Dr. M. Sridevi is an Associate Professor and the Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at ACE Engineering College. Holding a B.Tech. in Civil Engineering, an M.Tech. in Advanced Construction Technology and a PhD in Civil Engineering, she has over 21 years of experience in academia and industry. She has previously worked, at Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology, GMR Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd, National Academy of Construction and Anna University, Chennai. Dr. Sridevi has guided 30 undergraduate projects and two postgraduate projects to completion. She has also written two e-books on her area of expertise and published 19 papers in reputed international and national journals. Dr. Sridevi has participated and presented papers at conferences, conducted several faculty development programs, webinars / seminars and workshops, involved in finding internships & placements for students.

ACE Engineering College

What motivated you to pursue a career in academia and take on the role of the Head of the Civil Department at ACE Engineering College?

Being a lady, a career in academia is easy for me as it helps me to manage both my career and my family, i.e., I am able to provide justification for both, my work and my family. As I said, managing both ends, family and career at a time, gave me a lot of experience and sharpened my management skills, which made me take up the role of Head of the Department of Civil Engineering.

What is your vision for the Civil Department at ACE Engineering College, and how do you plan to achieve it?

As you know, people are biased towards CSE and its allied branches due to the opportunities they offer. This scenario has to change. There are also a lot of opportunities in infrastructure development and real estate sectors. I would like to improve the admissions, placements, and sharpen the knowledge of students by conducting other co-curricular programmes, introduce Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI & ML) to our Civil Engineering students, motivating them to do higher studies, improving consultancy services offered by the dept. etc. I would like to achieve a holistic development of my department.

How do you ensure that the department's curriculum remains current and aligned with the latest advancements in the field of Civil?

We conduct Board of Studies meetings regularly for revision of our curriculum. By doing so, we get an opportunity to modify the curriculum according to the present requirements of the construction industry. It also allows us to address and modify the curriculum to meet the needs and requirements of the students as well.

What measures and programs are in place to support the holistic development of students within the Civil Department, including academic, personal, and career growth?

In addition to the current syllabus, we also conduct FDPs, workshops, guest lectures and seminars on various trending software used in the construction industry. We also develop the student’s knowledge on the applications of AI and ML in Civil Engineering. We also improve their knowledge on Advances in Materials and Methodology in the changing world and the right construction practices.

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How do you attract and retain experienced and qualified faculty members within the department, and what strategies are in place to ensure their professional development?

We ensure the faculty members are appreciated, encouraged and given increments regularly. We also conduct FDPs to improve the knowledge of the faculty members in line with the present requirements of the construction industry. Many of our faculty members actively take part in research and network to remain connected with their fields and keep their knowledge updated.

What efforts has the department made to foster collaboration with the industries and how do these collaborations benefit students and the department as a whole?

Our department has tie-ups and has entered into MOUs with several companies. The companies will help the department improve internships and placements, conduct guest lectures and workshops, organize industry visits, etc. for the benefit of the students.

Could you highlight recent improvements in departmental infrastructure and laboratories that have enhanced the learning experience for students?

The department already has state-of-the-art laboratories and infrastructure facilities. In addition, we use a smart board for teaching the students. Recently, we bought a 3D printer in the department, so that students can use it for their project work. We also have an Automatic Weather Station (AWS), rainwater harvesting pits, a sewage treatment plant (STP), model of a dam, a prefabricated house, reinforcement detailing, bar-bending and masonry materials and tools display boards etc. for the benefit of our students.

In your opinion, what are the primary challenges in the field of Civil Engineering students are facing these days, and how is the department addressing these challenges?

The biggest challenge for Civil Engineering students is the pay which they receive, when they are just out of college i.e., without any experience. The initial pay for Civil Engineering students is quite low. To improve this, we impart additional placement training and skill training to the students as per the skill set required / expected by the current industry. We also try our best to bring reputed companies for the students’ placements and internships.

What advice would you offer to students and aspiring professionals interested in pursuing a career in Civil?

There are a lot of opportunities in the construction sector. After completing B.Tech. in Civil Engineering, the students can appear for the Engineering Services Examination, which recruits candidates for top government services like IAS, IPS, IFS, etc. Students can also appear for the Staff Selection Commission exam for JE posts and the RRB exam for JE and SSE posts. They can attempt the State PSC exams for JE, AE and AEE posts in the department of R&B, Waterworks etc. They can also appear for scientist posts and take part in research. Not only Government posts, they can also write the GATE exam to get placed in Public Sector Undertakings like ONGC, NTPC, SAIL, IOCL, etc. After gaining some experience, the students can also open their own private construction firm. i.e., the students can become entrepreneurs. The student can also go for higher studies like M.Tech., M.S. and also PhD. Ladies can find teaching jobs, office jobs in design and procurement etc. Companies give utmost care to women’s safety.