K G Reddy College of Engineering and Technology, Head of Mechanical Engineering Department: Dr. Kalpana Kilaru Interview

Dr. Kalpana Kilaru is an Assistant professor and Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department at KG Reddy College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana. She has 12 years of rich experience in teaching. She completed her B.Tech in 2012 and M.Tech in 2014 from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad and is currently pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at KL University, Vijayawada. Before joining KG Reddy College of Engineering and Technology, Dr. Kilaru worked with reputed institutions for five years. Her research interests are Design and Manufacturing, Additive manufacturing well known as 3D Printing. She has published papers in two Scopus journals and has one UGC journal paper along with a patent.

What motivated you to pursue a career in academia and take on the role of the Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department at KG Reddy College of Engineering and Technology?

My reason for choosing to become a mechanical engineer and pursue a career in academia is that I am more passionate about teaching, mentoring and guiding students towards their professional development and successful careers. Being the Mechanical engineering head, my focus is on designing, analysing, producing, and maintaining mechanical systems using the concepts of mechanics and materials science, or the use of math and science to build machines. This shows the versatility of the branch. I also find it inspiring when my students can choose versatile career profiles like architectural, engineering, and related services, computer and electronic product manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, etc.

What is your vision for the Mechanical Engineering Department at KG Reddy College of Engineering and Technology, and how do you plan to achieve it?

The vision of the mechanical engineering department is to be recognised as a department and provide quality technical education that will produce highly competent and skilled engineers to suit the latest trends in modern industry. We also seek to act as a catalyst for sustainable development. In order to achieve these goals, we are offering certification programs. To improve the quality of teaching, we are implementing innovative teaching and learning and are working to provide a collaborative environment that stimulates faculty and students to achieve their highest potential through entrepreneurship, sustainable development and research.

How do you ensure that the department and curriculum remains current and aligned with the latest advancements in the field of Mechanical Engineering?

Mechanical engineering is a versatile curriculum that has an impact on everyone's life in some way. We have a team of members, the Board of Studies team, who design and update our curriculum. The curriculum teaches future engineers how to design and build products using the principles of force, motion, and energy, thereby providing technical solutions to problems in various industries. B.Tech Mechanical engineering studies engineering concepts related to machine manufacturing, design, maintenance, and analysis. Mechanical engineering subjects include math, physics, engineering graphics, mechanics theory, machine drawing, computer graphics, etc. It will assist you in improving students’ skills in the manufacture, research, and design of equipment, aircraft, and other vehicles.

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

We have a strong mentoring system where students are matched with mentors. Each mentor will guide their mentees on four parameters to bring about holistic development. These parameters are academics, professional development, placements, and co and extracurricular activities. The mentoring system supports student learning and engagement in both academic and extracurricular activities. The department supports storganisationsations and clubs both at the institute and department levels. These platforms help students explore their interests, collaborate on projects and stay updated on the latest trends. They also foster teamwork and leadership skills.

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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?

The department, in association with the institute, has developed a transparent appraisal system that focuses on institute and faculty personal development. It focuses on academics, research, professional development, and service to the institution. Faculty will set their goals both in terms of personal and professional growth. The department provides research hours every week to work on their research interests. Faculty members are also incentivized with increments based on their achievements, such as publication of papers, filing of patents, contributions to book chapters etc.

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

The department ensures that we are aligned with industry needs through various initiatives. We have collaborations with the automotive industry, like Automated Tooling Systems Pvt. Ltd, Government technical tool room, Karnataka, H-Bots robotics, ESCI, IIIT H, GRIET, Samskriti Foundation, BVIC – NGO etc. These collaborations help students get internship opportunities in manufacturing, design and thermal specialisations. Also, students will visit industries and they will learn about real-time problems to work on. We also have NGO MOUs that help students to work on social issues towards sustainable development.

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

In the KG Reddy College of Engineering and Technology, the Mechanical department is well-equipped with state of art laboratories. From the first year onwards, students will focus on conventional drawing techniques and they will also get hands-on experience in computer-aided engineering graphics, which inculcates design skills. For this, the department has 14 laboratories and an emerging technology club, which is a 3D printing club. Students are trained in different modelling and analysis software, and they also do mini and major projects using in-house lab facilities.

In your opinion, what are the primary challenges facing the field of Mechanical Engineering today, and how is the department addressing these challenges?

Mechanical engineering can be a rewarding career for many. These professionals face various challenges in their careers because of continuously changing technologies. The field of mechanical engineering continues to advance as new technologies emerge. For this reason, it's helpful to continue education through certification programs, participating in hackathons, and project expos. We take care to organise these to provide training to our students.

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

There are lots of career pathways students can take to become successful engineers and there are multiple fields they can work in. Those pathways don’t have to be linear, making it possible to direct a career in the direction students want it to go. Successful engineering projects and careers don’t happen by chance. Therefore, define what you would like to be as an engineer in the medium and long term. In addition, regularly review your progress towards achieving your goals. Students should acquire new skills with enthusiasm while being on the constant lookout for new professional development opportunities. Problem-solving and collaboration are essential skills in just about every field of engineering. Work on developing these skills at each stage in your career.