Prof. Bhavesh Patel, Shah and Anchor Kutchhi Engineering College: Actual learning begins after graduation

Prof. Bhavesh Patel, Shah and Anchor Kutchhi Engineering College: Actual learning begins after graduation

FPJ BureauUpdated: Saturday, June 01, 2019, 02:25 AM IST
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Prof. Bhavesh Patel – Director, Shah and Anchor Kutchhi Engineering College, Chembur tells Shraddha Kamdar how students can be prepared to face the industry once they graduate

Very punctual, and not one to waste a minute, he is a much wanted person all over the campus. Students and staff members line up to meet him while I interview him, and yet he is patient with the list of questions I have for him. His position does not deter him from guiding his staff members for the smallest of things, even those that you think they are supposed to have an idea how to deal with. He patiently explains to them the way to do it. No wonder that his leadership qualities are much sight after. Prof. Bhavesh Patel – Director, Shah and Anchor Kutchhi Engineering College, Chembur, takes some time off his routine on campus to interview with Knowledge. Excerpts:

How can we provide more exposure to the students, beyond the prescribed syllabus?

You see, at our college, for every subject we try to accommodate ideas and activities outside the syllabus. These may be workshops with industry experts, technical workshops for students during the college festivals, the need for practical measures that need to be taken during minor issues, and so on. I strongly believe that students should be industry ready by the time they graduate from college, and we are trying to accommodate as many bridge building activities as possible. In fact, we don’t arrange for activities only for the students, but for the teachers as well!

A little while ago, we took a unique step towards skill building for the teachers. We organised an http workshop for those who belong to the math departments, which virtually no one thinks of. A large number of teachers from colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai attended and benefitted from it. The key lies in providing a platform for more and more interaction. The idea is that if a student goes for an event like this, only one student (he or she) benefits from it, but if a teacher goes, the number of students benefitting from it will be very high.

Are students very marks-oriented in your opinion? Is there a way to change that?

Well, the admission system is such that some attachment to marks is bound to exist. But we at the college are trying to train the students (especially the graduating batch) for what the industry needs, including work skills and culture. That helps. Changing the mentality which has been ingrained in them for a very long time is a difficult task, but the attempt is being made not only in our college but many other colleges as well. I know that this has never been attempted, but a study should be done to compare that in the long run, where the top rankers are and where the back benchers are!

Should students be able to decide what they are to be taught by way of the curriculum?

Students, especially those who have just entered a professional course have a very limited vision since they are not aware of what they want and how things progress. Any institute can partially invite suggestions from the existing students so as to improve on the workings of the college, since learning from anyone is not harmful if the suggestion is helpful.

We, however, do have a feedback mechanism for the students on the other aspects, so that we can constantly better ourselves. We also have the mentoring system where every student has a mentor from the moment he or she enters the college to the moment he or she graduates.

I would like to add that the alumni have got tremendous strength, and instead of the students we can fall back on the alumni to guide us until the last processes. They have the experience fresh from college as well as the industry, can match it up and tell us what works and what does not. Actual learning begins after graduation, where the students are on their own. The alumni can come help them with skills building and share ways and means to improve.

During placements, it is often seen that most students want to opt for the openings at the ‘glamorous’ companies. Can they be counselled in case they do not make it?

Technically, students cannot apply for multiple positions during the placement sessions, so it clears up of a lot of the problems. But it is true that most students will be fascinated with the brand name, since the social mindset in any country is like that. I would like to say to the aspiring students that in a smaller company, the learning curve is great. When they start small, there is scope to build a great deal on their exiting knowledge, since a smaller platform offers a multitude of opportunities. Within a large organisation, it may not be possible to have so much flexibility. So, in many ways, there are advantages to starting wherever you do.

I would like to add that counselling students to start small, especially counselling in the last minute does not work. Many of them learn only once they start working, and often come back to us and talk about how they benefitted from starting small. You see, with the brand name, they feel more secure.

How important are soft skills for engineering students today?

Engineering is a rigorous process and they have to devote ample time to their academics. However, they also have time for other cultural activities to develop social skills. In the light of working in an organisation, soft skills are extremely important, since students need to be able to present and articulate their knowledge. This ability comes in with developed soft skills. We often come across students who are brilliant in their technical abilities but are not able to communicate this to the others effectively, and always remain in the background when they clearly belong in the foreground. A little confidence would go a long way in this, and that’s where the balance of soft skills step in.

How can those students who do not have the advantage of infrastructure better their knowledge?

The largest solution provider is the internet. Today, ICTs have developed in a way that you don’t even need a computer; a smart phone is enough to access a large chunk of the open source knowledge available across the globe. Videos of interest can be viewed; research papers can be accessed and used. Students can access this though their mobile phones from the remotest of locations even with a somewhat reliable internet connection. If a person has the drive, then the sky is really the limit!

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