Trivandrum University College, Assistant Professor: Dr. Vipin Das V Interview

Dr. Vipin Das V is an Assistant Professor at the Trivandrum University College, Trivandrum, Kerala. He completed a B.Sc. in physics, a M.Sc. in Physics, a B.Ed., and an M.Phil. from the University of Kerala. Later, he cleared SET and JRF NET in Physics. He worked as a higher secondary school teacher at the Government Higher Secondary School, Kilimanoor. Also, he served an as assistant professor in various institutes such as University College, Thiruvananthapuram, Government Polytechnic College, Neyyattinkara, and more. His several papers including Periodicity analysis of Galactic Cosmic rays using Fourier, Hilbert, and Higher-order Spectral methods, and Information Theoretic Methods based Analysis on the Relationship between Solar Activity are published in journals.

Being a Faculty of the Physics Department, what are your roles and responsibilities towards the students?

“Academic advising, curriculum development, and evaluation of classroom teaching.”

My primary duties as a faculty include effective classroom teaching, and evaluating, or nurturing both postgraduate and undergraduate students. I am always a group Tutor/Mentor of 1st-year M.Sc. students. Some of my other duties are academic advising, counseling of students, participation in departmental committee work, continuous development of the curriculum through assessment, applied research or scholarly activity, and service such as assisting in the recruitment of students. All these initiatives are designed to help students succeed academically and are also taken into consideration. I support the students by preparing and channeling them to cope with the new trends and needs of society.

How do you tend to establish healthy relations with the students and fellow faculty at Trivandrum University College?

“Maintain a good rapport, and establish an open line of communication for all.”

I would like to establish trust to set the tone for healthy classroom relationships. We always try to maintain a good rapport with students by knowing their stories. I assume the best in every student by giving them a chance to ‘fail forward’ and learn through their mistakes. It ensures them to learn and self-manage. I also try to establish an open line of communication, and students feel free to share their doubts. Hence, they can learn more effectively, and we monitor them closely. Our faculties are ready to hear their problems, seek their needs, and give appropriate advice whenever it is required.

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

“Provide product design, development, and operation for pupils.”

We teach students a combination of academic and practical skills to produce employable graduates. Being a broad science subject like Physics, the need of the industry is a wide perspective. The methodology and applications of the subject are vast and more over the base for all technologies. We establish this by understanding the present needs of the society. The technological sides are developed as per the requisites and the curriculum is oriented for facing such scenarios. It is taught in the context of the application of knowledge to product design, development, and operation.

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

“Seminars, training, industrial visits, corporate lectures, and more are accessible to students.”

Our students are taught through a transformative development experience, intellectual growth, and deep practical knowledge with sound judgment. Seminars are conducted by experts in the field to give students a better understanding of current trends. Our department offers students services like counseling placement training support, personality grooming, plant visits, corporate lectures, summer training, project reports, continuous evaluation, publication, pre-placement talk, and final placement.

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

“Identifies learning outcomes, standards, and core competencies in our curriculum.”

An effective curriculum provides teachers, students, school leaders, and even community stakeholders with a measurable plan and structure for delivering quality education. Our curriculum identifies the learning outcomes, standards, and core competencies that students must demonstrate before advancing to the next level. The curriculum revision is done by us according to new trends and requirements every five years. It assists in inculcating the needs and benefits to the society.

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What are your views on the placements and higher education of the students from Trivandrum University College?

“Organize doubt-clearing sessions, competitive exams, and library facilities for pupils.”

Most of our students go for higher studies after their course. They are being benefited from the classes and doubt-clearing sessions taken by the faculty. The library facilities enable them to prepare better for competitive exams. They are guided and counseled for better opportunities. It enables them to boost their visions with great confidence.

What valuable advice would you give to the students for them to have a prosperous career ahead?

“Refresh your mind with new idealism and expertise with skills.”

I always ask my students to have a glimpse of the new trends and developments around the world. We keep in touch with experts around the world through various platforms. They need to refresh their minds with new ideas, methodologies, and practices. You must channel knowledge and energy for the betterment of themselves and society.

How do you help your student cope with the competition being so high in the outside world?

“Mock drills, tests, proper guidance, and counseling are available for students.”

We give them proper guidance and counseling. It ensures they are acquainted with various techniques to cope with different competitions. We also conduct mock drills and tests as per the requirements for students. 

What are the challenges you faced to uplift the quality of education at Trivandrum University College?

“Handle multiple roles, update subjects as per new demand, and manage field visits.”

The situation is more challenging today. We need to handle multiple roles in the classroom. Some of the difficulties include updating the subject to new demands, correct materials, content presentations, managing field trips, and bringing in new creative approaches. Time management is a crucial challenge that I have faced in uplifting the students to cope with the demanding requirements. 

When you came to college, what was your vision and how are you trying to achieve the same?

“To uplift students to overcome challenges and train them for a better future.”

My vision is to uplift the students to face the challenges of procuring quality education. We inculcate them with a scientific temper and make them efficient to contribute to the well-being of society. They get training to have a broad outlook towards fellow beings.

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How does the curriculum of Trivandrum University College ensure the best practice in the industry?

“Plan, Research, Curriculum Development, and Professional Learning ensure best industrial practice.”

Being a science subject, our curriculum ensures the development of ways and practices that benefit the industry by incorporating trending views, thoughts, and practices. There are four major phases of the curriculum development process that take place on our campus. It consists of Plan and Research, Curriculum Development, Professional Learning, Curriculum Development, and Implementation. All these processes are ongoing and cyclical.

How does the college enhance the skills of the faculty and prepare them according to industry standards?

“Organize Seminars, workshops, FDPs, and mentoring programs for mentors.”

Faculty development programs are initiated by the department for faculties. They must conduct seminars, and workshops which nourish both the curriculum and intellectual well-being. Intervention by professional consultants, Workshops, Seminars, Courses, Mentoring programs, and Action research is conducted to enhance the skills of the faculty.

What are the interventions and approaches you bring in apart from the curriculum to train the students?

“Managing sensory stimulation, changing communication strategies, providing prompts and cues.”

I always try to bring innovative methods to extracting knowledge, and IT-enabled curriculum transactions on campus whenever required. We execute this by building relationships, adapting to the environment, managing sensory stimulation, changing communication strategies, and providing prompts and cues. Our faculties teach review processes and develop social skills. Also, we introduce and encourage students to go through content transaction sites on various platforms.

What do you see as the greatest strengths of Trivandrum University College and how can be enhanced?

“Supportive patrons, parents, teachers, and the public are our greatest strengths.”

A supportive patron and support from the parents and public are our greatest strengths. We conduct a learning environment and infrastructure which is evidenced by academic performance. Our campus tries to improve the quality of college by enhancing knowledge and acquiring new methodologies. All these practices occur through content transactions by group or individual discussion of expertise in various fields of teaching, and research within and outside the department.