Dr. K N Venkata Ratna Kumar is a distinguished academician and able administrator with more than 23 years of experience in education sector. To acquire academic qualifications, he has done MCA, M.Tech (CSE), and Ph.D. (CSE), MA (Psychology), and MBA (HR & Mktg.). He has grown from the ranks starting career as a Lecturer, to Professor in CSE Department, and administrative positions from Academic Coordinator to the Principal of an Engineering College. A notable aspect in his profile is that he possessed more than 9 years of working experience in three Government Universities in the Sub-Saharan country (Ethiopia) in the African Continent. He shouldered the responsibility of ensuring quality in academic delivery, teaching-learning processes, assessment and evaluation systems in the universities as Chairperson for Quality Assurance Cell (QAC). Prior to assuming the position of Principal, he was the Professor at St. Mary’s Group of Institutions Guntur, Chebrole (V&M), Guntur. He has published 17 research papers in various reputed National and International journals, besides a couple of patents to his credit. He co-authored books that are published by Scientific International Publishing House (SIPH), with titles (i) Internet of Things : Fundamental Concepts and Applications, and (ii) Web Programming. These books are open for sale in Flipkart, a well known e-commerce site. In his impressive teaching, research, and administrative career, he has consistently promoted innovative teaching practices and imaginative thinking. He has endeared himself to his students and colleagues alike through his affable nature and empathetic leadership style.

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St.Mary's Women's Engineering College

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

The key factor that has kept me in the field of education is probably the zeal and enthusiasm to share knowledge with youngsters and make them understand where we have reached and stand today so that it’s easier for them to build a better future. The deep connection with education is because of my interest in learning and sharing my exploration with the younger generations.

Being the Principal of St.Mary's Women's Engineering College, what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

I render my leadership based on “All Inclusive” Philosophy. I believe that one needs to keep the surroundings well connected with a similar vision. Disruptive solutions coming from any corner and respect for cultural diversification are essential ingredients. I would describe my leadership style to be Action oriented - “Modest in Talking but Robust in Actions”. I strongly feel a Genuine Smile and Empathetic mindset would resolve most of the issues we come across in our daily routines.

Being the Principal of St.Mary's Women's Engineering College, how do you strategize about the key programs and plans for the marketing and administration of your college?

Like any other firms and establishments, educational institutions have to brand their institutional practices. Institutes, in general, compete with other colleges around, in order to gain reputation among the aspiring students. We guarantee and offer unique learning experiences to all our incumbents. It has been our institutional philosophy to ensure that every student succeeds, and we also offer diversified learning opportunities. The major driving factors and practices for success in keeping up our reputation are :

  • Internal Marketing : Satisfy the existing students with well-defined academic enrichment activities.
  • Understanding the need of Potential Students and Create avenues to cater
  • Create a Message They Care About : Stay unique with other competing institutes in terms of quality academic delivery, and trainings. 
  • Use Digital Marketing Avenues : The outreach of an institute in today’s world is by many online avenues and social networking
  • Constant Upkeep and Upgrade of Institutional policies for the mutual benefit of all the stakeholders

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 college?

Yes, there is a difference in the learning environment over here and abroad. The key difference is that the learners abroad, particularly in European and American Institutes have been raised through creative thinking and analytical mind-sets. In India, learners go through strict discipline in schools and a strong focus on performance. We have consciously built an environment where there is a mix of creative and disciplined but democratic learner’s centricity. There is strong support for enhancing fast learners’ performances and handholding the potential/ slow learners. Inbound students can gain a lot from this enriched education environment which has been planned meticulously and built methodically.

How does the curriculum of St.Mary's Women's Engineering College ensure the best practice of industry?

Our college is basically an engineering institute currently offering emerging courses in computer science domain only. Being in Engineering education, the curriculums are basically guided by the respective statuary bodies (affiliating university – JNTUK). But we keep ourselves abreast of the latest inclusions by regularly updating them and focusing on competencies gain. The curriculums shared by the university for the respective courses are augmented with value-added / certification / short-term courses being offered by the institute, to minimize the gap between academia and industry. We also have an Industry-Institute Interaction Cell (IIIC) which organizes expert talks and knowledge-sharing sessions through eminent and prominent personalities with industrial experience.

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

As an affiliated institute, the college has allotted students in Diploma / UG courses through various common-entrance tests (like AP POLYCET, EAPCET, ECET, etc.) i.e. the state-level entrance tests and state/national level tests for PG courses (like ICET / CAT / PGECET / GATE). The intervention of the institute is very limited in choosing their backgrounds in terms of their economic or social statuses. Also, the institute adopted a philosophy of ‘oneness’ to which every student is treated the same with respect and reverence.

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

I have been the Principal of the college and I am basically also a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering discipline. The management of the institute has given me an all-around opportunity to take up challenges from all corners of education and care. It's more than half a decade, I have spent in this role. I have been actively associated with most of the strategic thinking, expansions and modernizations. I have been pivotal during my current responsibility as Principal and strategized towards promoting E-learning, Learners' Quality Centricity, Infrastructure modernization and Faculty Development. The college offers Diploma, UG, and PG courses, catering to almost the needs of 1800-2000 students in each academic year that is inclusive of Academic, Non-Academic, Extra- and Co-Curricular, and Training activities. It’s a huge challenge, but as a team, we are determined to perform well and deliver the best to all our stakeholders.

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

The institute was established in the year 2008 and since then it has been one of the top Women’s Engineering Colleges in the state. Empowering girls/women in the emerging engineering areas has been a major objective of our college and it has continued for more than one-and-a-half decades now. This shall be in progress quantitatively, for the years to come too.

When you first came to St.Mary's Women's Engineering College, what was your vision for the College? Has it evolved over time, and how far along in implementing that vision are you?

I was moderately a young administrator when I joined this institute. I am deputed with a huge responsibility for driving the institute towards an all-around improvement over academics, and non-academic activities. At that time, I had a vision of making this place an all-inclusive opportunity for learning. A place where students enjoy learning and faculty can say – Happy Learning too! This remains true to date, too. I don’t think there is any ending to learning; it’s just a continuity. The thirst for learning is never quenching. The Management led by our Hon’ble Chairman Rev. Dr. K V K Rao, has put every effort into making it a state-of-the-art facility with a priority to humanity and social conscience all around. Our Heads, Deans, and Incharges have led it to Academic Excellence. They continue to do so to date. I am a firm believer in “No study is a waste”; every little attempt at knowledge gain will ever remain meaningful. I foster this in each and every one of my actions and thoughts.

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

Well, I would certainly like to tell them, that St.Mary’s Women’s Engineering College is a beautiful place of Learning. The good happenings are endorsed by our credentials such as Accreditations by NAAC. The college has state-of-the-art facilities. It caters to the academic and training requirements of more than 1800 female students in every academic year. Our management extends their support in the conduct of Student and Faculty Development programs. Ours is a beautiful and eco-friendly campus with a clean and green environment. Overall, it’s a very exciting place for students. We have almost 1,000 students present on the campus as well as the hostellers.

What do you see as St.Mary's Women's Engineering College's greatest strengths?

The greatest strength of our college is promoting gender equity. It respects women and caters to the well-being of every stakeholder may it be from a metro or a town or even a village. The faculty are drawn from all corners of the state and amalgamate in the most meaningful manner. The management is understanding, accessible, and approachable all the time. Every student's view is respected and taken with full responsibility. In a nutshell, we thrive on our well-knit and caring human resources.

What are some of the biggest challenges you see, both for higher education in general and for St. Mary's Women's Engineering College specifically?

The biggest challenge that I see for higher education in India, particularly considering the Pandemic, is developing and imparting an effective Online Education. It’s not merely a question of taking an online learning session but education as a whole. Evolving a newer platform for education, where they can also get exposed to Psycho-motor skills and Honest assessments. E-learning was predicted to be the biggest opportunity for building Equity in Education, I think the time has arrived for higher education to make it happen. As far as St.Mary’s Women’s Engineering College is concerned specifically, being a stakeholder in the higher education sector, it has to provide an effective and long-term focus for fostering an absolutely safe all-inclusive environment, both for learners as well as stakeholders.

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

For the youths I would say, have an understanding of a fast-changing society and its rapidly evolving needs. You are needed to Horne relevant skills as per societal needs, continuously. It’s more important to acquire a skill for being an emotionally stable Lifelong learner than a panic-struck grade achiever. For aspiring students, I would say again, that the 21st Century belongs to engineers and the sky is the limit for enthusiastic youngsters.

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

Healthy and positive work relationships will make any job less stressful and enjoyable. It will cut out the mundane factor that often plagues an employee in the long run. An institutional culture that encourages employees to maintain healthy relationships can go a long way toward enhancing employee well-being. Our institute has always been a choice for many aspirants for the following reasons:

  • Open and Transparent Communication across all departments in the institute
  • Listening (actively) to each other during discussions and idea-sharing sessions
  • Appreciating peers and co-workers
  • Maintain work ethics and value others
  • Being approachable and accountable
  • Maintain boundaries and never gossip