Prof. Nivedita is the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Department at Alard College of Engineering and Management. She has an MTech degree in Thermal Power and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. She has a total of 12 years of experience in teaching. She is also an avid researcher and has 9 research papers published under her name. Her key areas of research lie in Nanotechnology and biofuels. 

Alard College of Engineering and Management

You have held key positions at education institutes throughout your professional career. What keeps you connected with the Education Sector and how has your experience been so far with the institute?

One of the reasons I still feel connected with the Education Sector is that I believe it is a noble profession and that this field can be lucrative. You can assist others as education is centred on fostering the growth of future generations. It can be a fulfilling field to work in, regardless of your level of involvement.

Being the Head of the Department- of Mechanical Engineering of Alard College of Engineering & Management, what are your roles and responsibilities towards the students?

As department head, I seek to provide positivity, expertise, a creative approach to problem-solving, and the capacity to passionately accept change. I have the opportunity to take students to various events, as well as construct lesson plans that consistently fit the needs of all pupils. I focus on building positive relationships with students, colleagues, and parents while helping to create a welcoming and inclusive classroom environment. I also have to participate in college-wide events and committees.

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Do you have any extracurricular activities/ programs to enhance the skills of the students or expose them to real-world challenges?

Universities bind us, and 80% of the time we follow university programs such as internships for students and training on technical software such as Catia and Ansys according to the university curriculum. Additionally, we enrol them in the NPTEL (National Programme for Technically Enhanced Learning) program. In this course, students can not only acquire theoretical knowledge but also actual application-based skills. These extracurricular engagements help them develop the skills needed to tackle real-world challenges. 

How do you try to bring in a practical approach towards subjects and make it industry oriented?

As I said, we follow the University’s learning model wherein the students can be well-groomed with theoretical knowledge and practical topics. Also, we have a digital campus where we conduct technical lectures by industry experts every semester. We conduct a minimum of 2 industrial visits for students department-wise. They spend an entire day on the field and prepare reports. This provides them with a fair idea of how the industry works. The important thing is that in all our projects there, students can access classes within one hour of the lecture being delivered. 

What are the interventions and approaches you bring in apart from the curriculum to train/teach the students?

“Making students industry ready at every step by bridging the gap between college and industry” 

We offer many technical and social workshops and conferences to students and also ensure that the students are getting hands-on experience and not only chalk and talk. Students are taken to the laboratories for a practical explanation, and some students are also taken to the workshop to get a hands-on understanding. These practices ensure that students understand the taught concepts well enough to apply them. Our primary goal is to connect to students and build themselves according to the industry requirements.

How does the curriculum of Alard College of Engineering & Management ensure that the students are being prepared for the future? 

“Students are being equipped with the necessary relevant skills in due time”

We plan ahead in the sense that as soon as the students complete their education in four years, they should be employable or prepared to seek higher education, and our goal is not only for them to be employable, but also for some of them to become entrepreneurs. So that students are well-prepared for placements, we begin soft skills training such as presentations in the third semester. In the third year, we offer technical courses, and in the fourth year, we offer aptitude & listening training, group discussions, etc.

How did you train yourself/faculty to deliver this program to the students?

First, we implemented FDP programs for faculty-related topics. The Faculty will be advised and trained by specialists. The first technique is lecturing, the second is interaction, and the third is shooting videos and IITs Virtual lab, and sharing these with students. Even experiments are provided in real-time, allowing students to resolve their questions concurrently.

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What do you see as the greatest strengths of Alard College of Engineering & Management?

“100% assistance to the students in academics and their desired career options”

We start guiding the pupils from day one regarding their areas of interest. Students who are interested in pursuing a career in entrepreneurship can take advantage of both our entrepreneurship cell and our career development cell. In addition to that, we advise them on their many alternatives for higher education. We also have a GATE preparation workshop where students are given the opportunity to receive training on GATE courses throughout the upcoming session.