Create Your Future through Impactful Projects
Session by Hemant GADGIL as part of Webinar Series “To Guide Engineering Students to select meaningful projects”
निश्चित्वा यः प्रक्रमते नान्तर्वसति कर्मणः ।
अवन्ध्यकालो वश्यात्मा स वै पण्डित उच्यते ॥
Meaning:
Whose endeavors are preceded by a firm commitment, who does not take long rests before the task is accomplished, who does not waste time and who has control over his/her mind is wise.
Above Shloka correctly resembles a person who inspired our students during this session, Hemant GADGIL, Executive Director, La Fondation Dassault Systemes, India. He has 36 years of professional experience out of which 8 years in hard-core engineering and 28 years of IT Experience. He is very passionate in exploring and implementing new avenues and approaches in Education and Research. He likes to understand and adopt new technologies, which can be introduced in education and research domain. During his 14 years career with Dassault Systemes, he has handled many key responsibilities in the organisation, and he is credited with establishing strong Academia collaboration framework and effectively driving CSR programs with true spirit. When Dassault Systemes decided to launch La Fondation in India, Hemant was given this responsibility and during last 2.5 years of its operation, La Fondation Dassault Systemes has launched many innovative programs to facilitate Academia transformations to help our next generation students to be Industry Ready and Future ready.
With the COVID19 pandemic situation affecting entire world and creating uncertainty in students mind about their future and their career prospects; Hemant inspired students and Academia world to look it as an opportunity to make a difference, opportunity to explore out of box and innovative ideas and most importantly change the mindset by knowing that “They are the future of our Country” and they have to help the country to be Self-Reliant and make progress. Hemant appealed students and professors to look at themselves with this context “They are the FUTURE of India” and create an inspiring future by selecting appropriate projects.
Hemant elaborated 3 key parameters around which a big gap that exists between Industry and Academia, which needs to be bridged and these 3 parameters should be considered by Academia policy makers while designing the Academia Transformations: Pace with which Technological Advancements are happening in the industry, Need of multidisciplinary skills, and Change in the future learning approach – moving away from compartmentalized class room oriented teaching/learning to Open learning platform.
With that, Hemant emphasized need for strong Industry Academia Collaboration, Change in Mindset for adopting new technologies and learning patterns, willingness to make a difference. Hemant explained that La Fondation Dassault Systemes has taken a lead to play an important role of a facilitator for bridging this gap between Industry and Academia.
It was really motivating session for students and professors. Hemant guided students on the importance of their project, stating that well done project will open the doors for their career aspirations. Project provides important mechanism to students to demonstrate their talent and engineering knowhow and catch industry attention.
Hemant advised students about when they should start identifying the projects and how to start working on it. Hemant suggested that students should start building their portfolio for their dream career from 2nd year itself and should build their portfolio by careful choices about the elective subjects, mini projects, seminar topics and the major project.
Hemant provided very helpful tips to students on how to identify project ideas. He suggested look out for problems around and how students can solve those problems, look around for the needs of society or nearby areas / eco system; also explore industry problems through industry visits, social media platforms or webinars. In addition, while selecting project keep in mind that how you can apply your engineering knowledge, how you can make it simpler with good engineering application.
To inspire the students, Hemant shared many examples of inspirational and innovative projects done by students or some common people. Following are some examples
Tree Climbing Scooter developed by a Farmer – This helps people to climb on tall trees and get down fruits from that.
Lassi (Butter Milk) Distribution Machine – To distribute Lassi or Buttermilk in hygienic way and the same time making the work easy, in huge dining halls at different religious places or at functions.
Remote Operated Tractor – Developed by an engineering student Yogesh Nagar to help his father for farming. Such innovation will really help our Village eco system.
Referring to current COVID19 pandemic situation, Hemant shared some innovative project examples/ simple but very innovative ideas implemented by creative minds, to handle this pandemic situation. He quoted examples of Foot operated hand Sanitizer, Foot Operated Door Opener, Handy Disinfecting gadget, Attractive air filter for Nose and many more. He explained in the current situation there is huge scope of developing / implementing contact less operations, automations which will help people to be safe and avoid risk of getting infected.
Hemant also suggested Key domains to look out for future and preferably select projects from these domains.
On a concluding note, Hemant advised students to have clarity about their goals with well-defined vision, clear objectives for the project, outcome to be achieved through project, think about how the projects can be useful to society, aligning the project selection with their career goals and actual use of it in real world.
Hemant concluded his session with following remarks:
Future is bright. Of course we have a long way to go.
We need to take off. We cannot get bogged down because of challenges. We need to spread our wings and get into the air!
Get Ready for the Future!
Tomorrow belongs to those, who prepare for it today!
This session was attended by 1500+ participants from across India and generated lot of enthusiasm amongst students and professors. The Q&A session got extended to more than one hour, with lot of students, professors wanted to interact with Hemant and have his inputs/guidance.
This was yet another great session organized by La Fondation Dassault Systemes to guide students on how to “Create their Future through Impactful Projects”.