Professor Shiburaj P. is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Rizvi College of Engineering, Mumbai. He graduated from Sindhudurg Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, in 2008, and completed his Masters from Sardar Patel Institute of Technology, Mumbai University, in 2013. He is currently working on an innovative and secure mechanism to ‘deliver images with emails’.
We interviewed Prof. Shiburaj on his thoughts about engineering and whether it pays to be an engineer today.
The debate whether IITs do a better job than other engineering colleges remains?
It’s the thought process – what goes through the students’ mind when joining an IIT or any other engineering college – that should change. The faculty and the syllabus taught in the IITs is no different from any other engineering college. Just because the student is not able to clear the IIT entrance exam and get into any of the IITs doesn’t mean the education the student gets in other colleges is different. Belief and trust in the faculty is the only way the student can learn more and the faculty can deliver more to students as well.
But we see IIT students do better than others?
The institute shouldn’t be blamed as it is the student’s desire to excel in a particular field that’s important, not the institute. Students should prepare and dedicate themselves to what they want to achieve. Students not only from IITs but any student anywhere having a desire to achieve will get success.
Why is the current engineering syllabus considered to be old-fashioned?
People keep saying this, but I think differently. If you want to learn how a TV works, you first learn how a B/W TV works, then the rest. It is a step-by-step procedure, where the faculty covers the syllabus right from the core and fundamental basics to the higher and more complex ideas, depending on what the student is required to study. Learning the basics and then learning what the industry demands is the way we teach our students
Suicide in engineering colleges is an issue?
It seems that some students do not get love and moral support required from family and friends. When they are not able to open up to anyone, they hide their feelings. They cannot handle the pressure of engineering studies, and thus, don’t see any other alternative than committing suicide. This can be avoided if students share their feelings and open up to someone.
What role does extra-curricular activity play in a student’s life?
We conduct a lot of workshops throughout the year in various departments. Short-term training programs and certification courses are in place wherein students understand and gain proficiency in the subjects. In Rizvi College, every even semester, the first two weeks are dedicated to sports activities. We believe that students should continue with what makes them passionate, be it a sport or any other activity, along with engineering studies.
Prof. Shiburaj blogs at http://www.shiburaj.co