Instructions to Students

On Monday :

Collect an undertaking form and a registration form from the department.

1. Choose your desired project title  from the list kept in the notice board. 
2. Submit the completed undertaking and  registration (for projects). 
3. Meet Mr. Raj Kumar Agarwal for any clarifications.
4. You have to pay the first installment of Rs.2000 (in cash) to get registered.
5. Pay this amount and get a receipt from Ms. Rajeshwari.
6. Get your Project training schedule from Mr. RK Agarwal on Wednesday after your exam is over.
7. Last date for payment of first installment is 2nd February, 2011.

Good wishes

Update on Project work

Following list gives you the steps to be taken to begin project work from next week :

1. The list of projects selected by Faculty will be kept on the notice board in the 4th floor.
2. Each student will sign an undertaking to pay Rs. 4000 in two equal  installments to the company offering the project.
3. A  team of two/one will be considered as a team of three for payment purpose.
4. The first installment  and the undertaking will be handed over to the company and the project title will be registered against the team.
5. The team will then be eligible to begin training on the project.
6. The team will be able to 'change' the title within a week subject to availability.
7. List of approved projects will be updated on a daily basis.
8. Training slots :
1.  Each company will be given three days for class room/lab training between 4pm and 6pm per week AND two 'forenoons' (9am to 1pm) of lab time to work on the project. 
2. This will be Mon, Tue, Wen  for one company AND Thu, Fri , Sat for the other company. 
3. Each team will be assigned one system with a specific number and the team must use only that system throughout the project work.
9. Attendance will be taken for classwork and lab work.
10. Students will have to write up progress reports on the project at weekly intervals.
11. Students will have to appear for project review meetings / interviews.
12. Students must take prior permission when they cannot come to the training session/lab session.

Last date for all the project formalities will be 5th of February, 2011.

Project Work MoU finalised

Dear Student,

The MoU is finalised with two companies (MyGo and SprihaIT/PearsonEd) during a meeting with the Director F&A , Principal SVIT and the company representatives.

Today, we have crossed the line of no return.

The details are as follows :

1. The cost of project per student will be Rs. 4000 all inclusive.
2. Training will be in the ECE department.
3. The final project will be retained in the department for future use and reference.
4. Payment will be in two installments (one half within a week and the next half before submission).
5. Embedded, VLSI and DSP/DIP will be the domains.
6. Each team should have 3 members.

After going through a transparent process where staff, management and student representatives were involved at every stage, we have reached this phase.

There are many lessons learnt that will make us stronger in the future.

Students are requested to make the best use out of the project environment created within the department and bring a good name and professionalism to it.

Happy Weekend

Project Work : How I will be evaluated ?

Most students have doubts as to how a common denominator ( in evaluating the quality of work done/knowledge acquired) can be arrived at when each student is into a different project.

The answer is very simple.

The evaluator does not concentrate on the project work you have done ! ....but on how you can apply your acquired knowledge/skills in arriving at solutions to a NEW problem/project.

Examples :

You have done a project using 8051 microcontroller as the system core, C as the programming language. Then , questions can be framed to solve new problems using the same combination of Hardware and Software.

1. I need a Burglar alarm system to be designed. Could you suggest how I should approach ?
2. Do we need to programme the software using C ? Why ? Can't we use ALP ?
3. What architecture would be most appropriate for this design ? RISC or CISC ? Does it really matter ?
4. I have to work on a very small budget and prove the efficacy of the alarm system. But once the system  starts working effectively, I may succeed in getting more budget allocated to my future requirements. What enhancements can I make to the Burglar alarm system (without adding too much cost) in an office environment ?

...like this, the list of questions can go on.

You must have observed that the questions have something in common. Every question is asked with a clear assumption that you are the right person to give the answer...... because you have already done a project on similar lines.

So, the panel assumes that you are the right choice. Now, it is up to you to live up to the panel's expectations by giving meaningful and simple answers.

The trouble starts when you dont.....

Our combined effort is to see that you do :)

Project Work : Programme for Monday 10th January, 2011

4th year ECE students must meet HoD - ECE , collect a form, fill it on the same day and submit it before 4pm.
All details will be there in the form.
You will have to finalise your project before 12th January, 2011.

Important : If parents want to meet regarding the project work, they can do so after 4:30pm everyday from 10th January, 2011.

Project Work - Update

What the department will look for in your project work :

1. Strength in fundamentals of the domain chosen.
2. Clarity of the title of the project selected.
3. Clarity of choice in Hardware/Software/approach to solutions.
4. Clarity of project deliverables.
5. Clarity of techniques used in Hardware/Software.
6. Literature studied during the project work.
7. How you handle the project progress reviews.
8. Attitude exhibited during the entire duration of the project.
9. Performance in written tests on project work.
10. Quality of presentations about project to juniors.
11. How additional demands on project will be handled.

Main Projects : FAQs

Dear FINAL YEAR ECE Students,

You are already aware of the mandatory project work to be done during the final semester of your engineering course. As another STEP towards improving the academic standards and environment within the ECE department, the faculty of ECE department (after due discussions and consultation) have reached a decision to request management to allow the department to get these projects done INHOUSE (ie. Within the ECE Department). You are aware that the department has constituted a committee with senior faculty and students to shortlist  companies that can be considered to help us in this implementation.

I wish to inform you that we are in the final stage of negotiations with these firms and within a week management would take the opinion of you (students) who will be actually executing the project work.

Roles of different stakeholders in this exercise :

HoD : Coordinate with students, faculty, companies, management and parents. Will be always available to clear any doubt from any quarter including parents.

Faculty : Select projects from the list offered by the firms. Take care of the students and their project during execution. Coordinate with the firm on behalf of the student and see that the student is offered the best as per the agreement made with the department.

Management : Accord permission after due scrutiny to a couple of firms to enter our campus and set up training facilities in our labs to train you for the project as per the agreed schedule.

Students :  Select projects offered by  faculty (who in turn select from the firm). Pay the project fees as stipulated by the company and do the project as per the guidelines of the ECE Department under the scrutiny of the Faculty guide and a panel of Industry experts who will be monitoring the faculty and indirectly the student projects.

FAQs

Q1. So far, we were allowed to do projects where we pleased , why this sudden change ?

1. Those students who are following  the news on quality of projects in Engineering colleges will know it well. There is an increasing concern among educators TODAY about the poor standards of Engg projects. “Students purchase projects from firms with minimal idea of what the project work / project management  is all about”  - is the general opinion. There is a greater risk today than before  that your project work will not carry any weight if done in a casual manner.

Q2.  Will I be failed if I do not get the ouput ?

1. Project Work is an important component in Engineering Education. It is an EXPERIENCE through which every student must go through to transform into a true professional.  It is NOT about getting/not getting  an OUTPUT.  It is an EXPERIENCE. Students will be questioned about the KNOWLEDGE they have gained DURING this period and will NOT be judged merely on OUTPUT. The mere fact that a student today is only worried about the OUTPUT and NOT the EXPERIENCE  shows what is wrong with our system.

Q3. I don’t agree, I am still bothered about my OUTPUT. Answer my question to the point.

1. Yes, everyone involved in the project MUST be concerned with the OUTPUT. But, we are simply stating that EXPERIENCE must also be gained during the project execution. The firm offering the project has given us guarantees that OUTPUT will be assured. Payments are usually made based on the successful execution of the project. No output, No payment  !

Q4. Why is the department after us in making us stay indoors during the final year. What benefit do YOU get in this ?

1. Good question ! As HoD of the department, it is important for me to mobilize all efforts in improving the academic standards of the department. Comparing ourselves to standard Engineering institutes, we have to begin “SOMEWHERE, SOMETIME, SOMEHOW”  executing projects within the department. The department has to be “GEARED UP” for this. It means the management, faculty, students all must bring an environment where everyone thinks that “Doing projects inside the Department is natural” and “Doing outside is not”. So, this is only the FIRST STEP. There will be a QUALITATIVE improvement in the academics due to the early exposure to your juniors on what project work is all about. Also, the department will ensure a proper and periodical appraisal of the progress of your project. You will be asked to be present ONLY during the time of the appraisal.

Q5. Then, why are we taking the help of the outside firms ?

1. This is done because we are not fully geared up for this kind of activity. There are many loose ends to be tied up during this process itself. Apart from taking classes and labs, faculty need a little bit of exposure to project activities for an year before the  process is streamlined. This is only a temporary arrangement.

Q6. Does this mean I am not allowed to do a project outside ? Like in BSNL, DRDL, HAL, ECIL etc. ? In what way are these firms superior compared to the above companies ?

1. Yes, a valid question. Students will have to offer enough justification before given permission to do a project outside. Simply stated, it boils down to answering one simple question : “What is your contribution to the project ?” It means, that the project should not merely be a study project. This will be explained to the students (and their parents) on a case to case basis.

Q7. How long will this deliberation go on ? Are we not losing time ?

1. To provide transparency, the department has adopted this unhurried approach.  By following what is happening in the department, by discussing with your proctor, other members of the faculty, keep yourself better  informed. We are always available to answer your queries. Phone, email or in-person. We will wait till management and firms complete their discussions. Faculty committee will help management, students and firms to arrive at a convergence of ideas. Only after this, the NEXT STEP will be taken.

Q8. What is a majority of students / management / parents oppose this idea and want to go on their own ?

1. This is a NON  ISSUE for the faculty of the ECE Department. We have made our proposal based on sound judgment. This record will be there in the files for all to see. Next year we will make same proposal. Hopefully, WITHOUT the involvement of the outside firms.

Q9. I got your point of view. But, is it possible to do projects in-house without outside firms help ?

1. We will submit a proposal to the management on this. Training of faculty, procuring additional hardware and software are to be done. The idea is to make it transparent and carry everyone involved along with us.

Q10. Will you be unhappy/angry with us/Fail us  if we take a unanimous decision against your proposal ?

1. NO WAY ! We are only doing our duty.  We have no stakes in a decision against/in-favour of our proposal. Faculty of ECE department is clear on this. So, the WORLD is not coming to an end with any decision. We move with the satisfaction of having done our duty.

Q11. Are you, as HoD, taking all these decisions on your own?

1. NO. I have a panel of industry professionals and academia who are helping me do this.  All decisions are taken after due diligence.

Q12. I still have some doubts which you have not cleared. Where do I go ?

1. Please submit your queries in writing to HoD – ECE and help update this FAQs.

Q13. Will the company give us the PROJECT DOCUMENTATION also ?

 A. YES.

Q14. Are we not delaying the project work ? Other colleges have already started ?

   A. We are doing this for the first time. Faculty, management and 

        students/parents    are new to this idea. We need transparency before beginning

        the activity. Once permissions are taken from th authoritie, things will move much

        faster and there is no real cause for worry.