Students should learn each and every subset related to their domain to excel as managers suggests Dr M S Ganesha Prasad

Interview by Bhawna Rawat

Dr. M S Ganesha Prasad is currently working as the Dean Student Affairs and HOD of ME at New Horizon College of Engineering, Bangalore. He holds M.Tech degree from BDT College, Mysore University, Karnataka. He has earlier worked as a Professor for 8 years and 11 months at Sir M Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology. He has worked as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Head of the Department and Dean of the Engineering Institute. 

Dr. Prasad is a highly seasoned academician. He always looks for the growth of organizations and thus is critical in handling students as well as faculty members of the organizations. He has established UG and PG departments in the Engineering Institutes and is responsible for getting NAAC - A grade for Engineering Institute. He is presently working for NBA accreditations of UG and PG programs.

Dr. Prasad’s experience in the education industry

I am having around 26 years of experience in the education industry. As I am closely associated with this industry, I can confidently say that we are the one directly contributing to the growth of our nation and society.  The education industry is the best because we are working with students around 18 to 21 years of age bubbling with numerous ideas. Students are filled with mental and physical strength. A major responsibility of faculty in this industry is to guide them properly to the best possible manner so that by the end of their course they will understand their responsibility and work for the progress of our country. 

Read more about NHCE Faculty

Dr. Prasad’s philosophy of leadership  

Our philosophy shapes our personal leadership statement. The statement can cover how you lead and influence, what you value, what you expect from team members, what you do not accept, and/or what type of environment you are committed to creating innovative activities. 

As per the leadership style is concerned, we are working with the future generation, and they do observe our activities very closely. We need to be responsible for mentioning each word openly or during personnel discussion with the student community.  Following are the points one can look at for describing leadership style which is being followed @ New Horizon College of Engineering, Bangalore:

Be Accountable: we individually and collectively own the outcome. If one ignores a situation that needs correcting, one has just established a new standard. Don't identify problems without offering a potential solution.

Be a Learner: I encourage everyone to aspire to be the best version of themselves. Be true to who you are and play to your strengths. Equally, be self-aware of your opportunities for personal growth and development. 

Be Committed: play to win, and seize every opportunity to energize, educate and empower. 

Changes in the education industry that Dr. Prasad has noticed over the past  

As I mentioned earlier I am having more than two and a half decades of experience in this industry, I have noticed that the requirements of student community have changed. At the same time, expectations from the industry have also changed.  So in a single word, the academicians are totally sandwiched between Industry and Students.  

Industry expectations are, that students should know each and every concept related to their domain, but the total credits available with the academicians is only 175 (From AICTE and VTU requirements), with 175 credits the total subjects related to their domain is very less (with less number of credits it will be very difficult for the affiliated colleges) but for the autonomous institutes at New Horizon College of Engineering, Bangalore we have additional programs like Global & Professional streams. In these streams, students can learn additional skills which are very much essential for the present industry needs.

The most optimum path for a student wanting to excel in any field of management

At New Horizon College of Engineering, we do educate students with the slogan “Keep learning from your life”. If managers are knowledgeable they can make better decisions. Better the decisions better will be the progress of the organizations. So whichever the domain students belong to, they should learn each and every subset related to their domain to excel as managers. 

For example: for Automobile and Mechanical Engineering domain following skill sets are very much essential:

Students should know:

• design related software
• simulation related software
• motion related software
• digital marketing related software

Along with the above latest software skill sets, they also should know how best they upgrade their knowledge in newer products/ processes.

New Horizon College of Engineering’s curriculum and the growth of students through placement opportunities available at the campus

Placement opportunities at New Horizon College of Engineering are very good. Year after year number of students is getting placed in the core and IT field, in an increasing trend. 

At New Horizon College of Engineering, faculty members are working very closely with the placement office. Board of Studies (BoS) of the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering is having experienced members from Industry. The inputs from them are taken up directly and included in the curriculum of study. The members present in the BoS are changed in every two years, so the information flow from experienced industrialist is always available for the BoS to upgrade the syllabus of studies. 

Read more about NHCE Placements

Things which makes the institution stand apart from other institutions   

New Horizon College of Engineering, Bangalore is an Autonomous Institute. With the autonomous status, the institute can give more to the students’ community. At New Horizon College of Engineering, Bangalore we use Autonomous status more effectively in connecting with the stakeholders for giving quality syllabus and delivery of the same to the student's community.  Along with the highest quality of Teaching-Learning, New Horizon College of Engineering also provides these following additional services to the student's community: 

a.  Alumni platform – entitled Alamshine, in this platform present students can interact with their alumni and get first-hand information about their higher studies, employment, etc. 

b.  Counselling – Mentoring Services:  @ New Horizon College of Engineering Bangalore we treat each student is unique, if he/she is above average we do encourage them to learn more through proper counselling, and if the student is average/ below average we do counsel them about method of achieving better standards through proper counselling techniques. We do invite experts from reputed organizations to motivate student’s community.  

c. State of the art Indoor / Outdoor sports facilities: At New Horizon College of Engineering Bangalore we look for the overall development of the students. In this connection we have employed the best of best coaches who played at the National level are coaching our students. With the facilities and matured coaches Institutes bagged Winners and Runners-up trophies at State level and University level sports meet. Institute also motivates students by waving of tuition fee for the best performers in the sports meet. 

The qualities, which have helped to create a brand name for New Horizon College of Engineering

At New Horizon College of Engineering, we work as a unique team to build one of the best educational institutes in India, over the decades we listened to management and executed their plans systematically. Due to the unique planning of the management and optimistic execution by teaching community we are one of the best institutes in India. 

Dr. Prasad on preparing students to face challenges of modern organizations and global standards successfully

As the world becomes increasingly globalized, what constitutes a relevant and competitive education is shifting. In Engineering basic literacy, math and science qualifications may have previously been sufficient for success on the job market, but today relevant language skills, an empathetic understanding of different cultures and a good grasp of foreign political agendas are becoming imperative. This is why our education system must adapt to accommodate these new requirements or risk leaving its students behind in the global job market.

At New Horizon College of Engineering, we have a tie-up with global universities particularly with France Government, where our students can learn more advanced topics and make themselves very much competent in the world market. 

Goals in Dr. Prasad’s mind for the college for the next five years

At present all the UG programs of the institute are accredited by National Board of Accreditation (NBA), New Delhi. Also, the institute is accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Govt. of India. The future plan is to get accredited by International Accreditation councils like ABET - Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.

Suggestions for the current youth and the aspiring students 

We should appreciate present youth for a simple reason that in spite of the digital media distractions they are very much connected with the present world. The only suggestion from my side is, students should prioritize their activities. If they do it, there is no doubt that India will be one of the developed Nations in the world.