Mrs. Dipti Lopes has been working as the Head of First Year Engineering Department at St. John College of Engineering and Management, Palghar, Maharashtra. As part of her education, she has done Masters in Organic Chemistry from University Department of Chemistry (UDC -Kalina Campus.) And Mrs. Dipti has also been an integral part of this institute since its inception by dedicating 15 years to academic excellence and nurturing students in the field of engineering.

St. John College of Engineering and Management

Being the Head of First Year Engineering Department at St. John College, what is your philosophy of leadership? 

As the Department Head, my leadership philosophy revolves around guiding and supporting my team in every possible way and creating a favorable positive learning environment for everyone. Because I strongly believe in the idea of collaboration for knowledge sharing and exchange of ideas. And other than all this, if I talk about my key responsibilities, it involves overseeing academic activities of our department, supporting faculty, and ensuring a high standard of education for students.

Which factors make your department the best as compared to other departments of the college?

Our department has prioritized the concept of interactive teaching and we have adopted a student-centric approach for providing much needed practical exposure to them. Apart from this, we have an amazing academic team of highly dedicated, educated and experienced faculty members, modern labs and an industry-driven curriculum to deliver knowledge. All in all, we focus on transforming our students into top-notch professionals who have good character and who are ethically and technically strong.

What is your vision for the Department and how do you lead it to achieve that objective?

Being the Department Head, my vision is to produce well-rounded Engineers who are equipped with not only technical skills but also strong ethical values. And to achieve this objective, I am rigorously focusing on enhancing the quality of our curriculum, promoting the culture of research and innovation on campus and also collaborating with leading industries for organizing technical visits and guest lectures for our students. And since co-curricular activities play a major role in personality development of an individual, we conduct a wide variety of activities from time to time.

What is the mission and vision of your Engineering Department?

The mission and vision of our department is to provide quality education, a conducive learning environment and essential opportunities to students for their holistic development. Additionally, fostering the ambiance of research and innovation on campus, industry-academia collaboration, and preparing students for a successful engineering career also comes under the scope of our goals.

How do you foster an environment of innovation and creativity among students of your department?

We encourage our students to think creatively and dedicatedly work on industry-based projects and practical assignments and also attend interactive sessions. In addition to this, we emphasize on developing problem-solving and critical thinking capabilities in students through different approaches so that they can apply their classroom learning in real-world scenarios. Last but not the least, events such as workshops and technical events like Science Fest, Megaleio, Prastut and Prasang are organized by us to facilitate direct interaction between students and industry experts and help students gain in-depth understanding of the latest trends, technologies and developments of the corporate sector.

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What challenges do you usually face while uplifting the education quality of your department?

There is a need to continuously update the curriculum of our courses in accordance with industrial advancements and this I believe present a big challenge for us while we uplift the education quality of our department. But our dedicated team of faculty members is working rigorously to address every roadblock that comes in the way of offering quality and employment oriented education to students. 

How did you train your faculty to help them effectively deliver programs to students?

Although all our teachers are highly qualified and experienced in their respective domains, they still need to enhance their skills and upgrade their knowledge in accordance with changing time, technologies and students academic demands. Therefore we regularly conduct faculty development programs, workshops, and seminars for them. Additionally, we motivate them to conduct research and pursue higher studies.

On what types of projects students of your department work on throughout their course?

Our students regularly take part in diverse inter-college technical competitions and work on projects spanning from sustainable innovations to cutting-edge technology applications. These experiences not only enhance their problem-solving abilities and teach them the importance of teamwork, but also set them apart from the crowd and make them industry ready.

Any message which you would like to give to current youths and aspiring students?

I would like to advise my dear students to embrace the journey of Engineering with passion and curiosity. Also, stay persistent, never shy away from taking challenges, and continuously broaden your horizons through learning and hands-on experiences. And always remember that every obstacle is an opportunity to grow and innovate in the ever-evolving world of engineering.

How do you address the placement related requirements of your department students?

We have a dedicated Career Guidance Cell to provide career counseling, conduct skill development workshops, and organize guest lectures in collaboration with industry professionals. And we closely work with renowned industries to understand their requirements and tailor our programs accordingly, ensuring our students are well-prepared for the job market.