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.