Dr. Milind Madhav Khanapurkar is the Principal at Cummins College of Engineering for Women. He has done Ph.D. in Electronics Engineering in 2011 and has been nominated by AICTE Delhi as Margadarshak. He has a total of 33 years of administration and teaching experience. Till now, he has attended over 75 conferences, seminars, etc. 

Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Nagpur

You have held key positions at education institutes throughout your professional career. What are the key factors that keep you connected with the education sector?

Amongst many key factors to keep connected with this noble profession, the most important key factor is student stakeholders. Interacting with students, solving the problems they face, trying to counsel them about their professional growth, job prospects, career, etc. The other key factor is satisfaction. It gives immense satisfaction to see the growth and development of our own students and at the same time the latest technological developments in the field of education sector. I personally experience the teaching field as a mission and not only a profession.

Being the Principal of Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Nagpur what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

As a principal of the esteemed institute Cummins Colleges of Engineering for Women Nagpur under the umbrella of Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Sanstha Pune, we have a legacy of serving the society for more than a century. The vision of Sanstha and that of the institute navigates my leadership philosophy, style, and role. The inclusiveness of every associated constituent to contribute towards the overall holistic development of students is the basis of discharging the roles and responsibilities of the principal. Defining everyone’s role in the process, deciding their responsibilities, providing full freedom for operations, assessing the accomplishments, understanding the probable causes, and finding the gaps for improvements is the style I believe in and try to follow to the best of my ability.

The education systems in India and other foreign countries are structured very differently. In your experience, what can an inbound student gain from studying here in your institute?

In fact, this is very good that this question is being asked. Students graduating from our institute will have a professional approach toward solving problems with work ethics and morals. Beyond their technical knowledge, our students will be an asset to parents, society, and in turn to the nation. It is well ensured that the education imparted in the institute is not only fulfilling the dream of the students to become graduate engineers but also becoming responsible citizens of our great nation.

How does the curriculum of Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Nagpur ensure the best practice of industry?

This is another question that I was expecting. Today almost everyone talks about the gaps between industry practices/ work culture and content delivery in engineering institutes. Let me convey to you, all your viewers, and to everyone that ours is the only industry-supported institute in the name of Cummins industry/ company the world leader in the manufacturing process industries. Not only this, but our institute also has collaboration with almost 50 + industries. Through these MoUs, various technical activities with industries such as Internships, innovation, live projects, visits, seminars, talks, workshops, and conferences on the area of the latest technological advancements are the regular features of the institute with almost all the students are beneficiaries of one or the many industries driven/ organized activities. This kind of best practice makes us stand different from others and make our student's industry ready.

Any insights into how your university/College could be more welcoming to students of different races or economic backgrounds?

To cater to student stakeholders from socio-economically diversified backgrounds is the main feature of Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Nagpur. We have students enrolled from almost all types of backgrounds. We ensure to cater/impart education to all equally and see to it that no student should be at a loss or should be deprived based on their diversified backgrounds. Many non-government organizations/institutes such as Cummins India Ltd, Leela Poonavala Foundation, Reliance, etc. also provide scholarships/support to needy and deserving students. These institutional scholarships are over and above the scholarship as and where applicable. We are very proud to make it a point over here that one amongst every 3-4 students at our institute is a beneficiary of one or the other monetary/non-monetary beneficiary scheme.

What do you think your roles and responsibilities to the Institute and the students are?

Acting as the first interface of the institute, my roles and responsibilities are providing directions. I am a facilitator to the students for imparting the best the institute has for students with the timely development of infrastructure facilities and human resource developments. I have a role to play to make every effort to establish and grow the Cummins brand nationally and internationally.

What do you think should be the Institute’s top priority over the next 10 years? 

The Institute’s top priority in the forthcoming decade is to march ahead with the legacy that we have been inculcated over a century. We wish to undergo NAAC and NBA accreditation process at earliest possible achieve good score / grade. We wish to compete in national level ranking like NIRF and achieve very good rank. We also have a plan to undergo autonomy and establish our own set of standards and goals with wings of freedom and responsibility of autonomous status. With above stated targets in mind, we are very sure to have good core industry placements for our students on a regular basis. In the decade to come, we wish to implement the recommendations and provisions of National Education policy-2020. With NEP 2020, the holistic development of students will be the reality which is the dream of our founder late Bharat Rana Mahershee Dhono Keshav Karve.

What would you like people to know about your Institute they may not know?

We want people to know about our institute and our Sanstha. Ours is the only industry-supported engineering institute for women in Vidharbha. We have the highest core industry collaborations in terms of internships, and projects, leading to placements in core industries with higher packages. We have a very safe and secure campus with an on-campus hostel along with sports, a gym, and world-class infrastructure with wifi facility, smart classrooms, laboratories with the latest software, and high computational machines and equipment. And above all, we have a team of excellent faculty who provides parental touch to the students which makes them feel a home away from home.

What do you see as Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Nagpur's greatest strengths?

We have a safe and secure campus with Nirbhay environment for learning experience having dedicated faculty and staff to take care of students. Core company – industry visits/interactions/collaboration for all industry-based activities including placements/internships etc. We also boast very good world-class infrastructure to fulfill students’ expectations at par with international standards and practices. We also provide financial/non-financial support to deserving and needy students.

Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth and the aspiring students? 

My suggestion to youth and aspiring students is that all of them are full of intelligence, energy are rich sources of ideas. I would rather advise the current youth and aspiring students to keep yourself very focused on your goal settings and not only this work hard to achieve them as plan. Once your set goals are achieved, return them to your society and in turn to the nation in some or the other form.

How do you tend to establish a healthy relationship and environment at your institute?

Our college comprises a well-defined policy framing and Inclusiveness of every constituent of the teaching-learning process in the system to lead toward the very purpose of holistic development of students. As stated, the vision of the institute tuned by quality policy makes things crystal clear. Working together with a delegation of authority, responsibility, and transparency in administration countered by quality checks and a result-oriented approach leading to accomplishing vision is the fundamental formulation for establishing a healthy relationship and environment at the institute which is of utmost importance and essential for growth.