Dr. P. Naga Sowjanya is a distinguished academician and able administrator with more than 14 years of experience. Commencing her teaching career in 2009 as an Assistant Professor, she has steadily advanced through the ranks. She obtained her PhD from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Warangal and her Masters from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Warangal. She has published 15 research papers in various reputed national and international journals, besides a couple of patents to her credit. In her impressive teaching and administrative career, Dr. Sowjanya has consistently promoted innovative teaching practices and imaginative thinking. She has endeared herself to her students and colleagues alike through her affable nature and empathetic leadership style.

Check Narasaraopeta Engineering College

Narasaraopeta Engineering College

Being the HOD of the College, what are your roles and responsibilities towards the students?

As the Head of Department in a college, my primary responsibilities towards students include ensuring the quality of academic programs, fostering a supportive learning environment, and providing guidance for their educational and career development. This entails overseeing curriculum development, addressing student concerns, and promoting initiatives that enhance their academic and personal growth. Ultimately, my role is to create an enriching and inclusive educational experience that empowers students to succeed and achieve their goals.

How do you tend to establish healthy relations with the students and fellow faculty? 

In order to establish healthy relationships with students and fellow faculty, I try to maintain an open-door policy and actively engage in communication. I encourage feedback to create a supportive and collaborative environment. Moreover, I believe that building trust, showing respect, and fostering a culture of mutual respect and shared goals are essential in these relationships.

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

By collaborating with industry partners and professionals to design curriculum, offer internships and cooperative education programs and include real-time projects in courses. Also, I encourage faculty to stay updated with industry trends and technologies and integrate them into the curriculum, ensuring that students graduate with practical skills and knowledge relevant to their field of study.

What are the best practices offered by the department to the students which help them gain necessary skills? 

We focus on self-learning where students are given the resources to learn and explore their skills at their own pace. Our students receive practical training in the form of internships, and attending workshops and conferences. Our goal is to provide students with the technical skills needed to survive in the industry and meet its requirements.

Check Narasaraopeta Engineering College Coursse & Fees

How do you strategize the curriculum and how often it gets updated to make it befitting for the students?

We strategize our curriculum by aligning the curriculum with educational goals, industry trends, and student needs. We provide regular assessments and feedback from teachers, students, and stakeholders to guide curriculum updates, ensuring they remain relevant and effective for students. This is typically done annually or as per changing requirements.

What are your views upon the placements and higher education about the students from your department or How does your department prepare students for Higher education?

Our department places a strong emphasis on preparing students for both placements and higher education opportunities. For placements through career guidance, we provide guidance and counselling to students to help them understand the job roles and industrial expectations. We organize various skill development programs, workshops and seminars to enhance the student’s employability skills. Our placement cell actively works to connect students with potential employers.

How do you help your student to cope up with the competition being so high in the outside world? 

We support students in coping with intense competition by fostering a holistic learning environment. We encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation through the curriculum. We also facilitate industry interactions, internships, and research opportunities. Promoting teamwork, leadership skills, and extracurricular activities builds well-rounded individuals. We regularly review and update the curriculum to keep it current and aligned with industry demands. Lastly, psychological and emotional support services can assist students in managing stress and maintaining a balanced approach to competition.

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

The curriculum must be changed to reflect current business developments while maintaining high academic standards. It might be challenging to encourage students to participate actively, to create industrial connections, and to guarantee accreditation standards are met. Ongoing challenges include improving evaluation methodologies, supporting students, keeping up with educational trends, training faculty, and becoming ready for international competitiveness.

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

I joined this college on 20th November 2020. To provide an encouraging learning environment that enables them to become competent moral engineers. It involves open access to education, the development of useful skills, and a solid ethical foundation. Additionally, I want to provide opportunities for holistic growth, career counselling, and support services so that every student may succeed and professionally and positively impact society through their technical knowledge.

Check Narasaraopeta Engineering College Placement

How does the curriculum of your department/college ensures the best practice of the industry?

In the curriculum of our department, it is made mandatory that every student complete one NPTEL course and an internship lasting four to eight months. We also have a community service project that lasts for four to eight months and practical training on advanced technologies in order to meet the needs of an industry. This way, students get exposure to working in the industry before they join the workforce.

How does the department/ college/University enhance the skills of the faculty and prepares them according to the industry standards? 

We organize workshops, seminars, and training programs to update faculty on the latest industry trends and technologies. We facilitate collaborations and partnerships with industry experts and organisations to expose faculty to real-world practises. Moreover, we encourage faculty to engage in research projects and industry-funded initiatives to gain practical experience. We also promote continuous learning through advanced degrees, certifications, and online courses. We also provide mentorship opportunities for junior faculty members by senior, experienced professors. We arrange visits to industries and internships to gain firsthand experience and conduct regular performance appraisals to recognise and reward faculty for excellence in teaching and research. We also ensure that the curriculum is updated regularly to reflect industry needs and trends and provide access to online resources, journals, and databases to facilitate research and knowledge acquisition.

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

By implementing practical interventions like hands-on workshops, industry visits, and real-world projects to supplement the curriculum, we try to train our students. We encourage research, foster soft skills, and offer mentorship programs that can enhance students' holistic development. Additionally, we organise guest lectures and promote professional ethics by contributing to a well-rounded education.

What valuable advice would you like to the students for them to have a prosperous career ahead? 

I advise students to focus on continuous learning, adaptability to evolving technologies, and maintaining ethical standards. They should seek internships and practical experience, build a strong professional network, and pursue lifelong education. A proactive, resilient attitude will be key to a prosperous career in civil engineering.