Dr. N.V. Ramana Rao is the Professor of Civil Engineering & Principal of JNTUH College Of Engineering Hyderabad. His educational qualifications are B.E (OU), M.Tech. (IIT), Ph.D.(UK), Post Doc (UK).
Has 19 years of academic, research and industrial experience. He is recipient of commonwealth Scholarship, Commonwealth Fellowship, and Young Engineer Award of Institution of Engineer. He has done his Specialization in structural Engineering, FEM and shell structures analysis and design. Has published more than 40 papers in International and National Journals. Has done his Ph.D and Post Doctoral form University of Wales, Swansea, UK. He has organized several National and International conferences. He is a renowned expert in analysis and design of Bridges, Buildings and other special structures. He has been actively involved in several professional bodies. He has been the Chairman of the Indian Concrete Institute. AP Hyderabad.
‘Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement’
Have you ever wondered about this thing called competitive spirit? About how it surfaces in the least expected places? And of how it lies low in certain places, that seem to be its natural breeding ground. That you ought to have a competitive spirit to reach the top is an age-old mantra. Today’s competitors seem to have changed this age old mantra and defined terms the way they want. In this new world, competition is altogether different.
Fortunately or unfortunately, competitive exams have become a strict norm for selection to various professional courses in our country. Notwithstanding the demerits of such a system, competitive exams are a reality for the lakhs of students who appear for the exam every year.
In such a scenario, everyone wants to succeed. Success in these exams brings immense glory and confidence to the individuals, besides giving them a clear break into a career of their choice. However, seats are limited and not everyone who appears gets selected. This does not mean that those who are not selected do not deserve training in these courses. It only means that there aren’t sufficient seats to accommodate all the deserving candidates.
Keeping this background in mind, let us explore what it takes to succeed in these competitive exams particularly at competitive exams like EAMCET. Let’s hear the toppers speak, with inputs from experts like the Vice Chancellor of JNTU-H and the EAMCET convener. The Career Guide looks at the evolution of EAMCET in the last two decades, hassles it faced, its achievements etc with EAMCET Convenor Mr N.V. Ramana Rao….
Would you please give a brief overview on the JNTU-H with regard to EAMCET and overall development?
JNTU-H is fully equipped with a group of Directors for research and planning, we would now conduct an audit on the private engineering colleges’ performance. We also have a Director for Consultancy, one for Evaluation etc.
The recent success of Mission Tenex – which was Train the Trainers programme, inspired us to brainstorm for more modules like that to improve the efficiency of the staff and the receptivity of students. This had a straight impact on the employability skills of our students who otherwise are not really ‘industry-ready’. We were happy to have positive feedback from our students about the teaching of our faculty, which showed a marked improvement after Tenex.
How successful was JNTU-H with EAMCET?
EAMCET examination is conducted in a true spirit of competition and is absolutely transparent in the way it is formulated and conducted. Barring a few errors which are bound to happen when we are dealing with large numbers, aiming for perfection and meeting it too, was accomplished to a large extent. We also provide the OMR verification thus making it free and fair.
How did EAMCET evolve?
It has been a daunting task to handle such vast number of students, planning, administrating and executing. But over the decade, especially EAMCET has metamorphosed in terms of quality and quantity too. With the advancement of technology, basic operational functioning has certainly ushered its growth.
There has been multifold increase in the Engineering students compared to medicine. What could be the reason?
With engineering the results are almost instantaneous. We all know a software engineer or any engineer, for that matter is absorbed into a good firm if he/she has good capabilities, in the third year itself, which is not the case with medicine. Thus it is the brighter prospect which is more luring.
Another noticeable trend is the increase in the number EAMCET aspirants from low-income group. Why is this so?
As we all know students belonging to the low-income group face the stark realities and practical difficulties on a daily basis. If wanting to come of that is a major drive for some, some want to make it just to fulfill their dream of shining in academics. Whatever the reason it is heartening to see more and more students like Gouse Jani, this year’s topper—son of an auto rickshaw driver come up with grit and diligence. In fact all the top ten ranks have been bagged by students coming from very simple family backgrounds.
What is the driving force for these students?
These students have determined to settle down with nothing other than the best. They aspire to get into the best colleges with best facilities, scholarships and opportunities that fetch success in the long run. The reason could be attributed-largely, to the media upsurge. They have the whole world of careers and blueprint for a glorious future at the click of the mouse. Students today are seeing inspirational icons, make them their stars and love to emulate. They also know in the same breath, that there isn’t any shortcut to success and they have to burn the midnight oil, which they are willing to do. With such clarity and focus it isn’t surprising to see them achieve their goals.
Is this really a ‘fair play’ in the name of competition? Isn’t this creating stress?
Stress comes when we don not enjoy or like what we are doing, but if one knows the result of hard work I am sure he/she wouldn’t mind going through that. This is very much a part of their growing up, which is preparing them for the long run. To me the most appalling and damaging thing is the pressure which parents build on their children. In such cases students tend to lie, deploy foul play to escape the trying situations. Several times, we have caught students red-handed who have been forced to come into this.
Why is it that there are more girls in engineering than medicine?
This trend in the increase of girl students for engineering started after 2001, clearly because the number of seats in engineering is more as compared to medicine. It is glad to see more and more girls coming from rural areas too, come out with zeal to study and earn respect in the society. Medical Sciences take more years of education which means prime time of your life is passed slogging and not earning. Another pre-requisite is the specialty in medicine which is becoming mandatory after MBBS. Engineers have the luring job scope that includes good pay, globe-trotting, better social life and more free time on hand.
What is today’s trend in the EAMCET?
Earlier it was boys who used to top engineering, but this year it is the girl who topped the engineering stream. Clearly, gender or discipline (medical or engineering) is no issue; it is only the brains that matter not the brawns!
What is your take on the gruelling coaching at the tutorials or the coaching centers?
Corporate colleges insist on 24/7 practice, a student is almost cast into their mould and has to stick to their agenda completely, not allowing his or her individuality or intelligence to blossom. EAMCET is not application based, but theory based.
The peril of such a system is repetitiveness in practice could either dull the mind or churn out the intelligence. Again when the same students reach the professional course they tend to become lax and lackadaisical with their studies, as they feel they have won the marathon, while they do not know the actual race has just begun. At JNTU-H we foresee this and engage them in different activities that keep them busy through out the day. We also train them in Personality Development. We exposed them to different practical situations, which teach them life skills.
What do you think is the ideal age for the students to get into competitive exams coaching?
Ideally it must be in Class X. If the student is interested even before that, he/she may be allowed to pursue that. I would request the parents to be more aware of the avenues and opportunities today other than engineering and medicine. At JNTU-H we identify bright students coming from low income groups and see to it that their education is taken care. Also, today there are many organisations too who are willing to support economically backward students, in case they cannot afford huge fees.
In a competitive exam as I said, with the growing technology there is an increase in the cyber crime too, people attempt malpractices to have access to the paper, results etc. We would like to make the system more fool proof and user-friendly in future, thus making it easily available for the deserving candidates. We have to prepare ourselves very well before we plan to go completely online; we wouldn’t like the rural students to feel lost out with this.