Prof. Manjunatha Chari Sir has been working as the Professor and Deputy Director of Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management, Hyderabad, Telangana. He has a wonderful and rich 22+ years of teaching experience and he is such an individual who actively involves himself in academic activities and loves to motivate young minds. Also, he has provided great learning experience to his students through his positive thinking and strong association with the industry people. He has done M.Tech in Digital Systems and Computer Electronics from JNTU Kakinada and PhD in Image processing as part of his education.

GITAM Hyderabad

What encouraged and inspired you to join the Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management?

GITAM University provides quality education and has been recognized as a deemed university by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India and we are also associated with a prestigious institution that can be a source of pride and motivation. Apart from this, the institution focuses on maintaining high academic standards and offers a diverse range of programs across disciplines such as engineering, management, pharmacy, sciences, humanities, and more. And I strongly believe that this diversity can appeal to individuals with interdisciplinary interests or those seeking a comprehensive educational experience. 

Also, the best environment is available here for research and innovation and college regularly motivates faculty and students to engage in meaningful research activities to advance their knowledge and skills. And our college has collaborated with leading industries, research organizations, and international institutions to provide required practical exposure to students, enhance their employability skills and also to bridge the gap between academia and their demands. Last but not the least, the institute has world-class infrastructure and modern libraries, laboratories and sports amenities and all this has together inspired me to join the Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management.

In your 22+ years of teaching experience, how the industrial world has evolved over time and will be in the future?

In my opinion, over the past few decades, the field of Engineering has witnessed significant changes and advancements, because it has been at the forefront of technological progress. And we have also observed remarkable progress in areas such as computer science, information technology, robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, nanotechnology, and more, all of which have revolutionized various industries and opened up new avenues for aspiring Engineers. 

Apart from this, the boundaries between different Engineering disciplines have become increasingly blurred and Engineers are now working collaboratively across numerous interesting domains to tackle complex challenges. Also, the interdisciplinary fields like mechatronics, biomedical engineering, and environmental engineering have gained prominence, emphasizing the integration of knowledge from various specializations.

And as our dynamic world is facing pressing environmental challenges, there has been a growing demand for sustainable engineering practices, so Engineers are now focusing on developing eco-friendly technologies, renewable energy sources, energy-efficient systems, waste management solutions, and sustainable infrastructure and this trend is expected to continue as the need for sustainable development will becomes even more critical in the future. Last but not the least, the advent of digital technologies has had a profound impact on the engineering industry and concepts like the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, cloud computing, and virtual reality have transformed the way engineers design, analyze, and manage projects and digital tools and simulations have made the design process more efficient, enabling rapid prototyping and reducing time to market.

Engineering has also become globalized, with cross-border collaborations and international projects becoming more common and the ease of communication and connectivity has allowed engineers to work remotely and collaborate with teams from different parts of the world. 

What motivated you to join the education sector as a professional career right after finishing your academics?

My passion to gather knowledge and deepen my understanding of a specific field is one of the biggest factors of why I joined the education sector, because exploring new ideas, conducting rigorous research and sharing my knowledge with others, especially young minds of our society gives me immense joy and satisfaction. 

Apart from this, my desire to contribute to the growth of society and bring positive changes in youths' lives by spreading meaningful knowledge among them and helping them to pursue their own interests and delve into topics they find intriguing has helped me to join the education sector right after finishing my education. Because being an academic researcher and helping others to become a good one is truly intellectually stimulating and rewarding. 

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How is the GITAM working on enhancing its ranking and accreditation from the time of its establishment?

An Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) is of utmost importance for an educational institution as it plays a critical role in ensuring and enhancing the quality and standards of education and the overall functioning of the institution.

How does your college keep students updated with the latest developments of the Engineering field?

Our institution has recognized the importance of interdisciplinary learning and staying up-to-date with the latest trends of the Engineering field because it ensures in return that curriculum remains relevant and comprises the latest technologies and advancements of various Engineering domains. Hence we offer courses in areas of emerging technology and as per interests of students because by including the interdisciplinary programs into the curriculum, the college provides students a comprehensive understanding of various subjects. 

In your opinion, what are some of the biggest challenges that Engineering Colleges are facing nowadays and what's your approach to address them as a professor?

I firmly believe that one of the biggest challenges which Engineering Colleges are facing nowadays is to keep pace with rapidly evolving industry demands, because we all know that technologies are evolving day by day and industries are adopting advanced practice and to stay compliant with the same, Engineering Institutions need to ensure that their curriculum and programs remains up-to-date and complete knowledge can be delivered to students. Apart from this, timely and correct integration of latest technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and data science into the curriculum is another big roadblock in front of the institution. 

And to resolve these 2 issues, we regularly collaborate with the leading industries. And we all know that for colleges, providing best quality practical sessions along with theoretical knowledge is very crucial, but limited access to well-equipped laboratories, resources, and industry exposure poses another challenge in front of them. Last but not the least, shortage of skilled and highly experienced faculty members in specific domains also poses many difficulties in front of the Engineering educational institutions.

How do you foster an ambiance of experiential learning in your college?

We have created such an environment in our college campus which will encourage students to practice hands-on learning to develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills and work on real-world applications.

What steps is GITAM taking to bridge the gap between academia and industrial world requirements?

Our college has collaborated with top-notch industries to facilitate knowledge exchange sessions and best internship opportunities to students in order to bridge the gaps between their skills and industry demands and work on joint research projects. Along with this, our partnership with leading corporate houses helps us to expose our students to real-world industrial practices and provide them access to industry experts and leaders whose guidance will ultimately prepare them for this unpredictable and dynamic world. We also conduct industry-specific training programs from time to time to help students apply their classroom learning in real-world settings, gain hands-on experience, and develop corporate-specific skills. 

Last but not the least, finest entrepreneurship and innovation opportunities are provided to students through our startup initiatives, programs and incubation centers which have been setup on campus and are equipped with ultra-modern amenities, because our prime objective is to develop entrepreneurial mindset in students and assist them in establishing their own ventures.

In your viewpoint, what are the main priorities of your college in the coming years?

I strongly believe that the main priorities of our college for the coming years is to improve the academic methodologies of our college and provide the best quality practical education to students through a flexible and industry-driven curriculum, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and premier learning environment. Apart from this, we aspire to achieve global standards and excellence in teaching, research and consultancy .

And we as an educational institution would also like to keep working on innovations, provide knowledge of cutting-edge technologies to students for their successful future by strengthening our collaborations with our industry partners.