Imperative for Engineer’s to Emulate Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya to Provide Impetus to the Nation Building Process

The pace of transformation of nation can only be accelerated, if Engineers are allowed to function in engineering way.  An Engineer using tools of science and technology as well as of a number of other fields converts the resources available in nature into actual goods and services needed by the society. 

As engineers contribute in solving the increasingly complex problems facing our society, there is a growing need for the engineers graduating from undergraduate programs to understand deeply the context within which they are solving problems. Shortage of required skills has been one of the major constraints for the passing out engineering graduates for continuing economical growth of India. This knowledge gap has to be addressed on priority to develop the imperative skills for the improved productivity. There is a particular need of engineers who can recognise the complexities of global and local issues to challenge them with desired solutions.

The worth and potentialities of a nation get evaluated in and through the work of an engineer. In this context, Dr. Sir M Visvesvaraya firmly believed    “there can be no salvation for the people of the country except judicious use of the technological innovations”.  It is, therefore, very important today, being ENGINEER’S DAY, let us recall the infrastructures/industries/water resources projects being implemented for the intended use; which have been planned and executed by Sir M Visvesvaraya  throughout India have become monumental and also meeting the purpose till date. This has become possible due to the immense dedication, commitment, insight and total involvement of a selfless engineer considered as an epitome of knowledge, statesman having untiring attitude imbibed with meticulous planning, execution and also monitoring the work to the highest quality by adhering to the on-site specifications (with transparent, ethically clean and responsive machinery).

The engineers can contribute in nation building only if they acquire and inculcate the following skills necessary to succeed as an engineer.

        1)      Meticulous and Upright: Projects in engineering are extraordinarily complex,           requiring meticulous planning and execution and  also uprightness.

     2)   Communication Skills: Even though Engineering is very technical, however, concise and firm communication is essential throughout the task process which can provide the intended service throughout the designed period with minimum running, operation and maintainance (ROM) cost. 

3)      Basic Knowledge: The clear understanding about the concepts of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) provides a strong foundation to engineering career. An inadequate concept of these courses is one of the major constraints for the engineering aspirants/graduates for continuing to excel and learn the skill sets considering it as knowledge gap which becomes stumbling block in their career advancement.

4)      Enterprising Skills: Engineering is a constantly evolving field. Updating with the latest trends in technology to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.

5)      Managerial Skills and Leadership Qualities: managerial skills help in successful completion of the task fulfilling the mandatory requirements. However, if an engineer led from the front by delegating power, motivating the colleagues and employees by exhibiting leadership qualities provides positive aspects to the ongoing works.

The metamorphism in the planning and execution of any task/assignment/project for the development of the nation depends upon how genuinely/effectively/efficiently the engineers provide the inputs required/ execute in transforming the specifications of the paper on to the ground in case of civil works/ to products in industries or qualitative services in service sector. However, the upright engineers have to be given an environment of non interference to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently to meet the desired outcome with pre-set requirements and conditions.

The engineers have to work fearlessly with exemplary attitude to innovate new methods, new material, and new technology that being cost effective, long lasting, ease in implementation, which can also provide visible sustaining qualitative changes in the development of the nation. There have been many live examples how our own (Indian) engineers those are working abroad contributing positively in the country of their present residence. Keeping this in view, the time has arrived to devise a system and modus operandi for its implementation wherein a healthy working environment enables the upright and honest engineers to contribute in the progressive development of the nation.

Standup Teachers to Stand out and be remembered! Don’t be lost in the Crowd

The worth and potentialities of a country get evaluated in and through the work of a teacher. In this context, Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan said beautifully, “You cannot make or build the nation by just bricks, you have to establish the minds of young people, and then alone can the nation building take place.”

The simple question the teachers of engineering institutes to ask themselves, why only 10 to 15% of engineering graduates passing out every year are employable. Today (5^th September 2016) being Teachers Day, on this auspicious day, we the Teachers connected with teaching at engineering institutes to rededicate for the cause of all round development of students in particular and for the metamorphic changes in education system.

India being one of the largest democracy with over billions of people and 60% of its population being youth, eagerly waiting to excel in their chosen career. The scientific temper plays a very important role in the progressive development of citizens in particular and the nation in general. According to the Constitution of India, developing scientific temper is one of the fundamental duties of Indian citizens. In order to develop scientific temper in students there is a need to refine and strengthen the three components such as Knowledge, Skill (Skills: too difficult to master by the students on their own, however that can be done with the guidance and encouragement from the knowledgeable teacher) and Creativity in students. 

Traditional engineering instruction is deductive, beginning with theories and progressing to the applications of those theories. Alternative teaching approaches are more inductive, including inquiry learning, problem-based learning, project-based learning, case-based teaching, discovery learning, and just-in-time teaching. Topics are introduced by presenting specific observations, case studies or problems, and theories are taught or the students are helped to discover them only after the need to know them. However we need to impart the knowledge:

• Firstly, functional knowledge like teaching basic concepts of science and application of these concepts in real sense, i.e., ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
• Secondly, emphasis must be on behavioural knowledge, like inculcating professional ethics, moral values, protecting the environment and public property and strive towards excellence in all spheres of life. 
• In addition to these, the need of the hour is to ignite the curiosity in young minds, i.e., to ask questions like Whys & Hows to themselves and also to the educators.  This is possible only if the explicit connection of engineering concepts with cognitive levels suggested in table 1of Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy (BRT) in the implementation of course materials. Subsequently transforming tradition classroom spaces by promoting active and collaborative learning, both learner centered approaches that foster adoptive expertise (i.e., Creatively utilizing available resources in various situations) and effective self-learning habits’ (i.e., connecting concepts from previous courses and other disciplines) in students.

Table 1. BRT steps and process descriptors

S No.	Step	Process Descriptor
1	Remembering	Can the student recall or remember the information?
2.	Understanding	Can the student explain ideas or concepts?
3.	Applying	Can the student use information in a new way?
4.	Analyzing	Can the student distinguish between two parts?
5.	Evaluating	Can the student justify a stand or decision?
6.	Creating	Can the student create a new product or point of view?

To assess the knowledge gained by the students during the academic sessions, we need to shift from conventional methods such as standard examinations or credit system, to examine the qualitative changes in students’ thinking process, problem solving approaches. This can be achieved by providing exposure to higher level of experimentation setups; effective contact hours with subject teachers; interactive sessions with the experts, and eminent personalities. The knowledge and skills of the students have to be tested frequently at various platforms to ascertain the desired transformational changes contributing to the creativity in them.  

The metamorphic changes in the education system solely depends upon how genuinely the teachers (however, the support of the authorities concerned and students wholehearted cooperation will definitely accelerate this process) provide inputs required in transforming the engineering students to acquire the knowledge to the level needed in order to transfer this knowledge to create innovative prototypes of technology.

“Teaching is not a profession; it's a passion. Without passion for your subject and a desire for your students to learn and be the best in the world, then we have failed as a teacher and failure is not an option." -John F. Podojil