Dr. A. Lovelin Jerald has been working as the Head and Professor of Head of Food Processing & Preservation Technology Department at School of Engineering - Avinashilingam University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. She has 29 years of experience in the Teaching and research field. She has published 16 National and International Journals, has written 5 full length articles and has also contributed in writing chapters for 4 books. Also she has 1 patent on his name and has done BE and ME and PhD as part of academics. Her areas of specialization is Refrigeration and Air Conditioning while areas of interest include New Product Development and Design and Development of new prototypes. She is also a life member of ISTE and Coimbatore Productivity Council. She has guided students for their UG, PG and PhD projects and has organized national training programs and workshops.

School Of Engineering, Avinashilingam University

Which latest program are you offering in your institute to help students outperform and stand apart from the crowd?

"We are offering courses in the discipline of Food Processing and Preservation Technology"

Our Avinashilingam Institute is a pioneer institute in imparting employment oriented and best quality education in the field of Food Processing and Preservation Technology. And we started our journey in 1996 after getting approval from All India Council for Technical Education. We design our courses based on a very simple mantra which includes the 4-step process of Ideate, Innovate, Smart Fabrication and New product development. The curriculum which we develop for the benefit of students focuses on recent trends adopted and expected by food industries which enables our students to cope with the latest technological competencies.

What factors make the programs of your institute the best for the students to opt?

"Job opportunities and learning windows associated with each program makes them unique"

The learning, growth and job opportunities associated with the discipline of Food Processing and Preservation Technology is the best reason in my opinion to join this course. This domain offers unlimited job scopes across PAN India and abroad as well. Students after successfully completing the course can work as Quality Engineers, Food Safety Officers, Scientists, Production Managers, Assistant Directors in MSME, Food Analyst, Researchers, Executives, as Managers and Banking sector professionals as well. And to make them industry ready, we train them to improve their communication, soft skills and Entrepreneurship skills as well. 

What will you say are the best practices of courses your institute offers to students? 

"We have customized training and learning sessions as per students needs"

Some of the best practices of our department which we offer to students who are pursuing their dream courses with us includes experiential learning finest industrial exposure. And we regularly organize events, customized training programs depending on the needs of students, seminars to enhance students technical competence and skills. 

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How do the programs of your college ensure the future preparedness of students?

"Our programs are a perfect amalgamation of best technical events and research facilities"

The Department of Food Processing and Preservation Technology of our college regularly encourages students to participate in various inter and intra college events, national and international level competitions and technical activities to learn skills like communication, leadership, teamwork skills. Under the umbrella of FPPT Association, they also conduct activities in collaboration with DFRL, CFTRI and other industries. In addition to this, we also sent them for internships in good companies. Last but not the least, we have designed our curriculum in such a way that it encompasses all kinds of industrial requirements and our students have developed amazing solutions by participating in Smart India Hackathons conducted by MHRD under Swachh Bharat Mission, Government of India during 2018 and 2022 respectively. They are recognised as the most outstanding Delegate representing India under Food Security in MUNs Thailand, which was organized by UNO. And we have a dedicated cell and training programs to develop entrepreneurship skills in students. 

How do you build a strong connection between your institute courses and industry demands? 

"By assigning real time industrial projects and internships to students"

We have collaborated with esteemed Food Industries and this industry-academic partnership of ours provides a wide range of training programs to strengthen their skills, internships and real time industrial projects to help them utilize their existing skills and build new ones and lastly amazing job opportunities. 

What types of projects your students are working on under the programs they are pursuing?

"They are developing projects on topics like food waste management, food nanotechnology and biotechnology"

The students of our institute effectively utilize available infrastructure and laboratories resources to develop innovative products with the meticulous mentorship of their mentors. And at present, they are working on a wide range of projects related to Food Packaging, Design and Development of Food Processing equipments, Food Waste Management and Food Process and Product management, Minimal Processing, Drying &amp, Dehydration, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Food Nanotechnology, Process and Product optimization and Food Biotechnology. 

What career options are available for students after pursuing the courses from your college?

"A wide variety of job opportunities are available in both public and private sectors"

In my opinion, the discipline of Food Processing and Preservation Technology offers tremendous job opportunities and students of our department are placed in reputed firms under high profiles. And present students of our college after finishing their courses from our college can work as a Flavour analyst, New Product Development Executive, Food Analyst, Food Microbiologist, Food Standard Officer, Food Safety Officer, Quality Control Executive, R&D Executive, Research Officers and as Quality Analyst etc.

Any valuable advice which you would like to give to the students for a prosperous career ahead?

"Utilize your time to develop new skills and stay updated with changes happening around you"

I would advise my students to keep exploring for opportunities where they can utilize their existing skills and build new ones. Stay updated with societal and industrial development happening around you. Respect your elders, give time to them as well and be ethically and emotionally strong. 

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When you joined this college, what was your vision for it and how are you trying to achieve that?

"Making our institute a center of excellence by enhancing research facilities was my aim"

When I joined this college, my main objective was to make the department of Food Processing & Preservation Technology a Centre of Excellence in Food processing by establishing and enhancing consultancy and research activities. And in my opinion, the journey so far is so good with the support of everyone and we are focusing on the core and interdisciplinary research works in the areas of Food Processing, Food Packaging, Minimal Processing, Nanotechnology, New Product Development, Thermal Processing, Design of prototypes, Food waste management and Quality Control etc.