Ms. Sonam Sojan is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science at The Cochin College in Kochi, Ernakulam. She did her BSc in Computer Science from the School of Technology and Applied Science, Edappally and her master’s degree in MCA from SCMS School of Technology and Management, Muttom. Thereafter, Ms. Sojan also worked as a Software engineer for one year at Teqdad IT Solution Kakkanad. She has dedicated herself to shaping the minds of young students and imparting knowledge in Computer Science.

a

Being an Assistant Professor of the Department, what are your roles and responsibilities towards the students?

As an assistant professor, my responsibilities towards students are manifold. Primarily, I have to teach my students the prescribed course curriculum and allocate assignments and projects to them. I ensure I am always present and available for my students as a mentor to give them advice regarding classes and discuss course related questions, careers, and life. All teachers are also required to conduct examinations every few months. I also encourage active participation among students in academic and extracurricular activities to help students boost their resumes and develop essential life skills. As a part of my duty, I also ensure I stay updated with new knowledge and techniques in teaching.

How do you tend to establish healthy relations with the students and fellow faculty? 

Establishing healthy relations with the students and fellow faculty members requires dedicated efforts and planning. I try to maintain respectful communication and be open to talking to all stakeholders during college hours. I make it a point to always be approachable and show a willingness to listen to their concerns, ideas, and feedback. If I feel anyone needs help, I offer help and vice versa I anyone needs my help, I am always willing to work together to achieve a common goal. Towards this end, I always try to be patient and develop a positive attitude.

How do you try to bring in a practical approach towards subjects and make it industry-oriented?

Including a practical approach to classroom teaching is crucial to encouraging students to practice their learned classroom knowledge and not rely on memorization and rote learning. At our college, we do so through projects that mimic real-world problems and situations where students are expected to come up with their own solutions. We arrange workshops with professionals from the field where they share their knowledge and let students know what to expect from the industry. The college arranges internships for students and provides workshops for teachers to learn the latest teaching tools and technologies to teach the students better. We emphasise communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

Check The Cochin College Courses & Fees

What are the best practices offered by the department to the students that help them gain the necessary skills? 

Our department offers several best practices to help our students gain the necessary skills to excel in the industry. We provide internship opportunities along with placements and conduct fests and hackathon competitions regularly during the academic year. We also conduct workshops on skill development to let students know which skills are in demand in the industry and provide counselling sessions on career development. We encourage students to enroll in and earn the maximum number of online courses to develop their skills during vacation times to further enhance their skills.

How do you strategize the curriculum and how often it get updated to make it befitting for the students?

To update our curriculum, we strategize with fellow teachers and industry experts, whose feedback allows us to adopt suggestions. We regularly conduct assessments to understand the student’s areas for improvement. We also design our course topics to align with educational goals and ensure the material is engaging and relevant. Our teachers receive training to effectively teach the updated curriculum and enhance their teaching skills. We also invite feedback from students to identify gaps and better refine our curriculum. Additionally, we provide remedial classes and revision sessions to address students’ learning gaps.

What are your views on the placements and higher education of the students from your department or how does your department prepare students for Higher education? 

Our department emphasises a comprehensive curriculum that includes theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and research methodologies, ensuring our students are better prepared for the job market or higher education. We actively encourage students to participate in research projects and take advantage of internships and industry exposure to enhance their real-world learning experience. To this end, we regularly conduct workshops and seminars with industry experts. We also focus on preparing students for placements through career counselling, resume building and interview preparation. We also boast of a strong alumni network that offers mentorship, guiding the current students in their careers and higher education pursuits.