Dr. K.V. Murali Krishnam Raju is the Principal at Sagi Ramakrishnam Raju Engineering College. He holds a Ph.D. in Manufacturing Engineering from JNTU, Kakinada. He has around 33 years of working experience in the teaching field. He has published five journals in international journals. He has attended 11 workshops/ conferences/ seminars.

Sagi Ramakrishnam Raju Engineering College

You have held key positions at education institutes throughout your professional career. What are the key factors that keep you connected with the education sector?

Because the education sector is the key parameter to change any country, to change the economy of any country. The knowledge base is more important than any other. Especially in a country like India, we have to enhance our education skills, which means the literacy rate of all the candidates at the same time. That is why the professional and skill-oriented technique nowadays is required. That's why education is a noble profession as compared to other professions. Even though we have several professions, out of which education, that means providing knowledge is called education. That means providing transferring or transforming knowledge to the people. That's why it gives me the pleasure and motivation to transfer the knowledge. That's why I have taken it as my profession instead of other professions.

Being the principal of SRKR Engineering College, what is your philosophy of leadership? How do you describe your leadership style?

As a Principal of the college, the first motto is, that we have to give the best to the stakeholders. This means the students, industry, and the faculty, all these put together. Especially coming to the students, that means we have to provide the best. We have other innovations, incubation, and such types of facilities here. That means if the students have some idea, then they can make it into a physical model or we can make a commercialization, that type of idea. And we don't want to see our students as job seekers, we want to see our students as job providers. That is the main motto of our institution. In addition to that, it is not only an academic institute, it is also a research institute we want to make it into, convert it to. That means research makes a better way of life. The main purpose of research is to better the way of life and for the societal people, reaching to the lowest position of the society. That's why we always try to encourage research for the faculty and the students in addition to our regular curriculum, the academic curriculum.

Being the Principal of the Institute, how do you strategize about the key programs and plans for the marketing and administration of your school?

Our students, our alumni, our strength, actually mouth-to-mouth publicity. What we are doing here, the students leaving the campus is going to expose how it is on our campus. That is the actual main strength of our institute for the past 43 years. Actually what type of education we are going to provide? The relationship between teacher and student is well, in a very good manner. That means the relationship is like that. They are accessible to each faculty to explore or to ask any doubts or clarifications. And they are exposed to other types of activities, not only, mainly here not only academics. They are exposed to various types of student chapters and college-wise chapters like ISTE chapters and other things are there. They are encouraged to participate in those activities. In addition to that, they are promoted, they are exposed to various other societal activities and various internships. And we are also providing training and placement programs specifically. Separate programs are not present in the curriculum. But whatever the skills they need, that is soft skills, communication skills and verbal ability, quantitative ability, and coding skills. 

The education systems in India and other foreign countries are structured very differently. In your experience, what can an inbound student gain from studying here in your institute?

The difference between our country and other countries is that in our country the students are more flexible. That means whatever you want, he can study. That means subjects are also not fixed. The curriculum and subjects are not fixed there. They are going to give a huge number of subjects out of which they can select. Even then, not present in their structure, they can select and they can be intimate with that particular university and they will include it. Like that, a lot of flexibility. And in our country, there is limited flexibility. Nowadays, our country is also moving towards that, especially in the NEP, National Education Policy 2020. They are given so much flexibility, such as now open electives are there. Previously, the open electives were not present. Now, in India, we are also moving towards the NEP 2020, the student is eligible to study. Suppose, the minor program is there, the honors program is there. A minor program means a mechanical student can study computer science. Then, he was given a B.Tech in mechanical engineering with minors in computer science and engineering. Therefore, the student is exposed to two different types of branches. Similarly, one electrical student can go for an electronics minor. Electronics students can go for something else, like that. The student is interested in some other branch he can study. Previously, these things were not present. Minors and honors and open elective system. Open elective means those subjects are open, anybody can study. Irrespective of the branch, any mechanical student, civil student, or some other type of database management system is there. Let us say in an open elective, that subject can be studied by any person. That is why, now India is also moving towards more flexibility like other countries to study as per the interest of the student.

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How does the curriculum of SRKR Engineering College ensure the best practice in the industry?

We are an autonomous college. If autonomous means we can keep, we can modify our curriculum and we can also include it in the curriculum. Therefore, some autonomy is there. That is why we will go for autonomy. According to the feedback received from the students and stakeholders, parents, and some other stakeholders, we are going to discuss this in the advisory council, and BOS meetings and we are going to include the contents related to the new trends. New trends in technologies at the same time, the industry requirements. That is the main motto.

Any insights into how your Institute could be more welcoming to students of different races or economic backgrounds? 

Here the seats, there are 70% of seats filled by conveners, which means by the policies of the government of Andhra Pradesh. And 30% of seats are B-category seats. For the B category also, there is a procedure. According to that procedure, we are going to fill those seats. Whereas, the convener quota seats mean all the sections of society and all the types of people. There are some policies of the reservations of the government, they will enter into this system. Regarding the economic situation, the government already has some fee reimbursement policies. According to that, now anybody has access to the study. 

What your roles and responsibilities to the institute and the students are? 

We have to fulfill the vision and mission of the institute. The vision of our institute is to emerge as a world-class technical institution that strives for the socio-economic well-being of society. That is the vision. To reach that vision, to fulfill that vision, there are mission statements such as upgrading the teaching-learning environment with state-of-the-art infrastructure to accelerate employability and entrepreneurship. And to promote interdisciplinary research and innovation through institute-industry partnerships. To nurture ethical and ecological consciousness to sustain holistic social well-being. These are the mission statements. 

What should be your institute's top priority over the next ten years? 

After ten years, we want to see our institute deemed to be a university for excellence in teaching, research, and innovation. Especially these three. Teaching, research, and innovation. And it is the best place for all the students to learn. Like that, we want to make it an independent university. 

What do you see as the Institute's greatest strengths?

The strength of our institute means our people. From management to various leadership heads like principals, deans, HODs, and the faculty. And even all the non-teaching staff. All these put together our greatest strength. W