Dr. G. Samba Siva Rao is the Academic Director of NRI Institute of Technology. He obtained his Doctoral and Master’s Degree (Heat Transfer) from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam and B.Tech Degree (Mechanical) from V R Siddhartha Engineering College, Vijayawada. He started his career as a lecturer in 1984 in the same institute where he graduated from. He is a distinguished academician and an able administrator with more than 40 years of teaching experience. Prior to assuming the position of Academic Director at NRI Institute of Technology, he was the Principal at Sir C R Reddy College of Engineering, Eluru. He has published 48 research papers in various reputed International journals and he has a couple of patents to his credit.

NRI Institute of technology

What is the latest program that you are offering in NRIIT which will help students outperform and stand apart from the crowd?

We offer a variety of courses in our college which include both conventional and IT-related programs. At present, we are offering B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Computer Science and Engineering with Data Science, Computer Science and Engineering with Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. In addition to these courses, we are also offering B.Tech- Computer Science and Engineering in Regional Language for the benefit of rural Telugu medium students besides B. Tech in Information Technology. We are offering conventional courses : Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, M.Tech Programs in all specializations and MBA. Wide choice of specializations to suit the individual requirements allow the students to opt for the course of their choice to excel in academics and professional career in future.

What are the factors that make the program the best for the students to opt?

The most important factor, that makes this program the best for a student to opt for, depends upon the congenial academic environment, experienced faculty, laboratories with up-to-date equipment and software, excellent teaching – learning, assessment and evaluation system, strong industry connect and the best training and placement cell. At our college, we provide all the necessary resources that make our programs worth opting for students and secure placement in the best companies.

What will you say are the “best practices” in the course you’re offering?

Industry expectation on their future employees is changing with times. Currently the industry is expecting the fresh graduates to possess the knowledge as well skills in the required domains. To reduce the training overheads, the industry is of the view that the fresh candidate must immediately be placed on job with little or no training. As we are autonomous, we are using the little flexibility that we have in upskilling our students. Hence, we are focusing more on the students’ skills as it is equally important as knowledge for the IT industry. Upgrading skillsets is very important for one’s career growth which is the best practice that we generally follow here at NRIIT.

What are some valuable insights of the program that you are offering at your institute?

Training the students in upcoming technologies by industry experts, activity-based learning environment, organizing Hackathons, students’ participation in paper and project presentations and organising all programs in our college as student centric are some of the valuable insights of the B.Tech programs we offer. 

How does the program ensure that students are being prepared for the future?

Student’s placement in multinational companies in relevant positions with higher packages is one of the indicators that we are preparing them for the future. Also a portion of students clearing GRE, TOEFL and IELTS with good scores and securing admissions in masters programs in reputed Universities in USA, Canada and Australia is another indicator.

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What are you most proud of in your career so far?

Out of 40 years in Engineering education, during the first 20 years, as a lecturer I prepared my students in various aspects of Mechanical Engineering and over 95% of them are now in senior positions in top notch companies in India and abroad. During the latter 20 years as an administrator, I prepared my students towards achieving their career aspirations by incorporating suitable modifications in academic systems and supporting systems. I am proud that my students are performing well all over the globe as employees and employers.

What strategy do you employ for building an efficient work team?

A good team is always necessary for building an efficient working environment. We have employed well-qualified and experienced faculty to steer our students moving towards achieving their goals and aspirations. We regularly conduct a number of faculty development programs and we also reward our faculty with additional incentives for their dedication in their profession as successful team-players.

What was the most challenging task that you faced in your career so far, and what did you learn from it?

Normalizing the input behavior of a class of students and making them as graduates with equal potential in four year time is the most challenging task. Especially, the heterogeneity in input quality of students in a class is very high in private self-financing engineering colleges. I could perform this task effectively with the help of progressive thinking managements of the colleges I worked.

What do you find most difficult about being a Director - Academics?

It is the most challenging position in administrative system where students should be given intensive training in upcoming technologies to make them industry ready and knowledge and skills of faculty members’ must be enhanced by organizing relevant faculty development programs etc. Every student who joins in the college should become a graduate with knowledge and skills and must leave the campus with Degree in one hand and a job in another. 

What is your Vision for NRIIT in the next Five years?

We aim to give the best education in Andhra Pradesh and become one among the top ten private engineering colleges in AP. We always strive hard to make sure that students who take admission in our college must be placed suitably with highly rewarding career.