Dr. L. M. Swarnalatha is an Associate Professor and Head of the PG and Research Department of English at Vellalar College for Women. She holds a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature following which she earned a M.Phil and a PhD in English. Moreover, she holds an M.A., M.Phil. and a PhD in History as well. Dr. Swarnalatha has 18 years of experience in postgraduate courses and 22 years of experience in undergraduate courses. With 15 years of experience in research, she specialises in American Literature, Film Studies and Indian Literature.

Under Dr. Swarnalatha’s guidance, 15 M.Phil. degrees, and one PhD degree have been awarded. She has published 17 papers in international and national journals and presented 58 papers in conferences, seminars, symposia, FDPs and workshops. Additionally, she has attended 18 conferences and seminars along with publishing eight book chapters. Besides her present position, she also holds memberships in the Staff Selection Committee VET, is an external member of the National College and VCET, and is a member of the selection committee of GVG Vishalatchi College, among others.

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What is the latest program that you are offering in your college which will help students outperform and stand apart from the crowd?

The latest program that Velalar College offers is the B.Sc in Computer Science in partnership with TCS. The program equips students with cutting-edge skills in Artificial Learning and Machine Learning. Students are also taught real-world problems solving abilities to fasten the standard graduate industry learning. We also have MoUs signed with TCS and the syllabus is framed by TCS including its monitoring and analysis. The program leads to better career achievement and advanced skill enhancement for the students to perform at their best level.

What are the factors that make this program the best for the students to opt?

Our program emphasises invention and uses an interdisciplinary learning network. It provides students with opportunities to prepare to excel and meet standards in the job market. Moreover, it encourages students to explore opportunities on the new platform and makes the students job-ready. The course is designed to meet industry requirements and make sure students are prepared for better career advancement.

What are the best practices in the course you’re offering?

Our program includes industry collaborations with TCS. It helps with updating the curriculum and providing practical learning through projects and internships. Our expert faculty members along with our interdisciplinary studies, modern labs, continuous assignment, and soft skills development are other strengths. We also believe in providing regular feedback to ensure continuous improvement and help students become job-ready as per industry requirements.

What are some valuable insights of the program that you are offering at your college?

We have a research atmosphere at our college and are presently guiding 60 research students. We have many students working in media, radio and as freelance writers. National eligibility tests are conducted at the college for the best students and awards are given to students with a stipend of INR 37,000 per month from the UGC. We have inculcated our curriculum with the latest skills and journalism practices along with hands-on experience by taking the students to different parts of the country.

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How does the program ensure that students are being prepared for the future?

These programs follow the skill-based system and we are offering the best program as per the industry demand. Our students are able to get horizontal and vertical growth in their careers due to these efforts. The opportunities are supplemented by holistic development. We also provide additional support for practical learning on the weekends.

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

We ask our faculty to attend the orientation and faculty development programs. Our Principal insists that the faculty members attend seminars to gather the latest knowledge and share it with the students. We are able to update ourselves as per industry standards. Our faculty members publish papers regularly for skill set improvement. By motivating the staff members and doing team building activities we aim to give them confidence in all they do. 

How do you tend to build an industry connected with this program?

All of our programs are completely skill-based and practical based. It enhances the student to face the present industry scenario with confidence and have the right knowledge. We have industry people visit the campus for students to network and learn about the industry updates. They are able to share their experience and what the corporates expect from a job-ready person. Networking with industry experts plays a vital role in one’s career and the program conducted by the college boosts the connectivity among the students and industry.

What were the challenges that you faced while inculcating this program in your curriculum?

Velalar College is present in a rural area and most students hail from the nearby area. Communication is a major key to delivering information and it is the biggest challenge among the students. To counter this problem bridge courses are provided and we have a language lab to make the students aware of the program.

What are the benefits and career options after pursuing this course?

The major advantage of choosing this program is to pursue higher studies. The biggest benefit is that it makes students grow and enrich their knowledge in the field. The whole idea is to make sure the students are ready for placements. We have a new platform that allows students to explore job opportunities. We have a confident approach that we inculcate among the students and deliver the best knowledge and skills in the job market for a sustainable future.