Academic Support & Guidance

Changes happening in the world’s academic arena are drastic. As education transforms at a rapid pace, it is important for students to hone their skills and be prepared for any and all challenges that may arise. The advancements in technology and quick transfer of ideas and information have converted the world into a ‘global village’. The opportunities for growth and development have increased resulting in heavy competition, and the same intensifies when considering a highly populated country such as India. When students graduate from an institution, they must be trained to face the difficulties and work under pressure. The key to a successful future is being ready and willing to face problems and successfully overcoming them, for which mere subject knowledge does not suffice. Students need to be catered to and sharpened in all aspects. Keeping all of this in mind, the Alpha Engineering College has provided Academic Support and Guidance Programmes for the students to give them a head start and launch into their respective careers with confidence.

English & Foreign Language Development Cell

English is the library language of the world, the lingua franca that connects diverse people and helps them share ideas. This being the situation, it is vital that students are well-versed in English and are able converse with confidence. When opportunities to go abroad present themselves, language must not be a barrier. For this reason, Alpha Engineering College in Chennai has set up the English and Foreign Language Development Cell to impart speaking and writing skills in English, French, Japanese, Chinese and Spanish. Knowing foreign languages enable our students to present themselves well in the global arena and pursue their dreams successfully.

Minimum Learning Material (MLM)

Minimum Learning Material comes as a boon for students. It is an online support system that helps students prepare for the university examinations. It includes e-books for theory and practical papers (Anna University framed syllabus), key point summaries, question banks and lab manuals with sample results for revision throughout their study - which collaterally help during the crunch time before exams,.

Alpha Portal for Student Excellence (APSE)

Intended for the students and faculty, the Alpha Portal for Student Excellence is an online portal that enables them to access resources like MLM, material for placement training and preparation for competitive exams (GATE, CAT etc.) The students are given individual login IDs and passwords to access the portal during their stay at Alpha College of Engineering.

These unique features of Academic Support and Guidance place Alpha among the top engineering collegesin Chennai.

READING

                                                      

                                                   “All I have learned, I learned from books.”

                                                                                        Abraham Lincoln

Technology has made its way into every aspect of our lives, simplifying and alleviating it. With the giant strides technology is making today, it is almost impossible for us to ignore it. When it comes to education, technology is a god send. It makes sharing information easier, communication of ideas efficient and storing data effortless. These advantages of technology have sunk into us, especially the present younger generation such that the negative effects of technology are ‘pushed under the door mat’, making life without technology seem impossible. The popularity of technology has overshadowed the significance of books. Maintaining a fine balance between technology and the traditional methods of learning is of utmost important, especially when it has to do with education. Combining the time tested methods of education with the present day technology enables the students to learn effectively. At the Alpha Group of Institutions, the schools and colleges retain a healthy equilibrium between both, exposing the students to top notch technology and a galore of books.

The Alpha schools and colleges are equipped with libraries with books covering a range of subjects. The Central Library contains a collection of 14751 volumes of text books and reference books. It also contains national and international journals pertaining to engineering, science, technology, management and general studies. It is updated regularly with the latest publications. Books are categorised according to Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme. The Library is also well stocked with CDs, e-books, e-journals, and on-line databases and has ten multimedia computers with internet connectivity for the ease of the users.

At Alpha we encourage the students to go beyond prescribed text books, so that they gain all round knowledge and become worthy citizens. To facilitate this, our libraries have in addition to subject related books a good collection of reference books, educational journals, periodicals and newspapers. The peaceful and comfortable ambience of the libraries indeed make reading enjoyable.

The Structured Reading Program 

At Alpha, we follow a structured reading program that aims to make children accomplish significant reading levels by the age of six. Children innately have a great capacity to learn, all they require is to be led in the right direction and provided the right training by teachers specially assigned for this task.

The advantages of reading are far too many. A few of them are listed below to convert the non-reader to a passionate reader. 

Reading

• develops and exercises the mind.
• makes it possible to educate ourselves.
• develops the imagination, concentration and understanding.
• builds a store of background knowledge. 
• improves vocabulary and develops communication skills.
• relaxes the body and calms the mind. 

Happy reading!!

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Cleanliness

“Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct; they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them.” -Benjamin Disraeli

 The surroundings of a person reflect his character and personality. The cleaner his surrounding and personal hygiene, the healthier and happier his life will be. When an individual practices cleanliness it will automatically have an effect on the ones close to him and change them too. Keeping this in mind and with the motive of molding students into all round citizens who will take care of themselves and others, Alpha Group of Institutions, among the leaders of CBSE schools in Chennai, relentlessly pursues to inculcate the practice of hygiene among the students.

The greatest wealth anyone can posses is health. After all, isn’t that what one wants and aspires to maintain? Every action one carries out is aimed towards better living. The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the education we get etc. are all paths toward a healthy and holistic life. Healthy life can be achieved by two means. The first is by taking actions to obtain the necessary requirements and the second is by taking required precautions to protect ourselves. Cleanliness falls under the category of precaution. As the monsoon season begins, it is essential for us to keep in mind a few safety tips to avoid falling sick. With our city getting slight drizzles over the past few days, the possibilities of viral fevers, infections etc. are on the rise. It is essential to keep safe during this season as many airborne diseases revive. Children are prone to these diseases as they are more vulnerable.

The following are a few tips for all, especially children to practice and avoid falling sick:

• Wear / carry a raincoat
• Carry an umbrella
• Handkerchief – When coughing or sneezing, use a handkerchief. This would prevent the spread of the virus to others.
• Drink warm water
• Keep your hands clean – wash your hands with soap and clean water as much as possible because the hands are the greatest carriers of virus and infection.
• Dry off immediately if you get wet in the rain
• If you wear shoes, carry an extra pair. / Better to wear rain shoes.
• it is advisable to wear sandals during the rainy seasons.

Stress Free Studying

Studying! The one word, at the mention of which children begin to groan, get headaches and stomach aches out of the blue. Why does studying bring such aversion? After all, is it not fun to learn new things every day? While children are naturally curious and have eager minds to learn, it is about how they are taught and the ambience that surrounds them that makes the difference.

Studying has gone past the ideals of gaining knowledge and wisdom and turned into an act of rote to obtain marks and top the class with no real learning. While studying is important, it is also essential that it takes place without stress.

At Alpha Group of Institutions, our teachers and professors make studying stress free and reduce anxiety in the classrooms, providing stress free education and setting the perfect platform for all round learning.

Here are a few tips for school and college students to follow, which can make their learning efficient and effective.

Prepare a schedule: Keeping a schedule and following it helps utilize time wisely. It also helps to keep track of how far one has come and how much further one has to complete in the syllabus. Schedules eliminate the possibility of sudden panic attacks related to homework, exams and completion of syllabus.              

Allocate a place: Assign a selected spot where you study. Make sure it does not have any distracting elements in its vicinity and is quiet and secluded.  

Reading: Cultivate the practice of reading. It helps acquire and retain information. Remember that it is about understanding and not merely memorizing.     

Note taking: Taking notes is an important aspect of studying as it is helps the students recollect what was taught in class. There may be some points shared by the teacher or peers in class which the text books do not contain. The main topics and important points will be highlighted by the teacher in class and the notes taken in class help while revising and especially while preparing for exams.

Be involved in class: Do not hesitate to ask questions. When you have doubts, clear it immediately. This will eliminate confusion leading to stress. Participate in the activities and exercises in class.    

Revision: Revise what you study every day. This refreshes your memory and keeps you updated.

Maintain a healthy diet, exercise and get good sleep. A healthy mind will be possible only when the body is healthy. Studying well and getting the desired results is not about working hard, it about working smart. 

Introducing the Pre-Engineering Program in Schools

Although it is evident that education can transform lives, does it lead to employment is a question that we have to analyze.  In the engineering field it is the same scenario, while there are many degree holding engineers it is difficult to find one with the necessary skills equipped to work in a global market place. The root of the problem lies in school education; it fails to impart foundational skills to succeed in technical education.  Another added problem is the knowledge of English. In schools, students studying in English medium or any other medium for that matter are told to ignore the languages and concentrate on science and maths. When they come to study technical education where most of the books are in English they face difficulties.

This is where the Pre-Engineering program comes into play. There can be a program that teaches the foundational skills necessary for students to make the necessary transition from school education to engineering stream. Some of the core skills necessary are communicative English, computing skills and mathematics. Without a firm grasp on these areas students will find it difficult to keep pace with engineering education and lose the opportunity of transforming their lives for the better.

The first and foremost area in which engineers need improvement is their ability to communicate in English. This helps them in their presentations, writing assignments and gives them the confidence to face the exams boldly.  It also helps when despite their technical knowledge they don’t have the skills necessary to perform in interviews and GDs.  Secondly knowledge of computers is a must in today’s education scenario and work.  Students from rural background still lack the necessary skills when it comes to using a computer, so providing special computer education is a must. Thirdly engineering education cannot be complete without the necessary mathematical ability.  This will help them strengthen their understanding and application of math principles in engineering.  A Pre-Engineering program introduced in schools will help students emerge as better engineers at the end of their engineering education. Alpha College of Engineering is among the top engineering colleges in India offering quality engineering education. It belongs to the Alpha Group of Institutions having more than five decades of experience in the field of education and a leading education groups in India. 

Scope of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest and broadest branches of engineering.  Mechanical engineering applies the principles of engineering, physics and material design for the design, production and operation of machinery. Mechanical engineers have to deal with concepts such as mechanics, thermodynamics, robotics, kinematics, structural analysis, fluid mechanics and many others. These concepts are applied in designing state of the art manufacturing units, automobiles, aircraft, aerospace parts and industrial machinery.

 Mechanical engineers also help develop various engines, power plant equipment, heating and cooling systems, in short from simple to complex machinery. They are also involved in the testing, maintaining and manufacture of mechanical systems. The current scope of Mechanical engineering is expanding beyond its traditional boundaries to areas like nanotechnology and biomedical applications.

Mechanical engineering field has a healthy growth rate every year with plenty of job opportunities. Another advantage of mechanical engineering is that once you have done a B.Tech in Mechanical you can opt to specialize in other areas like aerospace, automotive and many such fields. It you are interested in R&D you can get employed in many public/private research organizations. With the rapid expansion in the industrial sector, the demand for mechanical engineers is ever increasing.

Industries/Companies who hire mechanical engineers:

•           Automobile and auto part manufacturers
•      Aerospace industry
•      Aviation companies
•      Steel plants
•      Thermal plants
•      Air conditioning and refrigeration industry
•      Shipping industry

Mechanical engineers have employment opportunities in both private and public sectors. Government sectors like Defence, PWD, Railways etc hire mechanical engineers. There are umpteen private companies that hire mechanical engineers, SIEMENS, L&T, Tata Motors etc are some of the big private firms to name a few. There are also equal opportunities outside India.

Alpha College of Engineering is one of the top engineering colleges in Chennai offering Mechanical Engineering and other branches of engineering. The college has got university rank holders and the best infrastructure offering quality engineering education. Alpha also offers the B.E Plus program. It is a part of the engineering program and students get trained in the best industry practices in parallel to the engineering program. It provides exposure to the students about the happenings in various industries through institute-industry collaboration.

Challenges in Management Education in India

In this rapidly changing global scenario, management education needs to be constantly updated. 

Some of the challenges in management education in India today and some suggestions to address them are:

Management education in India emphasizes mostly on theory while practical education lags behind. When it comes to engineering education the theoretical facts can be verified by experiments in laboratories. Similarly management education needs to focus on case study driven methods to ensure the necessary takeaways for its students. 

It is also necessary for students to have some industry experience which enables them to relate more to what is being taught in the classroom. Unfortunately this does not work in many cases as most students pursue their education KG to PG without any break. This not does not give them the necessary industry exposure and they find it tough to digest the management courses being taught.

Most of the management education across the globe is case study driven and the educators in the field have a blend of industry, research and consultancy experience. The educators are able to share their industry knowledge with students. With the existing gap between industry and academia, India lacks such educators (or at least in lower rung colleges).

Techniques to Ensure Quality Management Education:

• Interact with the industry and find their pulse before crafting management curriculum
• Encourage students to interact with industry to meet the industry expectations
• Make sure the faculty have diversified experience including industry, research and consultancy experience
• Providing team education in classroom where two educators, one from industry and another from teaching teach together. It helps student connect theory with practical knowledge

Alpha College of Engineering is among the top engineering colleges in Chennai offering management degrees as well. It offers MBA with four specializations HR, Finance, Marketing and Systems Operations. Alpha places great emphasis on developing strong links with the industry through joint programs, invited lectures and workshops. An MBA also gives you a variety of career opportunities and if you are an engineering graduate it gives you more chances to switch to a managerial position and move up the corporate ladder quickly.