Dr. Manjula Devi is an Associate Professor and HOD of Chemistry at SNS College of Technology. She has been teaching and doing research for more than 20 years. She has published 15 research papers and has written 3 chapters of books. Additionally, she leads the Women Empowerment Cell at SNS College of Technology.

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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?

I started my career, as a chemistry school teacher, but I keep striving for better every day. An opportunity knocked on my door to step into college as a chemistry assistant professor, but it didn’t stop there. I challenged myself and learned, and now, with 27 years of teaching experience, I am a professor and Head of the Department of Physical Science. Teaching is my passion, so it's not only for my college students or the students I mentor, but I have also attended various college conferences and, as a speaker at various colleges and universities, shared my knowledge on social platforms, namely YouTube, and gave my insights to the new generations of the world.

As the Director of the SNS Institution, what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

I love the principles of wolf leadership and still follow them. Being a leader is a challenging one, and still, you will be in the learner phase. As mentioned, Wolf's leadership qualities meant, leading the team, motivating them, the power of communication, the importance of building trust, adaptability, and valuing teamwork. By involving faculty, staff, and students in the development process, we can create a more dynamic and responsive educational ecosystem that meets the needs of our community.

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 at your institute?

Our institution set the trend for this new technology and advancements. We have a new team in our college that works on innovation and trend-setting. Our goal is to make students benefit from these 4 years of engineering, 3 years of arts and science, 2 years of MBA, 5 years of pharmacy, and so on. So, we decided to go with the design thinking concept, where we allow the students to think outside the box and gain the ability to solve real-time problems by defining them. He implies this in every situation of his life. From the college's first year until their final year, they have provided industry-based technical education, providing a platform to enhance their skills and advancements in technology and to foresee the future.

How does the curriculum of SNS institution ensure the best practices of industry?

SNS institutions collaborate with industry experts and are continually updated to reflect the latest trends and technologies. We include practical training, internships, and industry projects to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and the tech market out there. This hands-on experience will make our students well-prepared to fulfill market demand. The curriculum is the most important part of every institution as it shapes the student’s future, so we believe that it’s the responsibility of the institutions to keep themselves updated with technological advancements and new trends.

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What do you think your roles and responsibilities to the university and the students are?

As a professor and head of the department, my key role is to provide a standard education and guide students. Not all students are the same, some are good at science, some have technical skills, and some have analytical skills. So, I always give it time for me and my students to adapt to the environment, help them find their passion, and their interest, and provide enough understanding to set their career goals and their mission and vision. I have seen more than 27 batches passing out each year under my mentorship, with different mindsets of students, I have understood one thing, as they grow, I grow with them, and they help me to change my teaching style, my approach to them, and the adaptability of the current generation.

What do you think should be the university’s top priority over the next 10 years?

The university’s top priority over the next 10 years, is to enhance the research facilities, develop the technological laboratories for the growth of the AI, ML, rocket science, healthcare, and medical device industries, and expand them to the global level. All our students who study here should feel more comfortable and beneficial to their career upliftment in India, should stay in India, and should grow themselves and the economy of the country. I believe our current generation is going to be the backbone of the country’s economy. We should pave the way for them to achieve this. Let’s build a better future in terms of education, infrastructure, labs, and research centers for our students to flourish and put India in the number 1 position in all fields.

Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth and the aspiring students?

To every next generation out there, don’t waste college life, try to balance studies with passion, hobbies, or enjoyment. But don’t trade off education for temporary happiness and excitement. You might feel burdened or overwhelmed to set your career goals, run behind them, and focus on them. But don’t give up, try to challenge yourself every day to strive for better. If you work hard with compassion and determination for these 4 years, you will shine and be in a good place for the next 40 years. Believe in yourself, give yourself 100 percent, widen your horizons, and set your wings to fly high.

What do you see as SNS Institution’s greatest strengths?

One of SNS institutions’ greatest strengths is our commitment to implementing design thinking in our subjects. This innovative approach encourages students to tackle problems creatively and systematically, fostering an environment where critical thinking and problem-solving skills are paramount. Additionally, our teaching methods are highly oriented toward real-time scenarios. This means that our students not only learn theoretical concepts but also apply them to practical, real-world situations. This approach ensures that they are well-prepared to meet the challenges of their respective fields, making them highly competent and adaptable professionals. By integrating design thinking and real-time scenario-based learning, we equip our students with the tools they need to succeed in an ever-evolving global landscape.