process,” opines Dr. Shyama Raju. At REVA University, faculty members indulge in experiential learning, project-based learning, flipped classroom, collaborative and cooperative learning as a part of their pedagogy. This adds a lot of value to sustaining the interest of students in the classroom. The efficient LMS in the campus makes assignment submission and project work a lot more effective. Dr. Shyama Raju pinpoints, “Thinking out of the box being priority in learning, students are engaged in various beyond the classroom topics and hands-on experience is a must. Our labs and workshops which are of state-ofthe-art standards, enable a smoother teaching-learning process.” The university encourages students to use the digital resources in campus and libraries to add to their wealth of knowledge. “Skill-based courses are a mandate and all students compulsorily go through these skill-based modules. Industry-academia interactions periodically are shuffled into the main course of the programmes and students go on various industry visits apart from an active internship programme,” adds Dr. Shyama Raju. REVA allows the students to participate in activities and interactions that will warrant interface with the industry. Seminars, industry visits, guest lectures from professionals, workshops, discussions, international symposiums, internships, on ground and live projects, and other connected participatory happenings that offer them an opportunity to excel. Students at REVA also receive comprehensive soft skill training as part of their preplacement preparation, a crucial feature to make them Industry-ready. Focusing Social Sensitization of Students Every graduate of REVA is instilled with a sensitivity to society through various outreach programmes offered. “A REVAite is expected to be absolutely sensitive to societal needs, a strong set of values and perceptions, socially responsible citizens and very positive in their outlook towards life,” says Dr. Shyama Raju says, who has initiated the concept of Jagruti, to instill social responsibility in students that enable them to take up various social issues and work for society’s good. Jagruti was the flagship campaign of REVA Electoral Literacy Association (RELA), a movement planned and executed successfully by the joint effort of students and faculty members of the University supported by BBMP Officials
and the State Election Commission in 2018. Jagruti for voting awareness was organized to spread awareness on the civic responsibility towards voting among the citizens to induce their democratic sensibility. Thus, Jagruti was born and the focus of the voting campaign was Byatarayanapura constituency in Bengaluru. RELA, as an effort became highly successful in creating voting awareness amongst the public. The Government of Karnataka recognized the combined endeavor of the voting campaign on International Voter’s Day. The Governor of Karnataka along with the dignitaries of the State Election Commission felicitated Dr. P. Shyama Raju, the Chancellor of REVA University for leading the social awakening voting campaign through Jagruti. Dr. Shyama Raju adds, “This year, we have initiated Jagruti towards global warming, as an effort to create awareness about the consequences of global warming.” Through the revolutionary model of JAGRUTI-towards Global Warming, REVA University shares its beliefs to align the Edupreneurs’ community and ecosystem to focus on this alarming issue. The initiative is proposed by the University to encourage the participation of masses, explicitly through the students and staff from other educational institutions. “We have been creating awareness of Global Warming in small ways within the campus. With the student size of more than 14,000 on the campus, each student has pledged to take this campaign forward. Along with this, the faculty and other staff members of the University also work to build awareness or Jagruti amongst the youth about Global Warming,” shares Dr. Shyama Raju. Today, REVA University has created extensive plans for its future as it looks forward to expanding its horizon in various academic disciplines. Keeping innovation in mind, REVA University focuses on applied education and research to reimagine future education. Strategic plans are devised to develop a multidimensional research ecosystem to nurture more academia and industry collaboration. “We are planning to enhance global and indigenous engagement through various strategic partnerships with academia and industries. Since the future shines bright in interdisciplinary areas, we will devise strategies to enhance interdisciplinary research to address the societal challenges. Last but not the least, we would also take necessary steps to maintain organizational excellence by developing a culture of relentless improvement,” concludes Dr. Shyama Raju. With an immersive learning experience to offer, REVA University has an exciting future ahead.
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ACADEMIC VIEW
How to Do What You Love to Do? Why did you choose to pursue a career in art, specifically painting? I followed my heart. Even though I was a Commerce student in school, I dreamt of becoming a painter and graduated in fine arts from the College of Art in 1996. I believe in the motto: Always follow your dream. If you do what you love to do, then success will surely be yours.
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What’s the professional world of painting like? Is it possible for prospective painters to find a place where they can earn a living? A career in painting is extremely competitive. Since they have to do their own marketing and promotion, it is important that they study both art and business or marketing to earn a living. Having a good relationship with gallery owners is an added advantage. So along with artistic skills, a good knowledge and marketing and social skills are required. Since attaining success is a slow process, it is also important for artists to initially take up mundane jobs in the art world to pay the household bills. How was your experience as a student of fine arts been? Where did you complete your training? As a student of fine arts, it was tough going for me because my father suffered a brain haemorrhage, which changed everything in my home. I had to start work to sustain my family. I taught art and sometimes worked very long hours. After completing my graduation, I opened a hobby centre called Rangshala. I completed my Masters from Jiwaji University, Gwalior in 2001. Delhi Collage of Art (DCA) is an institute on a mission to help such innumerable unrecognised artists; refine and sharpen their skills to perfection. Tell us more about the establishment of DCA, its vision and mission. Before 1992 most art students used to take home tuition. In 1992, I started a course named Ashu Rangshala, which included
Higher Education Digest January 2020
A lot of artists have achieved success solely based on their talent and not by the degree they hold
25 Ashwani Kumar Prithviwas
Presently working as Principal & Managing Director of Delhi Collage of Art (DCA), Ashwani Kumar Prithviwasi has more than two and a half decades of dedicated creative charisma. His presence and contribution to the fraternity has been strongly realized not locally in Delhi-NCR belt, but also in nationally and internationally. In an exclusive interaction with the Higher Education Digest, Ashwani Kumar talks about his journey as an artist and becoming the founder of DCA, which is on a mission to help such innumerable unrecognized artists, refine and sharpen their skills to perfection.
Higher Education Digest January 2020
Since professional painters have to do their own marketing and promotion, it is important that they study both art and business or marketing to earn a living
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various courses catering to all age groups with flexible timings. I used to display the works of the students in street exhibitions, to create awareness about fine art and later expanded it on a larger scale. In 2001, I started a fine art institute called Delhi Collage of Art. It has five branches in Delhi NCR and of its 6,000 students many now run their own institute based on the same format. Today, DCA is the number one institute in Delhi NCR and across north India.
What are the biggest mistakes aspiring artists typically make and how can they avoid them? They make the mistake of drawing inspired by great artists. Don’t forget that they have reached that level with hours of hard work and so must you. Don’t ignore their hard work and experience. Practice makes perfect so the more you practice the easier it is to get there. That’s why repetition is the key to learning.
Which art fields are growing? How does DCA help its students to become experts in these fields? Delhi Collage of Art (DCA) not only teaches you the art of painting but also helps you establish a career in applied art, sculpture, 2D-3D animation, graphic and web designing, art teaching and photography. DCA’s mission is to help such innumerable unrecognised artists refine and sharpen their skills to perfection. It provides extensive training in the least amount of time, with the use of most modern techniques and facilities. DCA has a classroom-cum-studio like atmosphere. Every year the student’s exhibitions are held at Delhi’s largest art gallery Lalit Kala Academy. DCA regularly engages students with workshops and guest lectures by top artists like Ram Sutar, Neeraj Goswami, photographer Ashok Kochar and many more. DCA also provides free art education to children of martyrs, people with disabilities and orphans. DCA is the only private institute that takes students on art tours across Europe – Paris, Italy, as well as China.
In your opinion, what are the lesser known art career avenues that students should consider exploring? Apart from the usual career of a painter, sculptor, etc students should also consider careers such as designer, art teacher, art critic, art curator, conservator, illustrator, tattoo artist, graphic designer, forensic services, textile and clothing designer, architect and interior decorator, mural artist, pottery artist, ceramic artist, and working in ad agencies, art studios, films, television and theatre.
Higher Education Digest January 2020
What advice do you have for students considering pursuing a career in art? A painting is a degree by itself and its intricate details, the mark sheet. An artist is judged by studying these intricate details. A lot of artists have achieved success solely based on their talent and not by the degree they hold. The guidance of a good teacher is worth more than 100 universities. So, students must remember that talent is natural, but a good institute and teachers help to hone that talent.
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T NS A W DI T S AN U M ES EG AKA L T L A O C RN A K IN 28
Higher Education Digest January 2020
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o say education is important is an understatement. It is no secret that a good education has the power to change a life. What is new is the demand for that change. Karnataka has been a pioneer in establishing science and technology institutions for higher education for quite some time. Housing the University of Mysore, one of the oldest universities in India, and having one of the highest numbers of colleges, has triggered such a transformation that Karnataka is reckoned to be the hub of higher education. Medical & Paramedical, Engineering, Management, Hotel Management, and Teacher Education colleges have attracted students from all over India. Today, with the total number of 47,427 foreign students enrolled for higher education in our country, Karnataka has the highest number of students at 10,023, making it one of the most preferred locations for students to pursue higher education. According to recent statistics, Karnataka has a literacy rate of 75.6 percent, which is in sync with the recent establishment of more than 20 universities and a large number of undergraduate schools. The southindian state possesses a well-structured educational foundation with an aim to facilitate learning for all. With the help of the Government, Karnataka has taken a huge leap towards the futuristic success in educational development, intending to leave a strong footprint in the educational sector. While Karnataka is advancing in the field of education, we give you “10 Must-Watch Colleges and Institutions in Karnataka,� which are inciting the passion for knowledge in students and giving them a high-quality education. Featuring these premier institutions providing appropriate education, infrastructure, and environment to students, we aim to help students and faculty members to make the right decision for the educational future!
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Higher Education Digest January 2020
Institute Name
City
Specialization
BMS Institute of Technology and Management
Bengaluru
Engineering
Canara College
Mangalor
Arts, Science, Commerce
JSS Science and Technology University
Mysore
Pharmacy
KLE Deemed University
Belgaum
University
M.S. Engineering College
Bengaluru
Engineering
Manipal
Mass Media
REVA University
Bengaluru
University
RV College of Engineering
Bengaluru
Engineering
Manipal
Management
Bengaluru
Pharmacy
Manipal Institute of Communication
T.A. Pai Management Institute
The Oxford College of Pharmacy
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Higher Education Digest January 2020
BMS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
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Higher Education Digest March 2019 January 2020
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ttending workshops and reading trade journals will help educators to gain some knowledge of advances in the technology. A working engineer, however, will often have firsthand knowledge and experience with latest devices, techniques and material relating to his/her field. So, should an educator try to keep up with a working engineer? The answer is a resounding yes and proving it to the world is Bangalore-based BMS Institute of Technology and Management (BMSIT&M), one of a very few engineering colleges in the country where all the faculty members have been undergoing industry internships, year after year. “As a forward-looking institution, we are pursuing all the possible ways to leverage the ecosystem around us to achieve our vision. Bangalore being one of the commercial hubs in the country helps us a lot in making a strong industry connect”, says Dr. Mohan Babu G. N., Principal, BMS Institute of Technology and Management. At BMSIT&M, faculty members are not the only community that actively seeks the much-needed industry connect. BMSIT&M facilitates its students to undergo industry internship right from the first year to enhance their skills and be industry ready. In the last 18 months, close to 2000 students of BMSIT&M have completed internships in over 530 companies. “Now, you can imagine the quality of discussion that happens in the classroom when you have students and faculty members with industry exposure meeting face to face. The interactions are largely based on the industrial problems, rather than academic and textbook knowledge,” adds Dr. Mohan Babu. The institute has signed several MoU with reputed industry players to offer employability enhancement courses, facilitate project based learning, and set up labs in the campus which enable its students to carry out research projects and avail training on emerging technologies to be more valuable to industry. MOU with NAL, GTRE, KPIT, Valluri Technology Accelerators, Tata Elxsi, Texas Instruments - Edgate, Volvo, and Federal Mogul are few names to mention from that list. An active industry-institute relation support by cuttingedge research facilities has helped BMSIT&M to establish collaborations with many foreign entities. Recently, a team of delegates from Czech Republic led by Mr. Milan Havorka, Czech Ambassador to India, had visited the BMSIT&M campus. “We will be having an MoU with Czech Republic for a faculty and student exchange program. We will also help them to solve certain practical problems in the project they are planning to do in India,” shares Dr. Mohan Babu.
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By successfully implementing bold and innovative initiatives to improve the quality of learning, this 17-yearold institution has cemented its position among the premier engineering colleges in the country. Despite being an affiliated college of Visvesvaraya Technological University, BMSIT&M was ranked 95th best engineering college by NIRF in 2017, overtaking many autonomous colleges in the list.
Facilitating the Creation of Knowledge
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When it comes to the qualification required for people to be a part of the institute’s faculty team, BMSIT&M has set the bar so high compared to the AICTE norms. “A Ph.D degree from a reputed institution is mandatory to join our institution as a faculty member. The ones who have joined earlier with an M.Tech degree need to complete their Ph.D by 2021. We also give a lot of incentives and encouragement for faculty members who are actively participating in the research activities,” claims Dr. Mohan Babu. At present, 35 percent of the faculty members hold Ph.D and remaining 65 percent are pursuing research at BMSIT&M. Dr. Mohan Babu pinpoints, “Most of the institutions in India are traditional in thinking. To break this barrier, we should allow our faculty members to experiment on teaching and research. Sometimes, we may fail. Here, we are open to failure and we encourage new methodologies of teaching and learning.” A team of highly innovative and experienced faculty members headed by the Principal is one of the major strengths of BMSIT&M. The institute conducts a weekly one-hour meeting named ‘Gyanvardhan,’ where one of the professors will present his/ her research work before all other senior faculty members. This interaction has helped exploring possibilities of looking at problems from a multidisciplinary perspective in the pursuit of more effective solutions. Isn’t it that every engineering problem is multidisciplinary in nature?” questions Dr. Mohan Babu.
Dr. Mohan Babu G.N., Principal Dr. Mohan Babu G.N., a Ph.D degree holder in Technology Management from IIT Madras, has been working in the engineering education sector for 33 years now. He has served institutions of repute namely, Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan, and M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore, before taking over as the Principal of BMSIT&M in July 2015. His specializations include Industrial Engineering, Business Management, Strategic planning, Technology Management, and Creative Design of Engineering Systems. He is known in the education circle as a leader with clarity of vision and commitment to build institutions. Under his leadership BMSIT&M is growing from height to height.
BMSIT&M has created tech forums and clubs across the departments in the campus to foster technical interest among students.
Higher Education Digest March 2019 January 2020
Delegations from Czech Republic led by Mr. Milan Havorka, Czech Ambassador to India, visiting BMS campus.
Turning Intellectual Capital into Marketable Products Today, BMSIT&M is not only strong in the area of applied and developmental research, but also making positive strides in promoting basic research which is lacking in many Indian institutions. “Developmental research is all about refining practical solutions for problems into products/processes that are marketable at a large scale. However, it is the cutting-edge basic research that holds the key to economic supremacy of a nation. While, foreign universities focus more on such basic research, most of the Indian institutions are finding it difficult dig deeper than applied and developmental research” states Dr. Mohan Babu. To encourage students and faculty members to make viable products, BMSIT&M has created innovation cells and incubation center in the campus. Dr. Mohan Babu says, “We have tied-up with many industry consultants to identify commercial value of the projects that we do here.” At present, BMSIT&M has more than 15 students running their businesses from within the campus. Most of them are into IT sector. “A few of our students have already taken off from the incubation center and built their own enterprises outside,” adds Dr. Mohan Babu. Now, BMSIT&M is on the verge of achieving an important milestone in its journey – the autonomous status. Dr. Mohan Babu and his team are gearing up for the challenge. “We have made all the necessary arrangements to apply for autonomous status. However, as autonomy is a double-edged sword, only meticulous planning and committed execution would help raise the quality of education.” pinpoints Dr. Mohan Babu. BMSIT&M is also introducing an undergraduate program in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning from the academic year 2019-20 to prepare students to face the challenges of Industry 4.0. Once that happens, BMSIT&M would become the first engineering college under AICTE to offer this UG program in the country.
Higher Education Digest January 2020
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M.S. ENGINEERING COLLEGE
Making Socially Responsible Engineers
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he average time a child can struggle at the surface before drowning is about 30 seconds. It is about 60 seconds for adults. That means, for a lifeguard or water rescuer, every second counts when it comes to rescuing a panicking victim, as they rush through the heavy waters to a drowning person they mentally urge to hang on. However, due to shortage of manpower, lack of training and professional equipment, body-recovery missions have become a difficult task. Located in Bangalore, M.S. Engineering College (MSEC) is an expert in developing Remotely Operated Vehicle that can travel underwater. In 2014, the institute developed one such device with the fund received from Govt. of Karnataka under VGST scheme. The vehicle was designed to assist Karnataka State Pollution Control Board for retrieving drowned human bodies. MSEC has also developed an Underwater Vehicle Based on 3D Image Processing for Lake Pollution Monitoring. “We focus a lot on research and innovation. Interdisciplinary research in the areas of underwater sensors and communication, human-machine interface and smart systems are pursued under respective centers of excellence with grants from agencies like DST, AICTE, VGST and many more,” says Dr. K. S. Badarinarayan, Principal, M.S. Engineering College. VTU has recognized MSEC as the nodal center for VLSI and Embedded Systems Design for industry relevant training and placement. Lab-to-land success stories of VLSI stimulator, Interactive E – learning, Real Time Virtual Lab and Nanoelectronics simulator demonstrate the capabilities and expertise of Research and Development at MSEC. Dr. Badarinarayan adds, “Our state-ofthe-art lab facilities and collaborations with leading industries and research organizations provide appropriate platform to students in having a life time experience in engineering education.”
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Sudarshan Raju. M, Secretary
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Established in 2002, MSEC has now emerged as one of the leading institutions in India providing engineering education with emphasize on innovation, entrepreneurship, core technical skills and life skills that are of societal importance and industry relevance. The college has established M S Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship (MS CIIE), which is envisioned to nurture young scholars to develop industry related knowledge by synergizing and leveraging strands of innovation, incubation and entrepreneurship by facilitating industrial interactions, accelerating creativity and commercialization of products in rural technologies, industrial sectors of agriculture and medical and social impact. The center supports MSEC students, staff members, alumni, faculty, R&D partners and regional innovators. “The innovations, incubation and entrepreneurs developed at MS CIIE will contribute to solving socio-economic development challenges and complement the central and state government’s effort of transforming the national economy through employment and wealth creation,” opines Dr. Badarinarayan. At present, the institute has incubated over 8 companies in the campus. “We have close associations with NEN, Angele investors and other funding agencies, which is a great for students who would like to set up their own ventures after graduation. In fact, a few of our students are already running their ventures inside our incubation center already,” states Dr. Badarinarayan.
Higher Education Digest January 2020
MSEC is equipped with the best of infrastructure and has highly accomplished professionals who form part of the teaching and the administrative staff.
Dr. K. S. Badarinarayan, Principal A PhD holder, Dr. Badarinarayan has over 30 years of teaching experience. Currently working as Principal of MS Engineering College, he has published many research papers in national and international conferences. His areas of research include Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Simulation and Quality Management.
Be it entrepreneurship, research or any other activities in the campus, MSEC faculty members are always available to support the students. The team consists of 170 professionals with Master’s degrees and PhDs in their relevant areas drawn from the best technology institutions in the country. “With help of our faculty members and Training and Placement Cell, we identify the areas on which a student needs to be trained, and design suitable training modules which will be delivered effectively by the experts,” explains Dr. Badarinarayan. The well-trained students of MSEC are absorbed by reputed MNCs, Core Industries and other business houses for their human resource needs. The cell regularly conducts personality development and other grooming sections to make students ready for the industry. Last year, MSEC students were placed by grabbing packages ranging from Rs. 3 lakhs to Rs. 8 Lakhs per annum. Today, with the help of its visionary President, Muniswamy Raju, and its young, dynamic Secretary, Sudarshan Raju, MSEC is striving to become one of the best engineering institutions in the country. “Our immediate plan is to prepare ourselves for the accreditation process. In the future, we want to become a university. That is our ultimate goal,” concludes Dr. Badarinarayan.
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ACADEMIC VIEW
How is Technology Changing Education? Pallavi Upadhyaya, Principal, Delhi Public School - Raj Nagar Extension, New Delhi
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n this digital era, student engagement can’t be forced but it sure can be fostered. To really increase student engagement, you must know your students and find out what makes them tick. And remember that there’s no substitute for experience - create as many opportunities for hands-on learning. The more time a student will spend doing a task himself/herself rather than hearing or watching a teacher do it, the more engaged he/she will be. Now, providing authentic, specific, and frequent feedback is extremely important as it’s hard for students to stay engaged if they don’t know where they stand. Students love to know that they’re making progress or are doing a good job. On the other side, teachers need to remember that the most important resource in their classroom is the students themselves. So, giving the students voice and choice is extremely important. Role of Technology in Education These days the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), in the education sector is pivotal especially in the process of empowering the technology into various educational activities. The use of ICT in education adds value to teaching and learning, by enhancing the effectiveness of learning. It added a dimension to learning that was not previously available. After the inception of ICT in schools, students found learning in a technologically enhanced environment more stimulating and engaging than in a traditional classroom environment. I personally support use of technology in school operations as it makes the work more effective and convenient. Technology is an important tool in managing day to day school operations. Technological systems now track all kinds of information - from parents reporting student absence to teachers recording grades to administrator’s analyzing data. There are software tools that help students collaborate on assignments and keep parents up to date on their students’ progress. However, engaging the students can be difficult in this time of technology. Students are always having constant distractions, and the sad truth is that their attention spans are getting shorter. The student of today is living in digital era hence the technology can be used to reap positive effects. Technology in the classroom allows students to gain a deeper understanding of topics that interest them, collaborate with each other, and direct their learning.
Higher Education Digest January 2020
The student of today is living in digital era hence the technology can be used to reap positive effects
41 Pallavi Upadhyaya
Pallavi Upadhyaya is the Principal of Delhi Public School Raj Nagar Extension, New Delhi. A postgraduate in Zoology, Upadhyaya has more than 20 years of experience in the Teaching and administrative department. Prior to the Principal of DPS – Raj Nagar Extension, she has worked as the Principal, Delhi Public School, Civil Lines Aligarh from the April 2013 to September 2014 and continued as the Principal, Delhi Public School, Aligarh from the October 2014 till June 2017. She was also appointed as a Member of the Inspection Committee to number of schools and was a City Coordinator to Conduct the UGC NET from 2015 to 2017.
Higher Education Digest January 2020
• The students can submit assignments in forms of blogs, podcasts or videos. • Students can work with a classroom on the other side of the world. • Infographics can be used to explain complicated topics. These are some ways by which technology can be incorporated to have an interactive and engaging class environment.
Pallavi Upadhyaya
42 The shift towards digital transformation is encouraging conceptbased learning among students which is enabling them to build core-skills and be future ready for jobs
Higher Education Digest January 2020
The Future of Education Technology has catalyzed the growth of education industry; witnessing the emergence of new learning solutions. The shift towards digital transformation is encouraging concept-based learning among students which is enabling them to build core-skills and be future ready for jobs. This is also shifting the focus from a teacher-centered learning to studentcentered learning. The DIY (Do- it- yourself) learning is reshaping education. Personalized learning- Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are providing an affordable and flexible way to acquire new skills and deliver quality educational experiences to various learners through videos or live chat sessions. Artificial intelligence & gamification technologies have transformed the approach towards learning completely. It increases the engagement by capturing the interest of learners. With technology takeover and globalization, the education system is changing very fast. The future will be a time of edu-tech, digital learning and online education. Our education policy has already undergone quite a few phenomenal changes. Balancing Academics and Extracurricular Activities A healthy balance of academics and extracurricular activities is key to a successful school experience. In our school, monthly planners are designed to incorporate innovative extracurricular activities with the regular curriculum. We also develop block teaching schedules to accommodate major events without hampering the academics. Academics is typically an acquired flair; however, every child is gifted with a special talent. Extracurricular activities encourage children to bring out their talent in the limelight and give it wings in the right direction. Integrating extracurricular activities with a children’s academic life can also help children to manage their time and set priorities and widen their perspective about the world at large. Academics and extracurricular activities go hand in hand to raise well rounded individuals and independent learners. It is imperative that we provide our children with an environment that fosters their overall personality and not just the academic growth. I feel that, today the prominent challenge includes resistance to technology. It comes in many forms, but one of the key resistance challenges is “comfort with the status quo”. Teachers are often comfortable with their routine methodologies. However, students deserve a relevant, modern, customized education that helps them acquire 21st century skills. I feel that the students and facilitators should keep abreast of technology trends and changes. Stay updated of progress and news in the area of education technology. Make use of free apps, videos, graphics, and software available. It is time for education to catch up with our technologically enhanced society. (As told to the Editor)
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Higher Education Digest January 2020
RV COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Driving Life-Changing
Innovations 44
Higher Education Digest January 2020
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t is evident that these are hard times for the economy and industries in India. Many companies have put their expansion plans on hold as they are uncertain about their near future. That means, the job situation, especially for the fresh graduates, is not favorable today. However, Bangalore based RV College of Engineering (RVCE) has not felt the pinch of this sudden economic slowdown. Instead, a reverse trend has happened at RVCE. “Last year, we had over 210 companies visiting our campus for recruiting our students. Two of our students were offered a salary package of Rs. 53 LPA and another three students got Rs. 49.5 LPA. CISCO alone has taken 50 students for Rs. 30 LPA,” says Dr. K. N. Subramanya, Principal, RV College of Engineering. One of the premier engineering colleges in the state of Karnataka, RVCE has always been at the forefront when it comes to providing the best job opportunities for its students. For the academic year 2019-20, the institute has already received over 1452 job offers and the numbers are still counting. Over 90 percent of the students were placed in top firms including Customer Private Limited, Delloite, Kirloskar Oil Engines, Accenture, Adobe Systems India, CISCO and many more. The average packages ranged between Rs. 8-9 LPA. “The number of job-offers has been increasing every year and this year there was an increase in the number of companies looking for students who are good at Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning,” pinpoints Dr. Subramanya. Staying relevant is the mantra adopted by RVCE to remain strong in these tough times. “In 2018, we revised our syllabus by giving more importance to the skillbased learning method. Now, everything is experiencebased learning here. We have also introduced projectbased learning and we are also looking into ICT enabled teaching-learning in many subjects. All the faculty members are now trained in making online content,”
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shares Dr. Subramanya. The faculty members of RVCE are always ready to learn newer things and deliver it to the students in a better way. “Many of our faculty members are involved in funded projects in the niche areas of IoT, cloud computing, Biotechnology, Robotics, and Mechatronics. This way, their knowledge base has been enhanced. We also send them to a lot of international conferences. Paper presentation is very common for the faculty members here,” adds Dr. Subramanya. Focusing more research has helped RVCE to file 45 patents and 35 of them have been published. “Around 50 – 60 percent of these patents were undergraduates or postgraduate projects. Basically, the final projects that they would be doing for over six months would be converted into a patent,” explains Dr. Subramanya. At RVCE, the last semester is completely dedicated to do projects and students can do their projects anywhere in the world. “Bangalore in a great place to get some hands-on experience. However, we are not restricting our students to stay in Bangalore to do their projects or internships. Our students have done internships in countries like Sweden and universities like Stanford University,” says Dr. Subramanya. RVCE prepares its students be competent in the globalized work environment. The results were evident in the recent placements. The institute saw an increasing number of companies from countries like Japan visiting the campus for recruiting their future
Dr. K.N. Subramanya, Principal Dr. K.N. Subramanya had early education in Acharya High School and AES National College-Gauribidanur. Then he pursued B.E in Industrial and Production Engineering from Bangalore University, M.Tech in Industrial Management from IITM-Chennai, MBA from Karnataka State Open UniversityMysuru, with HR specialization (5th Rank) and Ph.D. from Avinashilingam UniversityCoimbatore. He did his Proficiency Courses on ‘Engineering Consultancy Practice and Non-Destructive Testing’ from Indian Institute of Science, NPTEL online Certification course on ‘Educational Leadership’. Has total 27 years of experience in Teaching, Training & Consultancy, Research and Administration. Having Strong communication and presentation skills, effective collaboration & team building capabilities with zeal to adapt to latest technological and leadership concepts & utilize the same in a productive and effective manner for the progress of the institution.
Higher Education Digest January 2020
talent. Taking it a step ahead, RVCE has signed MoUs with four international universities to have studentfaculty exchange programmes. “We have sent our faculty members to countries like Germany and we hosted few students from them in our campus. In next few years, we would like to increase the number of collaborations with international universities,” shares Dr. Subramanya. On the other side, RVCE has signed MoUs with over 90 companies across the world to help students to get internships and find research and consultancy projects for its faculty members. Dr. Subramanya states, “Many of our faculty members get to do funded projects with the industry. For instance, CISCO has set up a center-ofexcellence in IoT in our campus. They have given Rs. 3 Crores to make it, as IoT has become very popular in the recent past. We have trained over 1500 students across the state in IoT till now.” In association with Mercedes Benz, RVCE have started Postgraduate Diploma course in Mechatronics with an intake of 20 students. The facilities created for this course is also used by Aeronautical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering students. “We have also set up a center-of-excellence in Computational Genomics in the Biotechnology Department. Here, many funded projects from central government agencies are going on and students are part all the projects. We are planning to make at least two centers-of-excellence in every department,” shares Dr. Subramanya. The research projects undertaken by RVCE faculty members and students are not only futuristic but also help the society. “We have introduced a concept called Design Thinking Lab. All the second-year students will go through these courses of two credits, where they have to identify a problem in the society and make a prototype to solve the issue. We believe that it is an excellent way to learn engineering problems,” explains Dr. Subramanya. RVCE has already reached out to over 25 villages in the vicinity, helping the villagers to overcome many challenges including infrastructural issues, education, employability and many more. “Last years, AICTE introduced Activity Points, where every engineering student in his four years is supposed to get 100 points by doing something for society. This is being done to help them become successful professionals, which needs excellent soft skills, entrepreneurial and leadership abilities, team spirit and societal commitment, besides expertise in their chosen fields,” says Dr. Subramanya. Entrepreneurship is another buzzword at RVCE. In fact, for the past 10 years, the institute has been educating
students about entrepreneurship and now they have started getting some results. “Though the society and parents still prefer their kids to have a job first, the younger generation is more interested in incubating their ideas and making them into their own venture once they are out of the campus,” opines Dr. Subramanya. RVCE has created an ecosystem in the campus to learn entrepreneurship. “There are 5-6 course available for students from the first year. They will learn subjects like Intellectual Property Rights, Management Behavior Science, Cost Economics, Systems Engineering and many more,” adds Dr. Subramanya. RVCE also has an Entrepreneurship Development Cell with over 200 students as members of it. Dr. Subramanya shares, “Two years back, we started an Incubation Center on the campus. We have incubated over 10 companies till now and seven of them are run by our students. Apart from funding, we have tied up with over 15 companies to give the guidance and support needed for our student entrepreneurs,” shares Dr. Subramanya. Today, with an alumni network of over 30, 000 professional working across the world, RVCE is set to become a private university in the coming few years. The institute has many ambitious plans. “We would be working on international placements and our collaborations with global universities. Setting up of a few more major centers-of-excellences are also in pipeline,” concludes Dr. Subramanya.
Higher Education Digest January 2020
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T.A. PAI MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
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Higher Education Digest January 2020
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or the past three years, January has been one of the busiest months for students, faculty members and administrators of T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI). This is when TAPMI would host a Winter School program on Bounded Rationality in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Human Development (Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung or MPIB) and the University of Southampton (Soton) Business School. For about one week during the Winter School program, TAMPI would host around 35 – 40 PhD scholars from different countries and offer them a unique forum to share their approaches, discuss their research, and inspire each other. A one-of-its-kind weeklong program on Bounded Rationality, TAPMI-Max Planck-Soton Winter School aims to provide an interdisciplinary platform for sharing knowledge, discussing the importance and applications of simple solutions to complex problems, and fostering research collaborations between participating scholars and students. “Many activities like seminars, talks, panel discussions, workshops, poster sessions, and social events will take place during the Winter School program. It will allow participants to learn and develop new ideas in their respective research fields facilitated by frequent interactions with the teaching faculty members,” explains Prof. Madhu Veeraraghavan, Director & T.A. Pai Chair Professor of Finance, TAPMI. The Winter School that brings enthusiastic researchers of different nationalities under one roof is an excellent opportunity for TAPMI to extend its collaboration with global universities. “I want TAPMI Faculty to have global exposure. The Winter School has increased our chances to do joint research activities with scholars across the globe,” says Prof. Veeraraghavan. In fact, the results are evident in the TAPMI’s research output that has jumped smartly over the past few years. Today, TAPMI is ranked among the top 5 private management schools in the country in research output.
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Focusing on Quality
Prof. Madhu Veeraraghavan, Director & T.A. Pai Chair Professor of Finance
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Prof. Veeraraghavan, who joined TAPMI in June 2013, obtained his B. Com from University of Mumbai and an MBA (Finance & Investments) and PhD (Finance –Asset Pricing) from Australia. Prof. Veeraraghavan was instrumental in setting up the Largest Finance Lab at TAPMI with 16 Bloomberg and 7 Reuters terminals. He has held positions at The University of Auckland Business School and Monash University, Melbourne before joining TAPMI. He has published over 60 papers in international journals and has presented his work in top conferences in finance and accounting.
Higher Education Digest January 2020
To augment the quality of research papers published in the reputed journals, TAPMI follows the ranking system of Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC), which is considered as one of the best in the world. Currently, TAPMI encourages faculty members to publish only in A*, A, and B category journals listed in the ABDC Journal Quality List. Apart from promoting high quality research, TAPMI provides a very strong infrastructural support to develop an enabling ecosystem. “We have an excellent incentive system where we compensate faculty members for publishing papers in higher level journals. It has been encouraging faculty members to take up research activities in collaboration with global universities as well as leading industry bodies and government agencies. At TAPMI, the job of the faculty members is to create knowledge, then disseminate it and finally practice that knowledge,” claims Prof. Veeraraghavan. The involvement of industry in the process of knowledge creation is what makes TAPMI a notch above of its peers. “Industry people have a lot of important questions, which they want academicians to answer. academically. We are actively collaborating with them to see what we can do to address research questions that are relevant to the investment community,” states Prof. Veeraraghavan. TAPMI’s collaborations with the CFA Society of India and Global Association of Risk Professionals to give Finance professionals an extra edge in the market is one example of its strong industry connect. Similarly, joining hands with Mu Sigma, an Indian management consulting firm that primarily offers data analytics services, TAPMI has developed a Post Graduate Certificate program in Leadership through Analytics and Decision Sciences (L.E.A.D.). The program envisions the creation of global leaders in the world of decision sciences and analytics who can create value for Fortune 500 customers.
TAPMI has a 44.11 acres and a Rs.100 crore fully residential sprawling campus, which one of the most beautiful and modern campuses among the B-schools in India.
PGDM 2.0 and Industry Ready Workforce While, most of the business schools in the private sector are turning into teaching shops by adding a surplus number of students in their classrooms, TAPMI has considerably reduced its PGDM intake. Prof. Veeraraghavan shares, “We are no longer going to take 420 people for our PDGM program. TAPMI is all about quality and I want every aspirant who joins TAPMI to get a holistic experience.” TAPMI is now rewriting its PGDM flagship program, which has been there for about 35 years. “We are in on the process of producing PGDM 2.0 to create leadership through value creation. The program will have global immersion, extended leadership opportunities and a
lot of space of experiential learning,” adds Prof. Veeraraghavan. TAPMI is known for going an extra mile to instill leadership qualities in its students. Prof. Veeraraghavan himself runs a program called Student Managed Investment Course (SMIC), where the college management would give Rs. 10 Lakhs to the student whom he picks. “These students will invest the money in the market. 30 percent of the grade is based on the performance of the portfolio, 70 percent is based on the investment diary and weekly presentations that they do. At the end of the course, they have to make a final presentation in front of a very senior industry captain like portfolio managers and analysts and they grade them,” explains Prof. Veeraraghavan.
TAPMI offers excellent facilities through its class rooms, seminar halls, library and reading rooms, hostels, food and mess and good facilities for recreation.
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TAPMI is home to the largest Bloomberg Finance Lab in India with 16 terminals that give live data feed from national and international stock exchanges.
Higher Education Digest January 2020
Supporting students with the knowledge and insight into real market situations while bridging the gap between financial theory and practice is TAPMI’s state-of-the-Art Finance Lab, which is powered by 16 Bloomberg and 7 Thomson Reuters terminals. The lab gives students hands-on experience in Investments and Portfolio Management, Forecasting, Risk Management, and understanding of Global Financial Management. Some of the exciting initiatives TAPMI has undertaken in the area of Finance are the TAPMI Journal of Economics and Finance (TJEF), a leading student-run journal in the areas of banking, economics and finance and Samnidhy, the only legally registered Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) in India. “Our objective is simple; no recruiter should spend time on mentoring TAPMIans at workspace. When a TAPMIan is hired, everybody should know that they have a great head on their shoulders,” pinpoints Prof. Veeraraghavan. He adds, “At the end of the day, TAPMIans are global citizens with great ethics, values, integrity and committed to the community in which they live. They understand that they not only have to play roles in corporate India, but also must serve in NGOs and other social structures.” TAPMI is an advanced signatory of the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) which is a United Nations (UN) - supported initiative and the largest organized relationship between the UN and business schools across the world. Being a signatory to PRME, TAPMI has made a commitment to advancing values such as sustainability, responsibility, and ethics in teaching, research and thought leadership. “We have introduced a new course called SEVA (Society, Environment, Values and Attitude). As a part of this program, every TAPMIan needs to go to villages and do a social project and address the social problem by giving a business solution. Indeed, leadership is also about humility. I want every TAPMIan to be assertive and humble,” summarizes Prof. Veeraraghavan.
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Higher Education Digest January 2020
BOOK REVIEW
The Alchemist and Paulo Coelho’s Magical Lessons on ‘How to Follow Your Dreams’ By Sarath Shyam
P
aulo Coelho’s The Alchemist is worth reading many times and it falls into a category of reads that you never want to keep in a corner of your bookshelf for the dust to settle in. Whenever you are feeling down and want to give up on a project that you have been carrying out, take The Alchemist, go to a random passage and read, you may find one or two things that will help you to believe in your dreams again. Here are some of the important lessons Coelho has given in his best-selling book ever, The Alchemist.
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“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting” What is the motivation for somebody who is in his late 40s to start his own venture by quitting a high-paying job? The answer is simple, he has seen a dream that has the possibility of coming true. No matter who you are and what you are up to, if you have a dream and if you truly believe in the possibilities of it, then pursue it. Life is always interesting with a dream.
Paulo Coelho
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
times before learning to do it properly. Every attempt to failure is an opportunity to learn something new.
For some, fear of failure is very important, as it makes them prepare more carefully before they give it a try. For some other, fear of failure is so bad, because, they may not even give a try. Throughout the book, Coelho tells the readers to overcome this fear of failure and make an attempt to live your life according your wish. Life may be challenging sometimes, but that is not the end of everything. There is always a way out, if you are willing to give another try.
“People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of”
The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times
“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too”
Yes, keep on trying, never stop. You will be a winner one day. Imagine about a time that you were learning swimming or bicycle riding. You may fail several
Higher Education Digest January 2020
We all wake up with a lot of commitments on our shoulder every day. We have families, kids, parents, bills, EMIs, the list hardly gets an end. If we think of giving time to follow our real passion after settling all our commitments, then that time will never may come. Believe in your capabilities and do it as if there is no tomorrow waiting for you.
It is fairly simple. Be better and spread your positivity to others. Then you will see a better world around you.
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Higher Education Digest January 2020