Dr. Jayashree Tatineni has been working as the Associate Professor and Head of Humanities and Sciences Department at Vallurupalli Nageswara Rao Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana. With over 30 years of work experience in the teaching sector, she holds a PhD Degree in Automated Reasoning. Her areas of interest are Probability & Statistics, Propositional Logic, and Discrete Mathematics.

Engaging beyond academia, she leads mentoring programs and emphasizing holistic student development. Dr. Jayashree is also a prolific researcher and her work includes Pattern Recognition, Feature Extraction, and Automated Reasoning. At present, she is guiding a PhD student and has presented papers at various international conferences and published in reputed ones too. Dr. Tatineni's commitment to excellence and overcoming obstacles is encapsulated in her motto: "Obstacles will be there in the path – Accept it – climb over it or around it as long as you do not remain static and expect others to solve it for you.”

VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology

How does your Humanities and Science Department prepare students for the outer competitive world?

At VNRVJIET, our Humanities and Sciences Department holds a central and multifaceted role within the academic landscape and while our college is renowned for its Engineering and Technical programs, our department serves as the cornerstone for a well-rounded education. Apart from this, our foundational courses in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English, and Management Sciences form the bedrock of the Engineering curriculum. We have also championed interdisciplinary learning to bridge the gap between engineering and humanities and cultivate creative, communication, technical writing and critical thinking skills in students for success in their chosen disciplines.

Then we have courses in Ethics and Humanities to make students ethically strong and socially responsible and transform them into world-class Engineers. We also encourage students to participate in research activities and industrial projects to foster the culture of innovation on campus. Cultural events, seminars, and workshops are also conducted on a regular basis to expose students to diverse perspectives. Overall, our commitment is to foster a learning environment that nurtures not only technical expertise but also creativity, ethical values, and a global perspective.

How does your department contribute to the holistic development of students?

Our Humanities and Sciences Department is instrumental in fostering the holistic development of students within a predominantly technical educational institution. And we give equal emphasis on both imparting technical education and much needed practical exposure to students by conducting cultural events, seminars and workshops. And this multifaceted approach contributes significantly to their personal and intellectual growth by enriching their education beyond the technical realm. All in all, our department ensures that students not only excel in their chosen technical disciplines but also emerge as well-rounded individuals equipped with a broader understanding of the world and the skills necessary for success in a dynamic and interconnected society. 

What key initiatives and programs has your department implemented to fulfill the goals of the institution?

Our department has implemented a diverse range of initiatives to achieve our goal of providing a well-rounded education to students. And we primarily offer foundational courses to students in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Management Sciences, all of which forms a robust basis for various Engineering disciplines. 

Additionally, a range of management and economics courses are there to foster a deep understanding of societal dynamics and critical thinking in them. And we also promote interdisciplinary learning through elective programs. Research opportunities are also actively facilitated to students so that they can explore their interest areas and contribute to scholarly work. Last but not the least, in the form of industrial exposure, we have guest lectures, personality development programs and collaborative projects for them.

How does your Department collaborate with other departments of the college to offer enriching learning experiences to students?

For the purpose of fostering a culture of interdisciplinary learning on campus and offering a diverse array of elective courses to students, our Humanities and Sciences Department actively collaborates with other departments. And these value-added courses are mainly designed to encourage students to integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines and cultivate a holistic approach for problem-solving. Another benefit of this collaboration is that it allows us to provide students a well-rounded education and enrich their overall learning experience that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries and prepares them for the complexities of a dynamic and interconnected world.

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On what kinds of projects faculty and students of your department are currently involved in and how does all this contribute to VNR academic reputation?

Students and faculty members of our department are actively engaged in cutting-edge research projects in areas like Nano Materials, Fluid Dynamics, Drug Discovery, and Healthcare Analytics using Machine Learning. And these endeavors significantly contribute to our college's academic reputation by showcasing our commitment to advancing knowledge in diverse and impactful fields. Apart from this, exploration of Nano Materials and Fluid Dynamics underscores our dedication to fundamental scientific research, while the focus on Drug Discovery and Healthcare Analytics aligns with the contemporary intersection of technology and healthcare. 

How does your department ensure that students develop essential skills on time?

With the aim to develop much needed critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills in students and prepare them for the evolving technological changes, we have adopted a multifaceted teaching-learning approach and give special emphasis on project-based learning. Because this not only allows students to apply their learned concept in real-time situations but also foster a sense of creativity and innovation in them. 

We also invite experts to have an interactive session with the students and give them knowledge that will be helpful when they step into the corporate world. All in all, our approaches are targeted to not only promote critical thinking in students, empower them with essential skills to thrive in an era of technological evolution, but also equip them with a more comprehensive mindset when approaching problems. 

What kinds of collaborations has VNR maintained with external organizations and institutions?

Collaboration with external organizations and institutions is a cornerstone for our department's approach to education and research. Because we strongly believe that engaging with external entities not only enriches the academic experience of our students but also opens up new avenues for cutting-edge research for them. 

And to be more specific, we have established strong partnerships with IITH and NIT Warangal and have also signed MOU with University of Hyderabad, as part of which we have initiated collaborative research projects that leverage the expertise of both our faculty and expert professionals. And the synergy between academic and practical perspectives has proven to be a catalyst for innovative research.

What types of innovative programs have been introduced by your department to adapt to evolving needs of students and the job market?

Our department is committed to foster not just knowledge but also the mindset and skills that enable lifelong learning and success in any professional environment. Hence with changing needs of students and a highly dynamic and competitive job market, one of the key strategies which we have adopted is that we continuously update our curriculum to introduce new courses that are aligned with emerging trends of various industries.

Other than this, to prepare students for the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of many professions, we have developed interdisciplinary courses that combine humanities and sciences with technology, such as Essential Mathematics for Machine Learning and Statistical Methods for Data Analysis. And if it feels necessary we even take feedback from employers, ensuring that our graduates are not only knowledgeable but also possess the skills that they are seeking. Last but not the least, we have integrated sessions on resume building, interview skills, and networking in curriculum and also offer internships and experiential learning opportunities to students to connect them with the real-world.

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How does your department foster a sense of cultural and intellectual diversity among students and faculty?

We foster a vibrant ambiance of cultural and intellectual diversity among students and faculty members through a multifaceted approach. And our teachers have prioritized inclusivity in their teaching methodologies so that lectures and discussions could be made more interesting and students get exposure to a broad range of intellectual viewpoints. Our department also organizes events such as Science Day, National Mathematics Day and PI Day that celebrate various cultural festivals and aware people. And these events also allow the entire college community to come together and foster a rich tapestry of learning and understanding. 

As the Department Head, what is your goal for the institution and students in upcoming years?

Being the Head of the Humanities and Sciences Department, my vision for the future is to position our department as a dynamic hub that seamlessly integrates the liberal Arts and Science with Engineering education. Apart from this, my objective is to promote a holistic learning environment on campus that empowers students with a well-rounded education, enables excellence in every field and nurtures empathetic and innovative global citizens. 

Other than this, our focus would be on promoting interdisciplinary collaboration with reputed industries and institutions, instilling social responsibility in students, fostering a culture of innovation and creativity on campus and adopting a student-centric approach while delivering knowledge. And to make all this true, we are rigorously focusing on enhancement of our college curriculum, all around development of faculty members, infrastructure upgradation and effective resource utilization followed by community engagement, and a robust assessment mechanism.