Dr. Kalyani Sunkara has been working as the Head of IT Department at Vignan's Institute of Engineering For Women, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. She has done B.Sc (Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science) in 2001, M.Sc (Computer Science) in 2007 and M.Tech (CST with specialization in Computer Networks in 2010, all from Andhra University of Visakhapatnam followed by Ph.D in Computer Science & Systems Engineering from Department of Computer Science & Systems Engineering, Andhra University.

She is all well-versed with programming languages like C, C++, Python, R and Java, Databases like Oracle 8i/9i/10g/11g, MySQL, SQL Server 2008 and web technologies such as HTML, DHTML, XML and JavaScript. She has a wonderful 15 years of work experience in the education sector and before joining Vignan's Institute as an Assistant Professor in 2010, she has worked with Viswanadha Institute of Technology and Management as an Assistant Professor and Chaitanya Degree and P.G College of Visakhapatnam as a Lecturer.

Also, till date, she has taught subjects like Hadoop and Big Data, Database Management Systems, C Programming, Information Security, Java Programming, Cryptography and Network Security, Advanced Computer Networks, Operating Systems, Data Warehousing and Mining, Statistics with R Programming, Object Oriented Analysis and Design, Computer Organization and Computer Architecture. She is also a proud member of Association for Computer Machinery, Institute of Engineers - India, International Association of Engineers and AP Chapter College Consortium.

She has qualified GATE in 2012 with score 336 and All India rank-17,000 and has published 7 research papers in numerous reputed journals. For her amazing work in academics, she has received multiple applause and accolades including Women Excellence Award from MSConnect in March 2023 and Shastra Award for research contribution and publishing book in the year 2022.

Vignan Institute of Engineering for Women

What are the key factors that keep you connected with the education sector?

It gives me immense pride, satisfaction and happiness when I educate the budding Engineers and future technocrats and help them become socially responsible citizens of the country. Along with this, I have a keen passion for learning, innovation and true desire to bring a positive impact on society by making its people literate. And I believe all the factors together have helped me stay connected with the education sector.

Being the Head of the IT Department, what is your philosophy of leadership? 

As the Department Head, my philosophy of leadership revolves around several key principles and values and I mainly believe in fostering an environment that promotes learning, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. 

Also, I hold myself and others to high ethical standards and qualities like integrity, honesty, and ethical behavior are non-negotiable in our department. Apart from this, I try my best to provide quality education, resources and opportunities to all my students so as to ensure their growth on both personal and professional level. Then comes the faculty and staff members, to whom also I empower by offering skills development windows at the right time so that they can effectively contribute to the department's goals. 

And, I regularly encourage everyone to be a part of innovation and adaptability to stay ahead of industry trends, incorporate cutting-edge technologies into our curriculum, and be open to change that enhances the quality of education. Last but not the least, we set measurable targets and regularly assess our progress to ensure that we are achieving our objectives effectively and I always keep open any scope of change that can enhance the quality of education, research, and service we provide. 

According to you, what benefits students can get from studying here in your institute?

Our college offers finest quality education to students at an affordable cost and they will also get to experience a culturally rich, diverse and vibrant environment here. Industry driven certifications and value-added courses are also available to make students all rounder.

In addition to this, they will be prepared for life in an inclusive environment not only for jobs, where irrespective of his/her background, every student will feel equally important, respected, welcomed and valued. Last but not the least, we have ultra-modern infrastructure and research facilities. So, all in all, students will be getting the best ambiance and opportunities to grow and innovate.

How does the curriculum of your institute ensure the best practices of industry?

Our institution regularly collaborates with its industry partners and members of Advisory Boards and Committees to gain in-depth understanding of latest industrial trends, skill requirements and best practices of corporate, so that necessary changes can be made in it and students after finishing their respective courses can efficiently meet the industry needs. A review of the curriculum is conducted on a regular basis to ensure it remains up-to-date in terms of what we are imparting to students and what companies want.

Also, internships and industrial projects are an integral part of many of our programs, and these ultimately allow students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations and gain hands-on experience in their chosen field. Apart from this, we have incorporated industry-standard tools, software, and technologies in the curriculum and conduct guest lectures, workshops and seminars on current topics in collaboration with industry experts. Then we have faculty members with industry experience or ongoing industry involvement who provide valuable insights and practical knowledge to students. Last but not the least, we work closely with corporate people on various kinds of research projects to give real-time exposure to students and regularly collect feedback from students and alumni through surveys, assessments and discussions.

Check Vignan Institute of Engineering for Women Courses & Fees

What do you think should be the Institute's top priority over the next 5 years?

I strongly believe that maintaining and enhancing our academic excellence should be a perpetual priority for us in incoming years and this we can achieve by continually improving the quality of teaching and research programs to ensure that students receive a world-class education. Along with this, we should promote an environment that supports student success by providing academic and career advising, mentoring, tutoring, and support services to students.

Innovation, integration of new technologies into the classroom, offering online and blended learning options, adapting to changing educational delivery methods, regularly reviewing and updating programs to meet the demands of the job market, promoting diversity and inclusion within the institution's student body and faculty, upgrading the campus infrastructure and facilities, expanding international partnerships, study abroad programs, and global research collaborations to provide students with international exposure and building strong ties with the local community for the benefit both the institution and surrounding region should be our other key goals for upcoming time.

What do you see as the greatest strengths of your college?

The key pillars of our college's greatest strengths are our high-quality academic programs, faculty expertise, and rigorous curriculum. We also have a robust research culture, a track record of contributing to cutting-edge research and innovation, a diverse and multicultural student body, a strong, supportive and engaged alumni network followed by state-of-the-art facilities including laboratories, libraries, and campus infrastructure. 

Last but not the least, we have a very strong reputation in the whole region and we have been consistently ranked high in the list of JNTU affiliated college results. Our college also has a very welcoming and supportive campus environment and we have maintained an amazing track record of Placements and internships for students, so all these together makes us strong and resilient.

What would you like people to know about your college that makes it unique and different from others?

Every student at our college is motivated to actively participate in all the events conducted by us. Apart from this, they embrace lifelong learning, develop critical thinking skills, practice empathy and inclusivity and also balance technologies and well-being.

We also have a proper counseling system to mentor the students to progress in their personal and professional lives and expert faculty from different domains ensure that students can make significant progress in academics, internships, certifications, project development, placements and ultimately achieve success in life. 

Any valuable advice which you would like to give to the current youth and aspiring students?

I would like to advise my dear students to have a clear vision of their goals. Also make a perfect plan and prepare yourself accordingly. Because, a goal or desire, which stems from the heart and spirit and when it is pure and intense, possesses awesome electromagnetic energy. So have the courage to think differently, invent, travel the unexplored path to conquer the problems and succeed. 

And always remember that every individual's journey is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all path to success and only your real time experiences, challenges, and choices will shape your life's story. Stay true to your values, open to learning, and never stop pursuing your dreams.