NIT

Director,NIT Trichy
I am pasting an interesting report from Nishant. Please go though and start discussions.

Campus Development Committee
The Campus Development Committee (CDC) is based on our discussions that we had with you in the Barn Hall while you had been discussing all the things needed to improve the campus with we final year students.
The CDC is a concept that 2 of our seniors tried at initiating in the campus last year but due to lack of support, the idea remained in the idea phase itself.
The CDC is a group of various groups inside the campus which aims at engaging students in constructive activities. There are many clubs in the campus but their activities are restricted and with an increase in the number of students and the various interests of them, we find that more than clubs , we need dedicated group of students who are engaged in activities which helps them to learn new things, better their communication skills, enhance their personality, provide them with various opportunities, engage them in inter disciplinary(departmental) activities and most important of all is to engage maximum number of students.
Students come here form various backgrounds and the Institute has to be a great learning place for them. Apart from Technical expertise, it must also provide for the overall personality development of all individuals.
Considering the student activities across many elite T-Schools across India and abroad, I find that there are many things that can be initiated and which can act as newer and exciting platforms for the fellows in the campus. This will provide them with newer learning experiences and larger than the existing domains for them to act.
The proposed student groups are:
1. Ideas Club
2. Astronomy Amateurs
3. Debating Society
4. Alumni Interaction Cell
5. Inter Departmental Societies
6. Theatre Group
7. Art Appreciators
8. Music of Mozart
9. Spiritual Science Seekers
10. Sociologist Association
11. Computer Literacy Society
12. Designing Enthusiasts
13. Film Making Group
14. Student Counsellors
15. The Research Newsletter
16. India Club
All these are explained in short as under:
1. Ideas Club
Ideas Club is a place where ideas flourish. Students have many ideas but they do not how to pursue it or about its feasibility. Everyone doesn’t know how to write a business plan and hence some of the very best ideas remain always dormant and never come up. There are few people working on these things inside in the campus but they are only FEW.
In order to provide an open interactive space to all the students in the campus to promote their ideas and encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship, this club is proposed.
It is based on the model of Ideas group in IITM and MIT , Massachusetts and the structure is very simple.
There is a group of students, one from each department, who sit regularly in Student Activity Centre for 2 hours on every alternate day or weekends i.e. 3 days a week based on suitability and need.
Any student fills a spread sheet on google regarding what they have to discuss in key words and meets these group of people and presents his/her idea. It is just an idea. The committee then discusses with the student and provides with all assistance and gives a form where the students fills the particulars.
It is then considered in detail and based on the possibility, it is presented to a concerned faculty and then to the Dean. Once approved, the group approaches college and other organisations for funds and the idea moves to implementation.
No money is involved, industry will be drawn in to set up various centers inside the campus where such activities can take place. The ideas group is responsible for bringing industry with the assistance of Institute.
2. Astronomy Amateurs
Astronomy Amateurs is a group which engages in the study of stars and space. This is a hobby group where a lab is set up with the telescopes and softwares to connect to the various astronomical socities and students study on these topics. It is based on the Astronomy Club IITKGP.
Further details are awaited.
3. Debating Society
Any premier school whether it is based on Arts, Sciences or Commerce has a platform where students can discuss on the contemporary topics and express their opinions. The proposed Debating Group is such a society. There are some activities inside the campus
but they are restricted to a few numbers and fests. We need an open platform and a large one to engage in fruitful discussions. Based on the Debating Society, IITKGP and Yale University.
4. Alumni Interaction Cell
REC has a proud group of alumnus. Many students qualify for conferences and seminars abroad and they are unable to attend due to financial constraints. They are also at very good positions, so there is a possibility of their companies setting up Industry sponsored centers of research and activities inside the campus.
We can also develop a mentoring mechanism for all the students based on the model of IITM or IIMB. Further details exist.
5. Inter Departmental Societices
This is the most important group as it will be responsible for generating interests among students for technical projects. For example, students can take up exciting projects which demand cross departmental efforts like developing a robot or making a control system for a mechanical computer which has chemical applications in manufacturing and production.
Many department students can identify a group project on semester and can come up with a fruitful product which can be presented at the semester end to all the faculties and students in an open CDC meet. This will provide encouragement to the students and boost confidence in them.
6. Theatre Group
This is a group of performing enthusiasts who want to engage in plays and express or spread a message for the students or nation. There exists a similar group in English but one in Hindi and Tamil can also be appreciated.
7. Art Appreciators
Painting and Sculpture making and other art forms for architecture especially. Training can be provided and certification can also be provided by professionals.
8. Music of Mozart
Students learn to play and sing classical music and instruments in this club. Certifications can be provided by the training academy.
9. Spiritual Science Seekers
Dhruva Club and like minded people who are interested can go for meditation and can organise guest lectures and enlightening sessions for the campus students. Professors and faculties have to play an important role here by talking to students and inspiring them.
10. Sociologist Association
Based on the sociology club in IITD for UPSC enthusiasts. Further details exist.
11. Computer Literacy Society
Seniors teach programming to first year fellows who have less idea of computers and come from state boards.
12. Designing Enthusiasts
Designing taught to juniors by the senior designers. Like MATLAB, AutoCAD, Pro Engineer, Uni Graphics, Solid Works free of cost.
13. Film Making Group
Students engage in film making, documentaries and training and certification is possible.
14. Student Counsellors
A group of students counsels the tensed group of students for morale boost up and puts them in a confidence level.
15. The Research Newsletter
One person per department is a member of this team and every 15 days updates the students regarding the newest developments in the field and research positions and work going on in the respective departments with the help by faculties.
16. India Club
Any member who comes to NIT Trichy automatically becomes a member of this group. The group comes out with a newsletter regarding the various aspects of India- its past, present and future and topics of development.
It also contains the inspiring stories and interviews of great leaders of business and society.
All the above mentioned groups do not involve costs. Any news letter that comes up can be circulated by email to everyone. Only in few cases, some infrastructural support is needed such as classrooms for discussion and debates, etc.
Please look into this matter and suggest your opinions. These will be like hobby groups , only a faculty advisor support and some encouragement is needed to initiate all these things.
To look into all these things, there will be a group leader and all group leaders will constitute one group council which can be chaired by the Director and Dean Students or anyone as the administration may consider. The council may meet at the end of every month for performance evaluation or discussion.
Based on your response, I look to take this ahead. Your feedback is awaited.
Thanking you
Nishant Mandal
Final Year Student Production Engineering 09894505985