Collegedunia

INTERVIEW
QUESTIONNAIRE
DIGNITARY: Dr. Sneha Joshi, HOD of Humanities & Sciences – Malla Reddy
College of Engineering.

Profile: Dr. Sneha Joshi is a devoted academician who possesses a B. Ed. an M.Phil, and Ph.D.
in Mathematics. She is a Life Member of ISTE and a recipient of the ‘Distinguished Educator
Award’. She has over 24 years of teaching experience at several prestigious educational
institutions in India. Dr. Joshi has published many excellent research papers in prestigious
national/international journals, and has participated in numerous national and international
conferences, workshops, and FDPs. She also has a number of patent publications to her credit.
She is currently serving as the Head of Department for Freshman Engineering and a Professor of
Mathematics at the Malla Reddy Institute of Engineering & Technology in Hyderabad. Dr.
Sneha Joshi is in charge of students' overall development, curriculum development and
modernization, textbook evaluation, and academic counseling of Students. She is actively
involved in syllabus framing as BoS chairperson of her department. She is also the chairperson
of the Women's Empowerment Cell of the institution. She has successfully fulfilled her
responsibilities as the convener of various inter-college level programs, conferences, and other
academic activities. She has also delivered lectures as a resource person in several educational
institutions and academic programs.

1. You have key positions in your 22+ years of experience, what are the special practices at
the Malla Reddy Group of Institutions that you observed, and you would like to highlight?
Answer: We provide values-based education which helps the students in their personal growth,
and it also encourages them to contribute for the nation. The college provides the facilities
necessary to support a rigorous engineering education. This includes laboratories, workshops,
and computer labs that are well-equipped and up to date. We collaborate with industry partners
to provide students with real-world experience. We achieve this through internships, industrial
visits, and guest lectures. The college is also excellent in providing CRT programs, additional
soft skills sessions, academic advising, tutoring, and career counselling. Career counselling can
help students to develop their career goals and to make informed decisions about their future
hence we take this matter seriously for the all-round benefit of the student community.

2. Technology is going through a lot of dynamic changes these days. As the HoD, what
strategies do you employ to stay current with the latest trends and advancements in both
engineering and humanities education?

Answer: To cope up with the current technological changes we have taken certain strategies that
will help the faculties to be aware of latest trends. Faculties as well as students need to read
professional journals and magazines: This is a great way to stay up to date on the latest research
and developments in engineering and humanities. We also encourage them to actively participate
in conferences and workshops that often feature presentations by leading experts in the field, as
well as opportunities to network with other professionals.

There are numerous online courses like NPTEL, MOOC, SWAYAM etc. where faculties can
register and keep them updated with the growing trends. By following these strategies, the
faculties can prepare their students for success in the workforce and in life.

3. What are the current biggest challenges in the field of Humanities & Science domain in
general, and how do you plan to address them as a HOD?

Answer: The biggest challenge in present day scenario we are facing from student’s side. They
are too much involved with online/social media platforms. They are highly addicted to mobiles
and online games. As a result, they are losing interest in reading books. Increasing specialisation
of engineering domain is also another challenge people are facing nowadays. As knowledge
becomes more specialized, it becomes more difficult for people to communicate with each other
across disciplines. The nature of work is changing rapidly due to automation and other
technological advances. This can make it difficult for people to find jobs that match their skills
and interests.

4. How do you collaborate with industries and other academic institutions to provide
practical exposure and internships for your students?

Answer: There are many ways to collaborate with industries and other academic institutions to
provide practical exposure and internships for students. Internships is a common way to
collaborate with industries to provide students with real-world experience. Internships can be
paid or unpaid, and they can be short-term or long-term.

We invite industry professionals to give guest lectures to students. This is a great opportunity for
students to learn about the latest trends and developments in their field, and to network with
potential employers. Industries can sponsor research projects conducted by students and faculty.
This way students can gain research experience, and to work on projects that are relevant to their
field. We encourage students to participate in conferences and workshops: Attending conferences
and workshops is a great way to network with other academics and industry professionals.

5. Can you explain us about the infrastructural facilities available with respect to H & S
Department at MRCE?

Answer: The Humanities and Sciences department has a dedicated building known as B Block.
This academic year, there are 15 sections, and each section has its own classroom. In addition to
the classrooms, the college has 2 PPS labs, 2 Engineering Chemistry labs, 2 BEE labs, 2 Applied
Physics labs, 2 English language labs, and 2 engineering workshops. There is also an advanced
and updated library where first-year students can read and borrow books from their syllabus and
magazines on the latest trends.

6. As the Head of Department, how do you ensure effective collaboration and

communication among faculty members in order to create a cohesive learning environment
for students?

Answer: As the Head of Department, here are some ways to ensure effective collaboration and
communication among faculty members considering the all-round growth of the students as our
priority. Being Head of the department, I inform all the faculties about their roles and
responsibilities and what are things expected from them. By setting clear expectations, you can
help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that there is a shared understanding of what
is expected.

The department encourages the culture of collaboration which is essential for effective faculty
teamwork. This means creating an environment where faculty members feel comfortable sharing
ideas and working together. I am ready to provide support to the faculty members order to be
effective collaborators. This includes providing them with the resources they need, as well as the
emotional support they need to work through difficult situations. I can provide support by being
available to faculty members when needed, as well as by providing them with training and
resources on collaboration.

We create opportunities for faculty members to get to know each other. This could be done
through social events, brown bag lunches, or other informal gatherings. When faculty members
collaborate successfully, we make sure to recognize and celebrate their efforts. This will help to
motivate them to continue their success.

7. Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals for the Humanities and Sciences
department under your leadership? How do you plan to achieve them?

Answer: We have excellent team of skilled and experienced faculties who are enthusiastic,
dedicated and strongly motivated to the student’s welfare. There are 9 professors, and 35
assistant professors are there in the department of humanities and sciences. We are also planning
to go for Autonomous status very soon.

As the Head of Department of Humanities and Sciences, my aspirations and goals are to:

 Create a top-class department that is known for its excellence in teaching, research, and
service.
 Prepare students for successful careers in the humanities and sciences, as well as for
leadership roles in society.
 Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-cultural understanding.
 Make the humanities and sciences more accessible and inclusive.

I plan to achieve these goals by:

 Recruiting and retaining top talent in the humanities and sciences.

 Providing faculty with the resources they need to teach, research, and serve.
  Creating a culture of innovation and creativity.
 Promoting student success through mentorship, advising, and support.

I believe that by working together, we can create a humanities and sciences department that is a
model for excellence and innovation.

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

Answer: Here are my few suggestions to the youth and aspiring students-

 Give value to yourself. Know who you are, what you can do for yourself, your family,
your society and most importantly for your country.
 At present, most youths are busy in playing online games, watching reels or in other non-
productive activities. As a student, you need to utilise your time properly. Learn time
management skills and use your valuable time in productive and creative activities.
 The world is changing fast, and the AI and other technological developments are shaping
the current job demands. Equip yourself with the latest skills to match with growing
industrial demands.
 Take inspiration from greatest achievers of the world. There are many successful
individuals from India or Indian origin who have excelled in the world scenario in the
field of science and technology. Learn from them, read about them and be like them.
 Last but not the least, morally and spiritually strong. This will lead you to achieve inner
peace and outer success wherever you go.