The Higher Education Review

Dr. VM Sahai:

He is the Advisor of Maharana Pratap College of Technology, Gwalior. He completed M.Sc in applied chemistry in 1968 from Madhav Engineering College, Gwalior. He did his PhD in 1973 from the University of Gwalior. He has played roles of Principal at many Govt Colleges prior to taking the position of the advisor at Maharana Prathap College of Technology, Gwalior.

IT-ITeS sector in India, with the main focus on increasing technology adoption, and developing new delivery platforms, has aggregated revenues of $ 88.1 billion in the recent financial years, while generating direct employment for over 2.5 million people. The rising advent of the industry demand a pipeline the niftiness to adapt to its changes and perform against all odds. The need of the hour is a sound manpower of new technicians who could lead the pathway in the direction of industry's proliferation. A number of attributes associated with the 'Ideal Engineer' have been discussed by various industry experts, educationalists and researchers. For the rise in employment rates mentioned above, the 'Ideal Engineer' is expected to have a distinct level of understanding concepts, executing actions, and solving a problem with as less consumption of time. Cultivation of these very attributes in students to become the future leaders of the industry is found in Maharana Pratap College of Technology, a technical Educational institute located

in Gwalior, MPCT in its 15 years of journey has emerged to the fore to meet the rising demands of the industry. "At present we have arrived to a level of being a well-reputed institution and we have evolved into one of the go-to Engineering Colleges in the North Central India," says Dr. VM Sahai, Advisor, Maharana Pratap College of Technology.

"The current times of higher education in technical fields have usually been revolving around two main aspects: Research and Placement," adds Dr. Sahai; "keeping these two facets in mind, we train students to become successful technocrats, effective leaders and team players so that they are equipped to enhance their knowledge, develop confidence and zeal for creativity." The authorities uplift their motives and objectives and strive relentlessly to give rise to a technical professional team that outperforms themselves to surpass milestones of their recruiting companies.

Full-Fledged Efforts of the Training and Placement Cell

The presence of the Training and Placement Cell in the campus acts as the catalyst between the efforts and vision of the authorities at Maharana Pratap College of Technology. Understanding the importance of developed skills in the industry, the Training and Placement Cell at Maharana Pratap College of Technology performs arduous tasks of combining academia with the relevance of its applications in the industry. Combining the two, the designated authorities of the cell strive to link the practical applications of the concepts taught in the classes by deploying various methodologies. Constant efforts towards producing technical experts for the new era are visible through activities such as distinguished guest lectures. "Industrialists, technocrats and relevant high ranking officials are invited to share their

experiences with our students, so that students may understand the ground realities of the jobs of their interest," adds Dr. Sahai. He also highlights other activities of the cell such as Summer Training, industrial tours and placement at the campus and off campus to expand the career options of students at MPCT. Besides this, it engages itself in various personality enhancement programs like communication skills, transactional Analysis, group discussion & interview techniques. The T & P Cell also organizes vocational training in different industrial units where students of different branches of engineering & MCA are absorbed as trainees which facilitate them in Job Placement.

Career Stabilities across Domains

"Our students have been placed in leading private industries through campus Recruitment and fared equally well in various competitive exams like GATE, CAT, and Engineering Services & UPSC Examinations," says Dr. Sahai. Various conglomerates of diverse sectors such as TCS, Indiamart, Honeywell, Zven Technologies Noida, Cadbury India, Eureka Forbes, and many others have constantly visited the institution for its student base of diverse skill sets and have offered packages as high as Rs. 8.6 lakh. A vast number of the graduating alumni have also joined national & international institutes of repute for higher studies.

A student of the institute, Gaurav Varshney has topped in the affiliating university, and is a recipient of the Shri C. L. Chouksey Gold Medal by Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal. Established in 1996 by the founder Pratap Vahini Samaj Kalyan Sansthan, MPCT is approved by AICTE and the Government of MP. "We want to improvise and encourage research, and come up as a research center and cater better to the needs of the industry," concludes Dr. Sahai.