Creating Engineering Excellence
Like every stream of studies, engineering education has undergone overwhelming change during the COVID-19 pandemic. The closed campuses have taken the studies out of classrooms and labs, which was considered as imperatives in an engineering student’s life. Faculty members are forced to adopt new technology for teaching and figure out how to turn a hands-on education into a remote practice. However, the ongoing crisis has provided the academicians and administrators with a freehand to innovate existing practices and policies in technical education. And thus, getting onboard with the wave of technological advancement and change, engineering colleges and universities such as the Narasu’s Sarathy Institute of Technology, are considering this pandemic as an opportunity to emerge stronger and find solutions that would help address the immediate issues, and strive towards a long-term goal.
Founded by Smt. Mahalakshmi Educational Trust, Narasu’s Sarathy Institute of Technology (NSIT) represents a rich tradition of educational excellence in this ever-evolving age of technology-oriented education. A premier-league institution among the affiliates of Anna university, owes its vision to the late Sri. “Narasu’s” R. P. Sarathy, an entrepreneur, educationalist and a philanthropist. Moreover, striving on the lines of its founder, located in Poosaripatti, on the Salem-Bengaluru Highway,the management and everyone who is a part of NSIT, progress each day together towards giving back to society, one step at a time.
Offering 6 UG (Civil, CSE, ECE, IT, EEE and Mech) programs and 2 PG programs, namely – ME (VLSI) and ME (CSE), NSIT is built over a sprawling 22.5 acre campus with lush lawns, a beautiful landscape, aesthetic architecture and avant-garde infrastructure, epitomizing an exemplary setting for higher learning. Also, slowly emerging as a center of excellence in engineering education, the institute is building purposive partnerships with the industry, steadily evolving and adapting innovative programs, basing the whole ecosystem on the changing times, striving to maintain its prime position as a premier brand in and around the state of Tamilnadu.
A rapidly changing technological environment
“It is very important that engineering aspirants develop varied skills while studying any topic, and thus we ensure learning at NSIT goes beyond the textbook learning and find ways to apply the knowledge learnt in the world around us”, shares – Mr .B. Nitish Harihar, the chairman of the institute. Adding to his above statement, Mr. Nitish stated – “Our curriculum is framed by leading academicians and is designed in such a way that the student gets a chance to go beyond just memorizing the subject”. Through a brief conversation with the chairman, we learnt that NSIT believes that it is their duty as educationalists and teachers to help students think outperform on a daily basis by using the above skills as their vantage points.
When it comes to maintaining the system, NSIT has many quality measures that they periodically check to understand if the topic taught is understood by the students. Maintaining quality in an educational institution is an on the go job and there are many instances where the institute may need to adapt and change their approach to reach the ultimate teaching and learning goals. Thereby, the institute maintains a robust association with the industry for student training, student projects, faculty visits, expert lectures, and for collaboration in research and development in emerging technologies.
NSIT offers Engineering courses such as Computer Science & Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Information Technology. The institute believes in providing content beyond the syllabus to make the students industry ready. The students are encouraged to participate in National and International conferences, symposiums and technical events in other renowned institutions to enhance their technical skills. Value added courses approved by Anna University and Certification courses in specific areas of expertise are offered to the students free of cost to keep them abreast of the latest technologies. The Placement and Training Cell of the institute actively engages the students in systematic training from the first semester. The institute organizes industry connect guest lectures, workshops and HR conclaves to help the students understand the corporate culture and expectations and also facilitate industrial visits and internships for students to gain practical knowledge in their area of interest, special training is given for Communication Skills, Soft Skills and Management Skills.
Additionally, Narasu’s Sarathy Institute of Technology has an active IQAC which monitors the quality of all activities at their college, and due to it being NAAC accredited, the institute has an active III Cell (Industry Institute Interaction Cell) which functions to facilitate effective interaction with the industry and academia through seminars / symposia / workshops regularly to keep the students abreast of the latest developments in all courses. “Our students have been consistently securing top university honors among the affiliated colleges of Anna University, along with a good number of them being offered employment both by IT and Core Companies in the campus selections year on year”, said the chairman, ecstatically talking about the whole environment that exists at NSIT, that clearly boosts employability among the students.
Known for combining ethical values and world knowledge, the two qualities that are in congruence with the nation’s development, the primary vision of NSIT is to produce engineers who think ‘out of the box’ and can act as a cohesive link between the administrative and executive machinery of the country, irrespective of the scenario outside. Furthermore, taking it up a notch, NSIT adapted to the online medium of teaching and learning during the pandemic, and eventually moved on with blended learning, causing no hindrances to the students, in their path of becoming tomorrow’s engineers. Also, understanding the fact that just like any other sector, the education arena also suffered because of the spread of the global pandemic of COVID-19, all possible steps were taken to deliver the courses on-line/offline professionally and comprehensively following SOPs set by the management.
All in all, emerging as one of the most sought-after destinations for engineering education in the country, Narasu’s Sarathy Institute of Technology has positively impacted all its stakeholders in terms of its excellent track record, research culture, student centricity, course relevance, industry connect and many other initiatives. It is gratifying that the Institute has been receiving the attention it deserves from students, parents, employers, policy makers and the public in general, and by the impressive efforts it puts in day-in and day-out. Also, by the means of various scholarships being offered by the institute, which facilitates 100% fee waiver for academically strong students and sports personalities, the management of NSIT provides a completely supportive ethos, rigorously committed to take the journey forward, proving itself worthy of the title – “Engineering College of the Year”.
Mr. Nitish Harihar – Chairman
A man of high ideals and a person who continuously strives to lead Narasu’s Sarathy Institute of Technology towards success in all verticals with his team, Mr. Nitish Harihar as the chairman has molded the administrative, academic ethical growth of the college from a very young age under the guidance of his grandfather, and the Founder, Sri. “Narasu’s” R P Sarathy. An active member in social organization’s like CII, ICTACT, NASSCOM, Salem Productivity Council, etc for a healthy interaction with the industry, opens a lot of opportunities for the staff and students to get real time projects and facilitates industry institute interaction. His family’s rich industrial experience gives the institute the support and guidance in directing all the students not just towards good job opportunities but also towards Entrepreneurship, Research & Development, Outcome based learning, and keen business acumen. Also, as an active Boy Scout Sri B. Nitish Harihar has secured the coveted Rastrapathi Scout Award, which taught him the importance of maintaining personal discipline and committed work ethics.
