Prof. Manjula Rathod is a Professor and the Academic Coordinator at the AGM Rural College of Engineering and Technology. An M.Tech. in VLSI and Embedded Systems degree holder, she has 17.3 years of experience in the field. Before her present position, she also worked as a Lecturer at S.R.V. Rural Polytechnic Guledgudd. Professor Rathod has attended numerous FDPs and completed certifications to improve her skills and knowledge. At AGM Rural College of Engineering and Technology, she has worked as an External Deputy Chief Superintendent, Paper Setter and Evaluator for UG exams at VTU Belgaum, Project Examiner and External and Internal Lab Examiner.

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

Effective communication, support and encouragement will act as a foundation for healthy relationships. We let the students know how much we care for them, always being ready to clear their doubts and solve their problems. Extracurricular activities and sports events are the best times to spend time with the students and bond with them.

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

We focus on providing the necessary skills that are required for students’ success in their careers, like, communication, creativity, listening, teamwork, leadership, mentoring, flexibility, presentation and determination. Having these should make them competitive and flexible enough to fit into any workspace in the developing industrial sector. Additionally, software skills are provided by the institute through seminars, webinars and presentations.

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

As competition is growing rapidly in all sectors of society, awareness of the same must be communicated to the students. It can be handled by, thinking differently and innovatively and making strategies and plans to achieve the targets. We conduct competitive programs and encourage students to participate and reward them for their efforts. We also encourage teamwork and cooperation among the students, which will let them meet the requirements of the current competitive environment.

Do you have any extracurricular activities/programs to enhance the skills of the students or expose them to real-world challenges?

We organise annual sports and event celebrations to reward the efforts and achievements of the students. Our ethnic day celebration transforms our campus into a mini India where students experience a variety of cultural dresses and costumes. The central library of AGMRCET is an excellent state-of-the-art infrastructure with a unique resource collection. We also provide pre-industrial training and put efforts into making our students productive for the developing industries.

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

AGMRCET is a known institute for its qualitative teaching. I have seen students, even with low grades reaching their highest possibility in terms of academic results. The environment around them encourages the students to aim at their best as they are free from urban hazards. The staff leave no stone unturned to build a quality batch of engineers into the society, every year, to serve for the betterment of our nation. In the present pandemic scenario wherein the word ‘positive’ itself is bulky enough to quench the zeal in an individual. The only aid from our end is to make sure that no aspirant is left behind in the reach of education. 

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

Success is always a process, never an event. Don't skip classes, always have a positive attitude towards the problems and keep your distance from bad habits. Remember to focus on your studies and the future. Importantly, avoid overusing social media. Stick to the deadlines and be prepared for all kinds of challenges.

Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth and the aspiring students?

Student life is a golden life where one gets the most resources and opportunities. Participate in sports activities and extracurriculars. If you fail, keep trying until you succeed. Get organised, and plan for what you're going to do and when you're going to do it. Take notes, notes will not only keep you more engaged during class but will also help you narrow down what you need to study when exam time rolls around.

What do you think sets your institution apart from other colleges and universities and how do you communicate that unique value proportion to students and other stakeholders?

It is a matter of great privilege and immense pleasure for me to be associated with the family at AGM Rural College of Engineering & Technology. The students of our college get to learn professional and quality skills besides technical expertise. Our holistic approach stimulates innovation among students by inspiring new ideas with creative thinking. These are some of the aspects that set us apart from other institutes.