Prof. Dolly Boban is the Head of First-year Engineering Department at Lokmanya Tilak College of Engineering. She completed her M.Sc. in 1993 from Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur and completed her M.Phil. from Vikram University, Ujjain. She has been associated with Lokmanya Tilak College of Engineering since 1996. She has been a Book Reviewer for Engineering Chemistry. Furthermore, she has published various papers in different journals and has presented papers at different conferences.

Lokmanya Tilak College of Engineering

Being the Head of First year Engineering department from Lokmanya Tilak College of Engineering what is your leadership philosophy? How would you describe your role?

Being the Head of First year Engineering Department, I believe in collaborating with my team members by delegating tasks, inspiring them to do their work efficiently and making sure, they know, I care. 

My first and foremost role is to focus on the success and well-being of our students by ensuring that they have the resources and support to excel in their studies and personal development. Besides this, I encourage faculty and staff to adopt innovative teaching methods and to be open to change in the rapidly evolving field of engineering. I provide transparency in our decision-making processes and communications. I am always there to encourage integrity, honesty and ethical behavior among faculty, staff and students.

What are the factors that make engineering the best for the students to opt for your College?

In my opinion following factors make students opt for Lokmanya Tilak College of Engineering:

  • Accreditation - Our college is NAAC and NBA accredited which indicates that the institution meets specific quality standards in education.
  • Programs offered - All the programs are the most sought-after ones in terms of job opportunities. Our college has experienced and highly qualified faculty members who significantly enhance the learning experience.
  • Facilities and Resources – Our college has well-equipped labs, ICT-enabled classrooms, research laboratories and library with a large stock of books, journals and e-resources. 
  • Placements - Frequent Campus placement drives, which enable students to seek job as per their interest.
  • Location - We are at a prime location in Kopar Khairane, Navi Mumbai which is very near to the railway station and to bus depot. 
  • Student Support Services: Student support services like Academic support system, counselling, mentoring etc. are well in place in our institute
  • Extracurricular Activities : Extracurricular activities such as Cultural fest, Technical fests and Sports activities are organised every year for students.

What is your vision for the college, and how do you plan to lead the department to achieve that vision?

My vision for the college is to create technically competent and ethically responsible professionals who are capable of providing efficient solutions to the contemporary world.

To achieve the vision, we plan to go step by step:

  • Firstly, to set clear goals in achieving the vision. Building a strong team who share the same commitment to the vision and communicating consistently to the team ensuring that everyone understands their role.
  • Assigning specific tasks and responsibilities to team members based on their strengths and expertise with proper guidance.
  • Fostering a collaborative culture, monitoring the progress and on the basis of feedback received, may make changes to the strategy opted.

What are the objectives of Lokmanya Tilak College of Engineering?

  • To offer a high-quality education that imparts theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
  • To foster a culture of research and innovation.
  • To prepare students for professional success by equipping them with technical, analytical and problem-solving skills as per Industry requirements.
  • To instill ethical values and a sense of social responsibility in students.
  • To encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among students.

How do you foster an environment of innovation and creativity among students from your department and encourage them to apply theoretical knowledge to practical applications?

At Lokmanya Tilak College of Engineering an environment of innovation and creativity among students is met through - 

  • Project-based learning where students get the opportunity to work on different types of projects during their academic period 
  • Activity-based learning where different activities are organized for students
  • Peer learning and Digital Learning.

What are the challenges you faced/ are facing to uplift the quality of education at your college?

Challenges faced at Lokmanya Tilak College of Engineering include -

  • Students from Vernacular medium.
  • Transition from school to professional course.
  • Foundational knowledge gaps: Gaps in their foundational knowledge of basic engineering subjects like mathematics and science, which are critical for engineering studies.
  • Technological integration: Integrating technology into the curriculum effectively and ensuring all students have access to necessary resources is challenging.
  • Alignment with industry needs and expectations including soft skills is a continuous challenge for the students from the vernacular medium.

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

Effective Training of faculty ensures high-quality education. Here are some of the ways opted for faculty training:

  • Faculty members are encouraged to attend various faculty development programs/STTPs to improve pedagogical skills and to familiarise themselves with teaching strategies and resources.
  • Faculty members are also encouraged to attend course-related workshops /seminars /conferences to stay updated on the latest developments in their course, which also provide an opportunity to learn from experts and to develop a network with peers.
  • Constructive feedback enable faculty to identify the areas for improvement.
  • Emphasis on Assessment of student learning outcomes to measure their progress.

What are the types of projects that the students are working on at Lokmanya Tilak College of Engineering and what benefits did they get after pursuing this course?

In the first year, students at Lokmanya Tilak College of Engineering get an opportunity to carry out project-based learning over an extended period of time. Collaborative learning is a key skill for Project-Based Learning which helps students confront misconceptions, develop communication skills and negotiate knowledge in a social way among diverse perspectives.

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How do you plan to monitor and support students in academic progress and address any challenges they may face during their first year?

  • Institute provides an outcome-based education that involves continuous assessment of students through assignments, Internal Assessments, quiz, etc.
  • We provide timely and constructive feedback on assignments and tests and encourage students to seek clarification through the frequently held doubt-clearing classes.
  • Mentors are the helping hands to students to provide guidance on study skills and if required we make counselling services available for students dealing with personal or emotional issues that may affect their academic progress.
  • We believe in giving early warning to the students who are low in their attendance and academic performance.
  • Regular communication, a proactive approach to addressing issues, counselling and mentoring are the supporting services available for first-year students in campus which go a long way in addressing the challenges faced by students.

How do you address the job placement and career guidance needs of students from your college, especially considering the evolving demands of the job market?

From the first semester, we start grooming students for placements through the following activities:

  • Career counselling and career development sessions.
  • Soft skill development seminars/ workshops
  • Language lab sessions
  • Coding classes- grooming them for the digital future.
  • Industrial visits to build the bridge between industry and academia.

All these activities help them in settling up realistic goals.