The Higher Education Review

`Freedom to Experiment' is the core of the discussion which occur in every mind while providing autonomous status to an engineering college. In this aspect, SNS College of Technology (SNSCT), Coimbatore has `set the standard' as an exemplary role model for other autonomous institutions across the country. Established in 2002, SNS College of Technology was awarded with the Autonomous status by Anna University, Chennai for a period of 5 years with effect from 2013-14 to 2017-18, after evaluation of the institute's efforts towards providing out-of-the-box technical education, accredited by NBA (A signatory accreditation body of Washington Accord USA) and NAAC, an Accord in particular recognizes degrees under outcome based education approach. "The integrated, dynamic and goal-oriented Autonomous curriculum of this Institution, has added to the attraction and collaboration of many new organizations, looking to hire

industry ready candidates. In this view, we have an exclusive Board Of Studies (BOS) team, comprised of academicians as well as experts from industries," says Dr. S. Chenthur Pandian, Principal, SNSCT.

The robust and talented pool of faculty members impart quality education weaved with active research to equip the students in terms of inculcating the skill set and knowledge for life-long learning. The fervent quest of knowledge of the faculty team, leads to knowledge generation for the student community and society. To add fuel to these aspirations, the Institution presently has 28 PhD holders who serve as supervisors, possessing more than 20 years of experience in teaching are making relentless efforts in nurturing students towards their holistic development. Over 1000 Research articles have been published in various National and International Journals. "Our founder Chairman Dr. S. N. Subbramanian, who has over 30 years of experience in service, education, and research sectors, always supports and encourages the faculty members to submit their research findings in reputed Conferences and Journals. This is one of the reasons why more than 100 faculty members of our institution are pursuing their PhD," claims Dr. Pandian, who has already guided more than 16 scholars to obtain their PhDs.

With futuristic technology, state-of-the-art equipment and minds that

unveil the swaddle of theory and experimentation, SNSCT is providing 10 UG programs, 10 PG programs and seven PhD programs with a benevolent outlook of serving the society. Dr. V. P. Arunachalam, former Principal and Director of SNSCT, says, "The overall standards set at SNSCT in the field of teaching and research spur us on in our relentless pursuit of excellence."In order to implement the quality policy of the Institution, the freshly recruited faculty members are trained well with a week long high intensity orientation programmes followed by FDPs through IQAC. These programs enable new faculty members to get accustomed to the institution's teaching methodologies. In lieu with this principle, SNS College of Technology is in the phase of implementing UGC's latest initiative called Choice Based Credit System (CBCS). "The quality of education offered under Choice Based Credit System holds the potential of meeting the standards of overseas graduate programs. There is also a possibility for a motivated student to secure more credits as they can choose wide range of subjects from various engineering disciplines," says Dr. Pandian. For an institution like SNSCT, where multidisciplinary activities are part of the culture, initiatives like CBCS will help to enhance the quality of education and eventually become an institution that can contribute substantially to the growing needs of the country.