Dr. S. Sridevi is the Principal of Chevalier T. Thomas Elizabeth College for Women. She has been teaching English Literature in the same college since 1998. She has specialized in 20th-century Poetry and Literary Criticism and Theory. She has written 21 articles, 19 books and 46 research papers and has also co-authored many books. She is the Doctoral Committee Member for Ph.D. in English at many reputed colleges. She has been appointed by the University of Madras as a Member Nominee of Sri Ahobila Muth Adarsh Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Maduranthakam, Tamil Nadu. She is also an Academic Council member for the University of Madras.

CTTEWC Chennai

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

"I feel blessed, satisfied and happy by being an important part of students' career journey"

As we all are well aware Education is an important strategy to empower human resources. Being in the teaching field, it gives me a sense of satisfaction when I meet and interact with young minds. And I feel blessed because this is the only possible sector that gives me tremendous scope to influence and build the personality of our students and transform them into good citizens as well for the benefit of the whole nation and society as good education aims at integrity, confidence and leadership. All these things have kept me associated with the education sector.

What is your leadership philosophy?

"For me, leadership is nothing but mentoring teams in the right direction to achieve goals"

I truly believe that only a person who has complete knowledge of the self can become people and it definitely does not mean commanding and controlling the lives of other people. But true leadership is helping people to develop their personality and make them realize their true potential to bring out the best qualities in them. And if I talk about my way of leading others, then it contains many mixed styles involving authority, mentoring, participative and strategic transformation. I also encourage and guide my students to achieve their goals and serve society for a better cause. Because my main motto is to impart ethical values to them for their balanced life and peace of mind.

How is your college more welcoming to students of different races or economic backgrounds?

"We promote the ambiance of nondiscrimination and never forget to address our student's success"

Our College promotes the culture of secularism and provides equal learning and growth opportunities to every student despite their background or culture. We have different types of clubs to arrange activities and events for students. And our teachers continuously supervise and monitor those clubs' activities to ensure that secularism, equality and non-discrimination are practiced properly. And we don't miss to acknowledge students' efforts through various awards which are given to them based on their meritorious work in all the college events.

What are some of the plans that you are currently designing for students?

"We are working to bring the best training and entrepreneurship opportunities for them"

We are currently working towards the overall development of our female students to transform them into good leaders. We are providing every possible platform and training program to enhance their entrepreneurship skills and overall personality. And with rigorous efforts and hard work, some of our students have even started a company that produces organic materials. Our students send proposals for their activities and are given the necessary freedom and an infrastructure to learn leadership, people skills and how to develop strategies to handle stress. 

How do you establish a healthy relationship and environment in your college?

"By offering respect to everyone and resolving their issues on time"

We treat our students, teachers and other staff members with respect, and formal language is used for communicating with each other to ensure a cordial environment in college. We also address our students' concerns on time and encourage them to work in teams. We also motivate students to develop communication skills, listening skills, negotiation skills, patience, trustworthiness and empathy so that they can relate to other people on both professional and personal levels. Student leaders sit with the authorities and discuss how to solve problems and hence they learn problem-solving abilities. 

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What are some of the College’s top priorities over the next 10 years?

"To successfully implement NEP and produce more female entrepreneurs”

We aim to enforce the ideologies proposed in the New Educational Policy 2020 and to delve into ODL (Online Distance Learning). We aspire to develop all the Departments into Research Departments and contribute to the nation. Lastly, we aim to bring forth lots of women entrepreneurs and hence our College is planning to tie up with Ministries of Central/State Government, other universities and research institutions.

How do you bring in a practical and industry-oriented approach towards subjects?

"We are in partnership with top institutions and research firms to enforce this"

The main objective of our college is to establish linkages with industries so that we can provide the best training and internship opportunities to our students. The Science Department of our institute has developed apps and has entered into entrepreneurship after signing ties with private research institutions. In addition to all this, we sent out students for internships, field and industrial visits, etc. Lastly, other departments of our college are following things in collaboration with other educational and research institutions.

  • The Department of Physics has tied with a private research organization.
  • The Department of Chemistry has started a private organic company.
  • The Department of Psychology has a Center for counseling.
  • The Department of Mathematics offers an internship on mathematical aptitude training.
  • Departments of BCA and Computer Science have developed a few apps for ease of e-functioning in the College.

How do you strategize and update the curriculum to make it befitting for the students? 

"By including new programs whenever required and arranging online classes"

We insist on lesson plans that include field visits, library visits, book reading and movies in addition to extra activities in classrooms. Our teachers teach the subject thoroughly and if the curriculum requires it, we include the latest Add-on Certificate Courses in it to fit the needs of students. TETL (Technology Enhanced Teaching and Learning) have aided us in seamlessly shifting to the virtual platform during the pandemic. Once in a week, classes are conducted online and the best knowledge resources are posted regularly to enable self-paced learning for students.

How does your college prepare its students for placements?

"Through rigorous training programs and events"

The college has a dedicated Placement Cell which takes special initiatives to train our UG and PG graduates for placement and to conduct placement drives. The primary objective of this cell is to facilitate a dialogue between prospective employers and the talent pool the college has cultivated, during which the recruiters can identify suitable candidates for their organization. Led by a full-time placement officer and student representatives from each department acting as placement coordinators, the placement cell functions around the year, focusing on the below areas. 

Which extracurricular activities are organized in college to enhance the skills of students?

"We arrange various social and entrepreneurship activities regularly"

Centre for Student Development (CFSD) encompassing the Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC) and the Ministry of Education’s Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) of the college is formed to promote innovativeness and leadership qualities among students. It encourages our students to organize activities for the development of their social and entrepreneurial skills. It also offers a well-centered and holistic experience to enhance students' personalities. 

Which challenges are you facing to uplift the education quality of your college? 

"Making our students well equipped with the latest digital skills is a hurdle in our way"

I believe that contemporary education requires digital skills and initially, this was the major challenge for us, hence the college has given full freedom to its students to access the internet without paying for their projects, research papers and studies in the e-resource center attached to the library, ADEPT(Academy for Developing English and Personality Traits ), computer science and BCA labs.

When you came to college, what was your vision for it and how are you trying to achieve the same? 

"To produce best quality leaders and entrepreneurs"

I wanted the college to equip students with proper training in leadership, and self-esteem so that they can emerge as lifelong learners. The library of our college is home to 30000 books, journals, magazines and e-resources. I believe women can emerge as leaders in the Knowledge Economy if they learn to become autonomous learners. They also need to have tremendous faith in life and hence the college conducts lots of value-based programs.

How does your college enhance the skills of faculty and prepare them as per industry standards? 

"Through FDPs and events like conferences and seminars"

Regular Faculty Development Programmes have been conducted that help the teachers upgrade themselves. CTTE College teachers publish research papers, write books and participate in conferences/seminars regularly.

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

"Our students make us strong"

Our students are our strength. They understand our vision of empowering everyone. Interestingly two of the college canteens are run by our old students. Our students regularly write research papers and our alumni are the brand ambassadors of our college. The specialty of the college is our commitment to teaching. CTTE teachers are involved in the teaching-learning process with total commitment and support students in academic and co-curricular activities always.

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

"Work hard, be kind to everyone and live a disciplined life"

I would like to advise my students that a career does not only mean material success. It also means the ability to do teamwork with colleagues, practice empathy and follow ethics and kindness. So hard work and sincerity in work will give you the way to grand success.