Engineering College and Alma Mater Connect

The involvement of alumni in supporting and providing contributions voluntarily to the engineering and management colleges is important for maintaining and expanding the development of a college.

JD College of Engineering and Management has started JD Alumni association. It has opened a new avenue for the growth, development and strong bonding with the institution. Hence, this is a potential for all alumni to contribute to the college in different ways and scale.

Role model and inspiration

Alumni are an effective role model and can be easily accepted by students. With the return of the alumni to support Engineering Colleges, they bring with them credibility and justification as part of a successful college. Experiences shared by the alumni with students whether in time management; financial management; development of self-discipline and character, or in career management serve as guidance and inspiration for students.

Career mentor

Competition in entering the workforce is becoming more intensive as a result of a higher number of graduates getting degree from colleges compared with a limited number of job opportunities. In the final year of their studies, students must identify seriously their career prospects. Therefore, alumni can be a reference for the faculty concerned in meeting the needs of students and graduates in obtaining work in selected fields.

Providing expertise

Besides that, the alumni can contribute by providing sharing their expertise in their occupation in developing new study programs at their respective college. Alumni can contribute as a guest lecturer, advisor in committees, industry experts and cooperative partners in projects with the College/university. This will improve the development of their alma mater.                                      

Opportunity to access professional development

When the alumni community is successful and obtains recognition from the corporate world, industry and the wider community. It can potentially create a stronger network as well as trust in the respective college. Also, they will assist younger alumni from the college/university to access opportunities in improving their careers and professionalism.

 

Conclusion

A good combination of the above-mentioned approach based on your institution’s vision will make your alumni feel part of their alma mater and motivate them to stay connected forever.

Alumni engagement should not be just about class reunions conducted once every year. If it has to be a long-lasting association based on trust and affection then the relationship must extend beyond seasonal events.

Simply spending time and money on engaging alumni through events will not serve any good. Colleges should come out with innovative ideas to bring alumni onboard. For achieving this, colleges are creating a culture of building a support system for its alumni network. This support system will then act as a propellant to fuel organic bond between the alumni and the college that will remain alive always.

About Author:

Ms. Vasundhara Malhotra is currently working as Training and Placement Officer at JD College of Engineering and Management, Nagpur. An Electronics Engineering Post Graduate, she has myriad interests encompassing Training, Placement, technology, gadgets, computers, business and entrepreneurship among others.

SWOT Your way to success!!!

Image Credit - https://research-methodology.net/theory/strategy/swot-analysis/

It is not uncommon to see that many people with bright academic records and competency in many other areas  lead a moderately successful life and others who are far behind when compared to the skill quotient doing extraordinarily well in life, making a name for themselves.

Should luck be blamed for this or is there anything else behind this?

Intellect and abilities are not the only factors, the presence or absence of which would make a person a success in his endeavors. How you make use of them makes all the difference.

Visualize a typical business meeting. A discussion, say, regarding the expansion of the business in a new area is being considered. Invariably the decision to go ahead would be taken after thoroughly analyzing the Strengths of the company, its Weaknesses, the Opportunities present and the Threats or limitations associated with the particular proposal.

The analysis of this sort is known as SWOT analysis and is sometimes known as TOWS matrix.

Not only businesses, but individuals can also fruitfully use this technique to plan a suitable strategy for a successful future. 

Identifying your strengths and weaknesses is the first step towards making progress. Bill Gates had a practice of asking his prospective employees to mention their significant failures. He says ‘If you cannot identify your failures you cannot understand the elements of success’.

 In many interviews students are asked to identify their strengths and weaknesses.

While your strengths and weaknesses are the internal factors, there are many external factors which may favor or obstruct you in your efforts. The favorable external factors are called opportunities and the unfavorable ones are known as threats. For example, the boom in the online retaining   industry has resulted in lucrative investment or job opportunities which are the opportunities available. The difficulties arising due to stiff competition can be considered as a limiting factor (threat).

What   after SWOT?

• You can build upon your Strengths and exploit them to your advantage.
• You can make efforts to overcome Weaknesses or choose such activity which won’t be affected by them.
• You can grab the Opportunities and derive benefit out of them.
• You can thwart the Threats or limitations or face them efficiently.

In this way, you can have a sure plan to move ahead.

When can you use this tool?

Choosing a course:

SWOT analysis is a must before choosing a course to pursue after high school. Ideally, the process should start a few years before the school final. The parents’ role is very crucial at this stage.  Identifying the interests and capabilities as well taking into account the limitations of the youngster would help in choosing the suitable course for them instead of blindly following the beaten path.

Choosing your Career Path:

Generally, the question of choosing a career path should be considered at the stage of entering college. SWOT analysis by the student at this stage would be of great use to him to choose a suitable course for further education. He can also look for a suitable job once they know their competency zone.

Aspiring for career advancement

It’s not end of the game once you got the job. You need to be on your toes to make a significant contribution and make an impact. Further advancement in career would also depend on how well you encash your strengths and opportunities and overcome your weaknesses and threats.

Switching to another job:

Decisions to switch the job require thorough understanding of your capabilities and your ability to prove yourselves in the new circumstances. You may face with a dilemma when your existing employer offers you a better package in order to discourage from leaving the company. A simple SWOT analysis will show you the correct way.

Starting a venture

SWOT is indispensable in case you give a thought about starting your own business. It will help you gauge your preparedness and ability to take risks, the very essence of entrepreneurship.

So, SWOT your way to success as Albert Einstein said, “you have to learn the rules of the game; then you have to play better than others”

About Author

Dr. Swarnalata Philip is Head, Department of Management Studies in JDCOEM. She has served in a nationalized bank for eighteen years and has a teaching experience of fourteen years. Her areas of interest include Corporate Finance, Equity and Derivative Markets and Behavioral finance. She is also interested in creative writing and has written many articles for newspapers.