Engineering Education Research focuses on high-quality outcomes for the development of regional competition. The outcomes will benefit the students, industries and economy.

1. INTERDISCIPLINARY
RESEARCH ENGINEERING
EDUCATION (IDREE)
DR. V. THANIKACHALAM, B.E., M.TECH., PHD., MS., FIE., FIGS., FFIUCEE.,
FORMER PROFESSOR AND HOD, NITTTR, CHENNAI

2. INSTITUTIONAL VISION FOR TRANSFORMING
INTERDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING EDUCATION
• NITTTR Chennai envision to be a leading institute in promoting excellence in
Engineering Education by planning, designing., developing, implementing
and evaluating quality training programs, learning resources, research
studies and extension services for technical education institutions, industry
and community.
• Offering interdisciplinary research programs in engineering education
through PhD as an affiliated program of the University of Madras.

3. MY EFFORTS TO TRANSFORM ENGINEERING EDUCATION THROUGH
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION
• Guided 18 Research Scholars for PhD in interdisciplinary program under the
University of Madras
• AREAS of RESEARCH:
• Curriculum Evaluation
• Curriculum Design
• Institutional Development
• Educational Administration
• Environment Protection
• Human Resource Development
• Human Resource Management
• Women in Engineering Education

4. TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVES ALREADY
IMPLEMENTED IN INSTITUTION
• Published more than 75 papers in the journals and international conferences
• Provided Fellowships for the full time Research Scholars
• Guided Research Scholars from Engineering Colleges, Industry and Polytechnics
• Assisted the project states through Sponsored Research Programs
• Completed sponsored research projects under World Bank assisted projects and
submitted 25 research reports to the World Bank
• Trained the faculty members of Engineering Colleges in the Southern Region to
undertake Tracer Study of the alumni under TEQIP I and II.

5. CHALLENGES ME AND MY INSTITUTION ARE FACING IN
IMPLEMENTING THESE TRANSFORMATIONS
• Severe Shortage of Highly Qualified Faculty Members
• Lack of Recognition for the Interdisciplinary PhD Programs and
Master Degree Programs by AICTE
• Lack of funds for research from AICTE, DST, UGC and CSIR
• Lack of active Institute-Institute- Industry- Government-
Community- Partnership

6. INSTITUTIONAL PLAN FOR GOING FORWARD WITH
TRANSFORMATIONS
• Planning new interdisciplinary Postgraduate Programs in Emerging
Technology
• Training the faculty under the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and
Research Collaboration (SPARC)
• Planning to collaborate with International Faculty through US-India 21st
Century Knowledge Initiative
• Planning more diverse overseas faculty development programs in research
through various schemes of Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of
Finance, Colombo Plan Staff College for Technician Education, UNESCO’s Asia
Pacific Educational Innovation for Development and through various state
initiatives.