Ninavu online magazine from CET alumni in UAE

Ninavu: With the proliferation of Engineering colleges, (we have
at least 15 in Trivandrum), have we lost our identity?

Principal : It's a fact that a lot of Engineering Colleges have come up
recently. In fact we have some colleges like Mohandas College of
Engineering and Technology (M CET) having a striking resemblance in
name to ours. Suggestions were even raised to rename ours as
"Government College of Engineering".

But we have a distinct identity of our own. And that identity is not
cosmetic and it has more to do with our standards and cherished
history.

I would say that with so many colleges coming up, we have asserted our
identity.

That is underlined by the fact that we have obtained NBA accreditation.
A big team of experts from National Board of Accreditation have visited
the campus and carried out exhaustive inspections and studied our
teaching - learning processes prior to according us the status of NBA
accreditation.

Ninavu: Engineering education has not raised itself up to expected standards. Is that a concern now?

Principal: May be in general, education standards are not up to the mark. But in our case, that's not true. Recently
we were granted funds from World Bank for upgrading our facilities. This will vastly contribute to the ongoing
educational quality enhancement process.

Also, since Kerala was not allotted an IIT as was expected, an educational institute of comparable standards is
being mooted for Kerala. Their infrastructural facilities are still under construction. Meantime, they are using our
premises. This will also benefit us once they move to their own campus since we will be left with additional
resources.

Ninavu: We can see from the number of students benefited through campus interviews (many such
framed lists can be seen in the principal's chamber-editor's note). This was not the case in past years.

Principal: Of late a lot of students -and the industry have benefited through campus interviews.

Ninavu: As Alumni associations, is there any role for us to play?

Principal: Yes. Definitely.
Each year we invite those who have graduated fifty years ago and felicitate them. For example, this year the 1958
batch members were honoured. You would have noticed the new steps being built in the front side. The 1958 batch
members have sponsored the construction of new steps. It will be known in their names. Similarly for you to be
remembered, contributions from alumni members are welcome.

As I said earlier, we do have a World Bank grant. But that is only for the facilities and infrastructure enhancement.
No amount is earmarked for campus beautification. It is here that alumni members can be of assistance.

We have a larger plan for campus beautification involving landscape, development of parking facilities etc. Areas
around each department would be individually developed. Alumni members of same batch / branch etc can
volunteer for contributions.

We do have a plan to renovate the CETA hall (room # 113) and we already have a group of alumni members
volunteering to share the cost.

Having said that, I would prefer you people to take up primarily the case of those students who are financially
underprivileged. All other contributions would be luxury compared to this. We have a lot of students whom their
families find it extremely difficult to financially support.

Ninavu: In fact we do have a fund exclusively for the purpose of assisting such students. But we find it
difficult to locate genuine cases of those in need.

Principal: Being the Principal of the college, I come face to face with parents who struggle to meet ends, leave
alone provide for their children's education. There are lot of students who badly need assistance.

Alumni organisations in different parts of the world can co ordinate with CETAA in the campus. Mrs. Neena Thomas
is the current secretary.

Ninavu: We sure would contact her and pursue this matter further.
Thank you for your valuable time, in the middle of a busy day.