Events & News Corner

Report on Guest Lecture by Dinesh Kumar K and Mr. Ramesh

Date: 21st March 2025

Event: Awareness Session on Design & Footwear Industry at Mahalakshmi Tech Campus

Introduction

On 21st March 2025, Mahalakshmi Tech Campus had the privilege of hosting a guest lecture on the Footwear Design and Manufacturing Industry, led by distinguished professionals Mr. Dinesh Kumar K and Mr. Ramesh from the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) .
The session aimed to broaden the understanding of students and faculty about the dynamics of the footwear industry, innovation in design, and career prospects.

Speaker Profiles

Mr. Dinesh Kumar K
Qualifications: B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, M.Tech in Footwear Science & Engineering (Anna University)
Experience: 21 years in footwear manufacturing, specializing in Lean Manufacturing, Design Thinking, and Productivity Improvement.
Achievements: Awarded Best Trainer by Tata International Ltd. for Lean Manufacturing Training. Experienced in training and development, and certified by IIT Madras in Industrial Engineering.

Introduction to the Global and Indian Footwear Industry:
An overview of the footwear market, its economic impact, and growth prospects.
The role of FDDI as an institution of national importance, recognized for its expertise in design and manufacturing.
The significance of Tamil Nadu as a hub for global footwear manufacturing and the state government’s supportive policies.
Design Thinking and Innovation in Footwear:
Explanation of Design Thinking as a creative, user-centric approach to problem-solving in footwear design.
Real-world examples of how innovative design influences consumer preferences and market trends.
Practical exercises on observation and inference to enhance problem-solving and creative skills.
Lean Manufacturing and Productivity Improvement:
Basics of Lean Manufacturing – eliminating waste, optimizing processes, and improving efficiency.
Application of Lean principles in footwear manufacturing to reduce production costs and increase productivity.
Real-life success stories of Lean Manufacturing implementation in top footwear companies like Farida Group and Tata International Ltd.

Material Science and Sustainable Production:
An overview of materials used in footwear production, including leather and non-leather alternatives.
Importance of sustainable practices and eco-friendly materials in today’s industry.
Discussion on advancements in biomechanics, prosthetics, and orthotics for specialized footwear.

Career Opportunities and Industry Collaboration:
Insight into FDDI’s academic programs like B.Des, M.Des, and Ph.D. in Footwear Design and Production.
Diverse career paths in footwear design, manufacturing, and research.
FDDI’s collaboration with top companies and its success in placing graduates in renowned organizations.
Examples of student achievements, such as international competition awards and research presentations.
Interactive Session:
The session concluded with an interactive Q&A segment, where students eagerly asked about career pathways, the future of sustainable footwear, and opportunities for research and development. The speakers shared practical advice and motivated students to explore entrepreneurial possibilities in the footwear sector.

Conclusion:
The guest lecture was an enlightening experience, providing practical knowledge and inspiration to the students. The insights shared by Mr. Dinesh Kumar K and Mr. Ramesh will undoubtedly help students understand the evolving landscape of the footwear industry and prepare for successful careers.

Prepared by:
Prof. Dr. Ushaa Eswaran
Principal, Mahalakshmi Tech Campus

Code Your Way to Success

Speaker: Dr. R. Bhargavi, Professor, VIT Chennai
Date: 21 March 2025
Venue: Mahalakshmi Tech Campus
Report Prepared by: Prof. Dr. Ushaa Eswaran, Principal, Mahalakshmi Tech Campus

Introduction:
On 21st March 2025, Mahalakshmi Tech Campus had the privilege of hosting a guest lecture titled “Code Your Way to Success”, delivered by Dr. R. Bhargavi, a distinguished professor from VIT Chennai. The session aimed to enlighten students about effective coding practices and the platforms available for enhancing their programming skills.

Session Overview:
Dr. Bhargavi shared various online resources and tools that can help students build a strong foundation in coding. These platforms include:

GitHub: For version control and collaborative coding.
Coursera: Online courses for coding and technical skills.
Spoken Tutorial: Government-endorsed platform for self-paced learning.
ChatGPT/Gemini: AI tools for understanding code snippets.
Kaggle: Learning resources, competitions, and real-world projects.
Scikit-Learn: For machine learning projects.
Google Colab: An accessible online coding environment.
FOSSEE: Open-source initiatives for engineering education.
CodeChef and HackerRank: Platforms for coding competitions.
Geeks for Geeks: A vast repository for coding knowledge.
LeetCode and NeetCode: Platforms for coding practice and interview preparation.

Key Takeaways:
The importance of starting early in coding and building a digital footprint.
The value of participating in coding groups and engaging in personal projects.
Insights on using AI tools like ChatGPT to understand complex code snippets.
Encouragement to join competitions to challenge and sharpen coding skills.

Impact and Feedback:
The session was highly informative, motivating students to explore various platforms and utilize them effectively. The resources shared by Dr. Bhargavi are expected to help students develop problem-solving skills, engage in competitive coding, and build industry-relevant expertise.

Conclusion:
Mahalakshmi Tech Campus expresses its gratitude to Dr. R. Bhargavi for her insightful presentation and hopes to foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation among its students. This session marked a significant step toward enhancing the coding culture on campus.

Prof. Dr. Ushaa Eswaran
Principal, Mahalakshmi Tech Campus

Report on Personality Development Certification Course

Date: 14th March 2025

The Personality Development Certification Course commenced today at Mahalakshmi Tech Campus, designed to enhance students’ personal and professional skills.

Designed and Delivered by Prof. Dr. Ushaa Eswaran, Principal, Mahalakshmi Tech Campus

Duration of the course – 10 weeks

The course covers the following modules:

Introduction to Personality Development: Nature vs. Nurture, importance of self-awareness.
Self-Confidence & Positive Thinking: Overcoming fear, growth mindset, affirmations.
Communication Skills & Public Speaking: Verbal/non-verbal communication, body language, stage fear.
Emotional Intelligence & Self-Management: Emotional control, stress management, empathy.
Leadership and Teamwork: Leadership qualities, teamwork, problem-solving.
Professional & Social Etiquette: Grooming, social manners, email etiquette.
Conflict Resolution & Negotiation Skills: Handling criticism, conflict resolution, negotiation.
Stress Management & Work-Life Balance: Resilience, mindfulness, healthy lifestyle.
Personal Branding & Career Growth: First impressions, resume building, networking.
The course includes role-playing, group discussions, and a final test for certification
The course aims to develop well-rounded professionals ready to succeed in their careers.

Prepared by:
Prof. Dr. Ushaa Eswaran
Mahalakshmi Tech Campus

Launches New Industry-Academia Initiatives

Dr. Ushaa Eswaran, Principal, contributed significantly to the meeting, offering invaluable insights to align the initiatives with the institution’s academic vision. Dr. Srinivas Gumparthi, Dean of Strategic Planning, proposed an incubation center to mentor student ventures,

Mahalakshmi Tech Campus is established to enrich its academic and industry collaborations. In yesterday’s (06.03.2025) meeting, key stakeholders discussed several forward-looking initiatives meant at preparing students for future technologies. Mr. R. Mageswar, Associate Vice President of TN Startup, suggested forming industrial research hubs on campus, nurturing collaboration between students, faculty, and industry experts in fields like AI&ML, cyber security, robotics, and sustainability. He also proposed establishing a Startup Studio to support student entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding, and collaborative spaces. The meeting also concentrated on increasing industry-sponsored internships and real-time projects to give students hands-on experience.

along with participation in startup challenges. Mr. Prince Packiaraj, Director, insisted on designing and developing laboratories to support research and industrial consultancy. These initiatives will support academic programs with industry needs, delivering students with essential skills for the demands of the job market. A task force will be formed to drive these projects forward, with a follow-up meeting scheduled to assess progress.