Mr. M. N. Mallikarjuna Reddy is the HOD of the SVR Engineering College. He is a distinguished academician and able administrator with more than 12 years of experience. He has grown from the ranks right here in the institute, starting his teaching career as a Lecturer and then HOD. He was the Assistant Professor at SVR Engineering College, Nandyal. Mr. Reddy obtained his master’s degree from Satyabhama University, Chennai. He has published ten research papers in various reputed national and international journals, besides a couple of patents to his credit. In his impressive teaching and administrative career, he has consistently promoted innovative teaching practices and imaginative thinking.

SVR Engineering College

Being a head of department of college, what are your roles and responsibilities towards the students?

I try to interact with students to identify their problems and find solutions. By doing that, we can give good guidance to the students. Moreover, we also counsel the students who are absent or irregular to get them to maintain regular attendance. My responsibilities also extend to ensuring there are extracurricular activities and events occurring for the benefit of the students.

How do you tend to establish healthy relations with the students and fellow faculty?

We appoint faculty members as mentors and allocate students to the mentors. For every ten students, one mentor is allotted to them. The mentors give suggestions to the students about higher education and jobs. Besides the mentors, the students are invited to approach us and talk to us whenever they need to. By keeping our doors open and being receptive to listening to all stakeholders, we can create a friendly environment on the college campus.

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

Our college department has a Mentor and Mentee system where students are paired with a faculty member. Each student can approach their mentor and solve their doubts or queries. There are also regular workshops and guest lectures targeting the skills and knowledge students must have before they start working. Through these workshops, students can also gain practical knowledge about the subject.

What are your views upon the placements and higher education about the students from your department or How does your department prepare students for Higher education?

The department conducts special coaching classes for examinations like GATE for admission to higher education courses. Many students from SVR Engineering College have qualified for several competitive examinations, including GATE. We also conduct aptitude and CRT classes for placements, which are helpful in preparing students for competition. The department also encourages students to listen to online videos for higher education and placements.

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Do you have any extracurricular activities/ programs to enhance the skills of the students or expose them to the real-world challenges?

We conduct various seminars and group discussions in the classroom to develop teamwork and a participative mindset in the students. Group discussions and debates on a particular topic are also useful for the students to learn problem-solving skills related to a real-world problem. Moreover, we also conduct departmental activities every week like seminars, workshops, and industrial visits.

What are the challenges you faced/ are facing to uplift the quality of education of your department? 

Our biggest challenge is the lack of funds for faculty development to enhance their knowledge of emerging technologies. Teachers have to rely on free resources and their own connections to do the same. Another challenge is skill development for our students. Our management is tackling this by providing necessary support for skill development to the students by making MoUs with different third-party skill development agencies.

When you came to the college, what was your vision and how are you trying to achieve the same?

My vision for the college is to conduct the classes in a smooth manner. I wanted our students to maintain discipline and concentrate on classes while the teachers conducted the classes. My mission is to monitor the classrooms regularly and maintain healthy relations with fellow faculty and students.

How does the curriculum of your department/college ensures the best practice of the industry? 

Our department conducts various guest lectures and talks by inviting industry experts and professionals. They share their knowledge of what is happening in the industry and what is expected from the students post-graduation. We also get their feedback on what changes and emerging technologies we need to include in our curriculum. The college also holds skill development programs that provide interpersonal and technical skills to the students. Industrial visits also take place every three months, which gives the students better practical knowledge.

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How does the department/ college/University enhance the skills of the faculty and prepares them according to the industry standards?

To train our faculty members, we conduct faculty development programs like OBE and IPR regularly. We make efforts to raise funds for the development of the department, faculty and students as well. Our teachers are encouraged to publish the papers in reputed journals like Web of Science, SCI, and UGC. They also attend workshops and conferences to network with professionals and present papers of their own.

What do you see the department’s/ college’s greatest strengths and how it can be enhanced?

Due to our students getting good placements, we are able to get talented and meritorious students. They bring in their talent and skillset to not only build their careers but also add to our repute. We focus on teaching practical skills and soft skills like communication. These skills are transferrable and will help students in higher education and in switching jobs.

What valuable advice would you like to the students for them to have a prosperous career ahead? 

Every year, we advise students to improve their subject knowledge and work on their programming skills. They must keep up to date with new technologies and learning to improve themselves. Competition is high in the industry and students must be prepared to face any challenge possible.