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Promoting innovation in teaching
Everyone loves a teacher with an infectious sense of humour. Looking at the lighter side of life not only fosters cordial relations between professors and students, but also provides welcome relief while trying to follow a difficult lecture on a complicated subject.
Humour comes easily to this scholarly professor who has done much for computer education and training, by writing more than 25 books on information technology and computers.
A teacher who believes intensely in educational innovation, Prof. E. Balagurusamy, Vice-Chancellor, Anna University, Chennai, speaks to A.A. Michael Raj on the shape of things to come.
WHEN THERE is a willingness to change, there is hope for progress in any field. "Creativity can be developed. Innovation benefits both students and teachers," he says.
At the Coimbatore-based PSG Institute of Management (PSGIM), of which he was the founder-director, Prof. Balagurusamy is remembered for his willingness to go off the beaten track and try out "new approaches, new systems and new philosophy" in teaching management subjects.
"I am happy to be able to work with young minds," he says. "I am going to exploit the concept of encouraging creativity, by giving opportunities to students and nurturing them, so that the youngsters blossom and achieve."
Anna University is one of the largest in terms of "size, problems and complexities", he points out, and adds that he has often told college principals, "any problem that you can't solve, I can't solve either".
His name is a common one on the library shelves of many engineering colleges, for a number of his books on computers and info-tech are prescribed textbooks in colleges and universities throughout the country.
How did he find time to write all those books, besides managing his many duties on the academic side? "I usually can't write much in the daytime," he admits, "but I set apart time from about 8.30 p.m. to midnight, to write my books".
"I buy a lot of books and try to read every book on information technology. I have my own collection, and I go through everything so that I am up-to-date," he says. Among the books are 70 to 80 volumes by nationally and internationally renowned authors.
Asked what he considers his life's work, he says with a smile, "I am happy as a writer. I am happy to have served society through my books. That is my greatest achievement".
Incidentally, his books on "C", "C++" and "Java" programming languages are considered bestsellers among computer students in the country.
Prof. Balagurusamy says that he has set himself three main priorities as the Vice-Chancellor of the Anna University. He plans to upgrade the quality of engineering education, give a fillip to student development and provide web-based career counselling for college students. He intends to bring to bear all his experience in establishing a number of institutions and computer centres, and also his experience of serving on the boards of universities and organisations in India and abroad. Since 1991, he has been a consultant on expert systems, to the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation.
Stressing that the quality of teaching should not suffer because of the expansion of institutions, he explains his plans for Faculty Development Centres, to provide training to teachers on updating course content, upgrading knowledge and communicating better with young students.
On the future of information technology, his favourite subject, Prof. Balagurusamy has a lot to say. "There is a bright future for IT," he says, and points out: "Applications of information technology have not yet been fully exploited."
"When we start using IT in areas such as industry, trade and Government, there will be a lot of demand for IT professionals. There is a lot of potential, because Indian industry and Government are fast changing." He is confident that the crisis in the IT sector is only a "temporary setback". In just about two years, the IT sector was likely to revive, with more entrepreneurs in the arena, in areas ranging from IT-enabled services to application software. Embedded systems and bio-informatics were sunrise areas.
Commenting on his success in several areas of academics, the Vice-Chancellor, who has a doctorate in Systems Engineering, puts it in a nutshell: "I am successful because I have great people behind me, and great people around me."
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Thiruvananthapuram
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