These are the slides of a talk given to the first year students admitted to M E S College of Engineering Kuttippuram on 5th Aug 2014. Hope some things will be useful to the young students who see this.

1. 1
SOME TIPS FORSOME TIPS FOR
SUCCESS IN ENGINEERINGSUCCESS IN ENGINEERING
STUDIESSTUDIES
Prof Mohandas K P
Dean Academic & Professor EEE
(email id: kp.mohandas62@gmail.com)

2. Overview
 Professional education difference from others ?
 What is Engineering?
 BTech course contents -an overview
 Different types of classes you attend
 Common methods of study
 Difference between courses
 Evaluation and Assessment -Examination tips
 How to do well in Examinations
 What to do on a regular basis?
 Extra academic activities & involvement
 Modern Marvels in Engineering
 Summary
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3. Professional Education
Different professional courses
Engineering, Medicine, Law, Architecture. etc
Difference between Profession and Occupation?
Professionals are trained rigorously to enable them to
practice their profession themselves
Some professions require
Registration for practicing the profession
Indian Medical Council (IMC) registration- Doctors
Council of Architecture(COA) registration -Architects
Enrolment for lawyers etc
Success in profession achieved through experience,
commitment and hard work
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Success in Engineering Studies
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4. What is Engineering?
 Definition:The branch of science and
technology concerned with the design,
building, and use of engines, machines, and
structures.
 Engine, in general means – any device or
equipment used
 Engineer is a creator or builder
 What you learn in Engineering is essentially:
 Mathematics + Applied Sciences(Physics)
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THE SUBJECTS YOU STUDY INTHE SUBJECTS YOU STUDY IN
B TECH COURSE INB TECH COURSE IN
ENGINEERINGENGINEERING-- AN OVERVIEWAN OVERVIEW

6. Approx distribution of Subjects
in B Tech course
 Mathematics 10%
 Sciences (Phy, Chem) 8%
 Humanities 8%
 General Engineering 25%
 Special Engineering 49%
 Total number of courses 54
 Theory : 70% Practical: 30%
 Every semester : 6 theory + 2 practical
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7. Teaching and learning through
 Theory class - Class room lectures/videos
 Workshop sessions
 Practical classes
 Seminars and group discussions
 Project work
Mini projects in second & third year
Major project (final year)
Internship ( not usually arranged by college)
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8. Remember these always
 TELL ME I WILL FORGET
 SHOW ME I WILL REMEMBER
 INVOLVE ME I WILL LEARN
 You cannot LEARN without INVOLVEMENT
 ENJOY LEARNING
 MAKE LEARNING A PLEASURE
 UnlessYou are actively involved in learning
process no one can teach you
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9. Differences from Arts/Science
courses
Sl No Particulars Arts and Science
colleges
Professional colleges
1 Class hours 10AM-4PM (6hrs) 8AM-400PM ( 8 hrs) OR
9AM-430PM(7 ½ hrs)
2 Study
through
Lectures and
Labs (science streams)
Lectures, Practical, Project
work, Seminar, Workshop
3 Extra study Mostly reading Computers and Internet
Online courses ,Video
lectures
Expert lectures
4 Evaluation End of the year or
Semester
Internal + External
Continuous Evaluation
during semester and End
Semester Evaluation
5 Attendance 60-70% (not strict) Minimum 80%
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10. How to conduct your self:
Theory Class
 Attend the lectures carefully
 Make notes after understanding
 Do not simply copy from board, be involved
 Request the teacher to explain further if you
have not understood, you have a right to
understand
 Interact- ask questions if you don’t understand
 Teachers will be happy to answer your
questions
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11. After the class – at home/ hostel
 Spend at least half an hour at home for
each subject every day
 Spend at least 5 minutes to review what
was discussed in the previous class
 Read books to clear doubts and improve
your understanding
 Revise at the end of the week
 You need not buy all the books, use your
library, it has almost all the books needed
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12. Skills in solving problems
 Engineering is essentially solving problems,
Therefore
 Do as many problems as possible in
addition to those done in the class
 Understand the worked examples, work it
out yourself closing the book
 Do as many of the additional problems ,
work out and check the answers obtained
with given answers.
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13. Examination System in Professional
courses (Affiliated colleges)
 Internal evaluation (30% in Calicut University)
Series tests (at least two, may be more)
Assignments (not necessarily ‘take home’)
Quizzes andTutorials
Continuous evaluation : every day you are being assessed
(practical classes every experiment is evaluated)
End Semester Evaluation (70%)
Theory Question paper set by University
Practical Examination by Internal and
External Examiners together
Pass in a subject only on getting 50% in internal+ end sem
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14. Practical Classes
Never miss it, if you miss, make it up at the
earliest
Prepare before going to the class by reading
the theory and significance of the experiment
Carefully note down observations
Do record anything special that you observe
Analyze the results and make inferences if
necessary discuss with friends and teachers
Try to do experiments in innovative way
 Write your record yourself, NEVER COPY
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15. ASSIGNMENTS AND TUTORIALS
 Assignments given are not always ‘take home’
Do your assignment by yourself or after
discussion with friends
NEVER COPY from others
You are doing harm to yourself by copying
Tutorials
Work out the tutorial problems with your
friends and compare the answers
After studying the worked examples, do the
exercise problems, check your answers
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16. Project Work/ seminar
 Choose a topic of your own interest with
guidance from teachers
 Discuss with your batch mates what each
other has read on the topic
 Use internet to update your knowledge
and share with others
 Make a feasibility study before finalizing
 Check the availability and cost of
components to be procured
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17. Other methods of study
 Video lectures by eminent professors from
on line courses ( MOOCs) on internet
 Discuss the topics being presented
 Discussion on study topics with friends
 Always be observant and watchful for new
information relevant to your study
 Analyze the Engineering content in any
news
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18. Attendance requirements
 Many Universities require 80% attendance
to take the University Exams
 Up to 10% shortage can be condoned on
medical grounds once in the four year course
 Shortage of attendance will result in
repeating the course by rejoining at the
beginning of the even or odd semester
 In any case you will loose an year, not
semester
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19. Promotion to higher semesters
 Earlier those who could not complete first year in
two chances had to leave once for all.
 Now, in Calicut University Promotion toTHIRD
year requires complete pass in FIRST year.
 Promotion to FOURTH year requires pass in all
papers of FIRST & SECOND years to be passed
 Please note supplementary exams conducted
only once in an year.
 Never accumulate back papers as moving
forward looking backward is difficult
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20. To do well in examinations?
 Of course there are no short cuts
 Hard work and good preparation will bring you
success.
 But some tips for our present system of exams.
 Do not rely too much on your memory.
 Engineering cannot be learnt by-heart
 Analyze and remember your answers logically.
 Learn derivations by writing it again and again
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21. University Exams how to score ?
 Collect the University question papers of the previous years
and work them out. It is available on our website.
 While answering questions in examination :
Give illustrative figures wherever possible.
Check the answers of numerical problems carefully .
High light the important points
Carefully manage your time effectively so that you
will be able to answer all questions
Answer short answer questions numerical problems first
Descriptive questions later
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22. Communication skills
 While you are good in
technical knowledge ( hard skills),
you should also develop your soft skills
Soft skills - communication skills
Language skills : Read,Write, Speak
Presentation skills
Leadership qualities
Interpersonal skills group discussions
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23. Opportunities for developing soft
skills
 Involve yourself in extra academic activities
 Join professional societies like IEEE, ISTE
 Involve and organize activities in
 IEEE, ISTE etc
 EnergyConservation Society
 National Service Scheme
 This will help you in doing well in
 Placement in the final year
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24. Success is yours
 If you are regular in your studies
 Attend all theory classes
 Study subjects taught everyday
 Never miss your practical classes
 Do your assignments yourself
 Revise topics regularly & before tests
 Then you will get high internal marks
 Prepare well for End semester Examinations
by answering previous university questions
 Improve your communication skills gradually
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SOME OF THE GREAT MODERNSOME OF THE GREAT MODERN
STRUCTURES MADE BYSTRUCTURES MADE BY
ENGINEERSENGINEERS

26. Euro-tunnel between England-France
 The longest underwater tunnel in the world between Folkston
(England) and Calais(France) 50 kms long with 36.8 kms under water
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27. 30 St Mary axe London (2003)
One of the world most energy efficient building
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28. Lake Mead, Nevada/Arizona-USA (1935)
 Largest reservoir in the United States
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29. Burj Khalifa - Dubai
 The tallest man made structure in the world ( 824 meters)
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30. Kingda Ka Roller Coaster, New
Jersey
 World’ fastest (204kmph in 3.5 sec) and tallest (139
meters) roller coaster
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31. Petronas tower Kualalampur (1998)
 Second tallest (452 meters) twin building in the world
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32. Qinghai-Tibet Railway,China/Tibet (2005)
 Highest Railway track in the world at a height of 5081
meters above sea level
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33. Burj Al-Arab Hotel,Dubai,UAE
(1999)
 Tallest operational hotel ( 300 meters)
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34. Three Gorges Dam, Yangtze River,
China (2006)
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World’s largest hydroelectric power plant with a capacity
of 22.5GwYear completed: 2006 Claim to Fame:

35. Akashi-Kaikyo or "Pearl" Bridge,
Kobe City, Japan (1998)
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World's longest suspension bridge (3840 meters))

36. Karakoram Highway Pakistan/China
1998
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)
Highest paved road in the world (1290kms long,
elevation 4.8 kms at the highest point

37. "Bird‘sNest”Stadium, Beijing, China
2008
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World's largest steel structure (41 kms)

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LEADING A TEAM THATLEADING A TEAM THAT BUILDSBUILDS
ANOTHER MARVEL IN ENGINEERINGANOTHER MARVEL IN ENGINEERING
FOUR/ FIVE YEARS FROM NOWFOUR/ FIVE YEARS FROM NOW
LET US HOPE AT LEAST A FEW OFYOU WILL BE

39. THANK YOU AND
WISH YOU WELL
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