Ar. Priya Johnson is heading the Department of Architecture at KL University as Head of the department and associate professor. She brings her vast experience of 15+ years in the domain of architecture both in industry and academia to her student's tables to give them the best learning scope and opportunities. Her areas of specialization include Resource Management, Vernacular, Sustainability, environmental issues, and the circular economy. Ar. Priya Johnson acquired her Ph.D. and Completed her M.Plan from the School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada.

KL University Guntur

What is something about KLU that excited you to walk with KLU the institution in the journey?

In terms of teaching, when compared to other institutions, KLU is giving the students all-round development. Not only do they provide education in terms of curriculum, but they also have different clubs and different certifications. They are trying to equip the students all around, which I did not find in a few institutions. That is one of the good parts where creating a balance is much more important.

As a Head of the department of School of Architecture How do you balance the needs of faculty, students, and administration all at the same time?

In architecture, things work differently compared to other streams. Management may not fully understand how architecture functions, as they often attempt to draw comparisons with other fields. My approach is to seek common ground between the requirements of the students and what is feasible for the management. This way, the demands can be adapted to some extent and effectively communicated to them. Similar situations arise with students and faculty, where we explore how much flexibility exists in modifying and orienting certain aspects according to our needs. Only through these adjustments and modifications can we find a shared understanding and common ground.

What do you say is the USP or what are the differentiating factors that make KLU stand out from other colleges in the nation?

The unique selling point which I could say in KL School of Architecture is we have developed a curriculum that is updated as per the industrial requirement. But we don't stop with that, we are giving students extra certifications for them to improvise. When we are looking at a placement perspective, these certifications will equip them to be placed at global level organizations. That is a kind of orientation and vision KL School of Architecture have.

How do you stay current with the latest trends and developments in the field of Architecture and incorporate them into the curriculum and programs offered by KLU?

The curriculum is designed as per industrial requirements, but as we see, the architecture has now taken a new direction. We have identified how the trends are changing, and this is what we are implementing in our curriculum. Other than that, we are giving minor degrees and certification courses to equip them with additional skills. We are adding these as an advantage for students as these courses build the students portfolio. We are extending their opportunities with skill-based courses and giving them extra learning so that they can be absorbed in the global market as well as the Indian market.

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How well is KLU focusing on maintaining industry relationships with companies in order to leverage them for live projects, training, and placements for the students?

KL School of Architecture has already collaborated with many institutions and organizations in the industry. We have collaborated with global industries, one in the Middle East and many at the national level in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. We have already signed MOUs between players in the industry. We are sending our students to organizations, and industry experts are coming in-house and giving the lectures. Apart from that, our students are also going for summer internships. So, they are also equipped with the current trends and have complete academic and industrial knowledge.

What is something an Architecture course aspirant can expect from joining the KLU School of Architecture?

The KL School of Architecture always has a blend of both theory and practical application. Whatever we teach them, we make it hands-on so that they start to implement it. Their knowledge will be practically assessed by implementation, at least on a smaller scale. When they implement this, they understand the concepts and the logic behind them. Most of the aspirants will be looking for good placements. To get placed, the portfolio or profile must be well-equipped. We focus on profile building. We focus on all terms, and a profile can add good value. When we build their profile, they will be automatically placed in good organizations.

What are the biggest challenges currently facing Architecture colleges , and how do you plan to address them as the Head of the department?

The biggest challenge that I see is the kind of trend that architecture is deviating into. At the moment, traditional architecture is on the run. But now, Artificial intelligence, User experience are in trending in Architecture as well and a few people in the industry are finding it difficult to accept those trends and changes. Now, the whole architectural industry is having a kind of challenge with the given situation.

At KL School of Architecture, We are equipping the students to these current new trends and for its effective application in the industry.

How would you promote experiential learning and practical application of knowledge within the School of Architecture?

We conduct workshops and hands-on activities, and one significant example is our project with an Anganwadi, which we assigned to our students. We tasked them with designing solutions based on the client's requirements. Another example is when we had our design students plan using scrap metal found on campus, to avoid increasing the budget. We graded them based on their ability to execute the project. We encourage our students to apply what they have learned in real-life situations, and we do this by incorporating these kinds of activities at least once a year. This way, the students get hands-on experience and learn through practice. We give credits for their work, and it allows them to put their theoretical knowledge into practical use.

What kind of steps KLU is taking in order to bridge the gap between academia and the real industry world?

This is a five-year course, and in the fifth year, students undergo a six-month internship where they work under an architect. Starting from the second year, during the summer break, which spans two months, we require our students to practice in a firm under an architect. This two-month summer internship program is mandatory for all students. Whenever there is an update in the market, the Indian Institute of Interior Designers (IIID) or the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) conducts an expo showcasing the latest products and institutional works. We take our students to these expo's to make them aware of the latest materials and trends. After the expo visit, we assign a project where students can implement what they have learned. This helps them apply their knowledge in practical situations.