Best Practices

Best Practices

Best Practice-1:

Title of the Practice: “Center for Engineering Education Development (CEED) – Elevating Engineering Education through Innovation and Research”

  1. Objectives of the Practice

The primary objectives of CEED at KG Reddy College of Engineering and Technology are to foster a culture of innovative and student-centered teaching practices, enhance faculty capability in engineering education, and support research in pedagogy. CEED aims to align teaching strategies with contemporary educational principles, such as active and collaborative learning, to improve student engagement and learning outcomes. By facilitating faculty development programs and research on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), CEED strives to transform engineering education to meet the needs of modern, technology-driven students.

  1. The Context

CEED was established in response to challenges within the Indian higher education system, including the need for student-centered learning and enhanced teaching methods to engage today’s engineering students. The rise of digital education tools and the shift towards outcome-based education created a pressing need for faculty to adapt to new teaching methodologies. CEED addresses these issues by offering targeted training on active learning, assessment principles, and technology integration. Furthermore, the college’s New Age Engineering vision demanded a structured approach to ensure faculty are well-equipped to adopt these evolving practices. The primary challenge was cultivating a mindset shift among faculty members towards continuous professional development and pedagogical research, overcoming resistance to change, and building a sustainable model for ongoing training and assessment.

  1. The Practice

CEED is a dedicated center focused on enhancing the quality of engineering education through continuous faculty development and research in teaching practices. Key initiatives include semester-start programs tailored for new faculty, covering essential skills in student-centered learning, mentoring, and classroom management. CEED regularly organizes workshops on topics such as Bloom’s Taxonomy, outcome-based education, and the use of educational technology in blended and active learning environments. One notable initiative is the Short-Term Training Program on Action Research, an eight-week program encouraging faculty to conduct research on their own teaching practices, measure impact on student learning, and publish findings.

Another aspect of CEED’s strategy is supporting faculty in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), motivating them to publish in education conferences and journals. Faculty development programs facilitated by CEED emphasize the application of evidence-based teaching methodologies, resulting in 77% of participating faculty integrating these practices into their courses. Additionally, CEED promotes the creation of course websites, allowing faculty to extend learning beyond the traditional classroom. However, CEED faced challenges such as limited resources for extensive training and resistance to new methods from faculty accustomed to traditional lecture-based teaching. Despite these limitations, CEED’s innovative, hands-on approach has fostered a shift towards a more engaging, research-driven education system in engineering.

  1. Evidence of Success

CEED’s success is evident in its measurable outcomes, including 100% participation from faculty in development programs and a 50% adoption rate of blended learning approaches with course websites, especially among first- and second-year faculty. Additionally, 55% of faculty now engage in scholarly teaching by measuring the impact of their methods on student learning, while 17% of faculty actively contribute to pedagogical research through conference presentations and publications. National and international recognition further attest to CEED’s impact, as faculty have presented papers on teaching innovations at prominent conferences such as EDUCON. These results indicate a significant cultural shift in teaching at KG Reddy College, positioning it as a leader in engineering education.

  1. Problems Encountered and Resources Required

Some challenges faced by CEED include limited access to financial and technological resources, which restricts the frequency and scope of training programs. Additionally, there was initial resistance from faculty members unfamiliar with active learning techniques and digital tools, necessitating extra support and one-on-one mentoring. Overcoming this resistance required a strong leadership commitment and clear communication about the benefits of student-centered teaching. To further advance its goals, CEED requires sustained funding for workshops, better access to educational technology, and continued leadership support to embed innovative teaching practices as part of the institution’s core culture.

  1. Notes

For institutions looking to adopt CEED’s best practices, it is essential to establish a structured faculty development framework that includes regular training, collaborative learning opportunities, and support for pedagogical research. Engaging faculty in discussions about the value of evidence-based teaching and offering platforms for sharing experiences can drive buy-in and long-term commitment to educational excellence. Collaboration with engineering education societies, such as IUCEE, can provide additional resources and recognition, further reinforcing faculty motivation. CEED’s holistic approach exemplifies a scalable model that can be adapted by other colleges to foster educational transformation in engineering disciplines.

Best Practice-2:

Title of the Practice: Centre for Research and Innovation Development (CRID) 

 

The Centre for Research and Innovation Development (CRID) serves as a dedicated hub to foster a robust research and innovation culture among the staff and students of the institute. Below are the key highlights and outcomes of this best practice:

Objectives:

Research at KGRCET has been recognized as the primary activity to enhance teaching-learning process, and also to develop a unique identity as an institution that has committed itself to address societal issues through application of Science and Technology. The CRID division aims to continuously liaise with various funding agencies, R&D institutions, industries and faculty members of KGRCET to facilitate for undertaking innovative research in cutting-edge areas of application and social relevance.

  • Promote research and consultancy at institute level.
  • Facilitate interaction with external agencies like industries, government funding bodies.
  • Create multiple research thematic areas.
  • Significantly increase number of quality publications in refereed journals / conferences and intellectual property rights (IPR)
  • Assist faculty along with research scholars to write R&D proposals for external funding. 
  • Develop innovative products in the institute and exhibit those products at national level competitions.

Goals:

  • To encourage faculty, undergraduate, and post-graduate students to engage in research activities that will motivate them to pursue higher education. 
  • To facilitate seminars, workshops, training programmes related to the promotion and conduction of research as well to create awareness on IPR and filing patents.
  • To support faculty and students for publishing research results through assistance in writing and reviewing papers prior to submission to conferences and peer reviewed journals. 
  • To design and implementation detailed guidelines for internal reviews that will lead to progress of research and Ph.D. among research scholars and faculty respectively.  
  • To assist faculty, students and other stake holders to apply for funding under various Government or Private Sector Schemes to promote research and innovation.
  • To partner with industries and other organizations focusing on co-development of research innovations through mutual cooperation.

 

Major Outcomes:

  1. Publications: Achieved 222 Scopus-indexed publicationsin the year 2023, showcasing significant academic contributions.
  2. Funding and Grants: Secured ₹84 Lakhsin funding from the various Government agencies to support research initiatives.
  3. Patents and Innovations: Significant progress in innovations, patent filings, and grant approvals.

Key Initiatives:

  1. Annual International Conference: The center launched an annual international conference starting in 2022–23 to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration.
  2. Patent Grants:This academic year, four patents were awarded through the CRID institute level.
  3. Phd Awarded: This academic year, 2 faculty members were awarded Doctorates
  4. Research Support:
    • Established advanced research laboratories equipped with tools like MAT Labfor computational research.
    • Formed five research groupswith seed funding of ₹50,000 for each group to promote focused research activities.
  5. Incentive Policies:
    • Faculty members are rewarded for publications in high-impact journals, as per the institute’s publication incentive policy.
    • Introduced a consultancy framework aimed at fostering entrepreneurial startups.
  6. Multidisciplinary Focus: Encouraged collaborative research efforts across various domains, enhancing the institute’s academic footprint.

Impact:

  • Strengthened the institute’s research ecosystem through structured funding and capacity-building initiatives.
  • Enhanced visibility and recognition through high-quality publications and funded projects.
  • Provided a platform for fostering industry-academia collaborations and consultancy services.

By integrating structured policies, funding, and modern tools, the CRID has established itself as a cornerstone for research excellence, driving innovation and positioning the institute as a leader in academia.

 

Best Practice-3:

Title of the Practice: Centre for Innovation and Social Transformation (CIST) 

 

The Centre for Innovation and Social Transformation has a goal to help students contribute to socio-economic environmental growth in various communities. Encouraging innovative thinking and problem-solving skills, CIST gives students the opportunity to work with local community members and identify their most pressing challenges. They then design and develop technology –based solutions, to improve the quality of living in these areas. Through capacity building and community- based learning programs, CIST aims to instill principles of Sustainable Development and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). Students involved in CIST activities are expected to emerge as leaders in the community, with a high sense of moral and civic responsibility towards the development of the country.

“High-Speed, Low-Cost PLC Based Incense Stick Making Machine” deployed in Sri Ram Nagar village.

Mrs. P. Samyuktha, Head of CIST, has secured a fund of Rs: 4,00,000.00 From YUKTI Innovation Challenge 2023, supported by AICTE/MIC 

Sackhe Technologies Pvt Ltd Startup from KGRCET. Received Grant of NIDHI PRAYAS Grant of ₹4 lakhs from SR Innovation Exchange (SRiX)

Mrs. P. Samyuktha, Head of CIST, received a fund of Rs. 1,00,000 under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) for a novel approach to detecting dangerous species (snakes and other harmful insects) to prevent human-species collisions and improve agricultural productivity.

Mrs. P. Samyuktha, Head of CIST, and Mr. B. Lingam Associate Head of CIST received a fund of Rs. 1,00,000 under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) for anIntegrated Smart Solar Fencing with Blue Lights and Sound Repellent to Protect the Crop from Wild Boars, Monkeys, Peacocks and Parrots.

Mrs. P. Samyuktha, Head of CIST, received a fund of Rs. 1,00,000 under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) for a Agricultural Tool to Cut and Bind Leafy Vegetables: Ergonomic Solution to Avoid Health Issues for Farmers.

Sackhe Technologies Pvt Ltd one of our  Startup cohort at KGRCET. Received a grant of ₹4 lakhs from SR Innovation Exchange (SRiX) under NIDHI PRAYAS Scheme

“High-Speed, Low-Cost PLC Based Incense Stick Making Machine”  deployed in Sri Ram Nagar village.

Mrs. P. Samyuktha, Head of CIST, has secured a fund of Rs: 4,00,000.00 From  YUKTI Innovation Challenge 2023, supported by AICTE/MIC

Sackhe Technologies Pvt Ltd Startup from KGRCET. Received Grant of  NIDHI PRAYAS Grant of ₹4 lakhs from SR Innovation Exchange (SRiX)

Students Achievements:

8 student teams from CIST, along with 9 other teams from different colleges in Hyderabad, participated in the project Expo at the First International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research and Sustainability at KG Reddy College of Engineering and Technology on February 23, 2024. They showcased their projects. Esteemed jury members from TSIC, IGBC, and RICH evaluated the projects.  One of our CIST teams won the prize.

PAL’s InnoWAH final Winners 2024

Three teams from CIST rocked the recent Hackathon at G Narayanamma Institute of Technology & Science, V. Saiteja’s first-year Data Science team made it to the second round of the Green Credit Management competition among 100+ teams nationwide.  On May 3, 2024,

3 teams of CIST students and 3 number of faculty members attended the Lab 2 Market Pitching Conclave at IIT Madras on May 10, 2024.

8 student teams from CIST, along with 9 other teams from different colleges in Hyderabad, participated in the project Expo at the First International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research and Sustainability at KG Reddy College of Engineering and Technology on February 23, 2024. They showcased their projects. Esteemed jury members from TSIC, IGBC, and RICH evaluated the projects.  One of our CIST teams won the prize.

PAL’s InnoWAH final Winners 2024

Three teams from CIST rocked the recent Hackathon at G Narayanamma Institute of Technology & Science, V. Saiteja’s first-year Data Science team made it to the second round of the Green Credit Management competition among 100+ teams nationwide.  On May 3, 2024,

3 teams of CIST students and 3 number of faculty members attended the Lab 2 Market Pitching Conclave at IIT Madras on May 10, 2024.

 

 

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