Pokhara Engineering College, affiliated to Pokhara University, is one of the leading engineering colleges in Nepal. Currently, it offers Bachelor of Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Bachelor of Architecture qualifications.
Rojana Shrestha is the Principal at Pokhara Engineering College. Her continuous efforts with teamwork have escalated the renown of the college to greater heights. The college focuses on individual care and exploration of individual talents. ‘The college leaves no stone unturned while maintaining a congenial academic environment and providing facilities to students’, she claims. She has shared her view with College Readers. Excerpts:
Pokhara Engineering College offers engineering education of Pokhara University which are available in other institutions too. What are the appealing features of your college so that students pursue these courses in your college?
Pokhara Engineering College is a top-notch private college affiliated to Pokhara University.It has been promoting engineering education and developing careers of students for the past several years. It offers an array of courses in various levels. Its diploma programs (sub- overseer and I.E.) are run under the affiliation of CTEVT, and its B.E. (Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Arch. Engineering, Civil Engineering) are run with the affiliation of Pokhara University. The college has adopted international standards and modern methods of pedagogy to deliver the contents linking them with professional practices. The college focuses on practical orientation and imparts quality education through professional faculty. The college is situated at the prime location of Pokhara city. So, these are the major reasons that each college hopeful should pursue one of these courses in our college.
How are the prospects of these programs concerning employability in the global market? Could you please tell us about the employability status of your college graduates in the global economy?
Our college graduates have demonstrated an outstanding performance in the job market as well as in the field of entrepreneurship. Some of them hold leading positions in various private and governmental organizations within and outside the country. As far as I know, some of them have achieved top level of positions, up to secretary level, in the governmental post of Nepal Government and various fields of national glory. Similarly, many of them have achieved a huge success in entrepreneurship.
The University has neither included internship privilege for the students in the course nor has it made it mandatory. What’s your say about this?
Internship is a prerequisite for students which enriches them with empirical knowledge, life-skill, development of professional attitude, building of personal demeanor, and provision of gateways to opportunities along with certitude to handle the given responsibility. It provides the work experience that helps students put their education into practice and develop their leadership skills as well as implement knowledge into practice. So, it should be included in the course and should make it compulsory.
It is heard that there is a high dropout rate in engineering education in Nepal. In your view, what should be done to avoid this quandary?
It is a severe problem of engineering education in Nepal. In my opinion, the learners should develop self-study habit and devotion to their study. They should have strong commitment to be an engineer. Similarly, the college should also be responsible for providing proper environment to study engineering.
In your analysis, what are the strengths of Pokhara University?
Pokhara University has internationally acclaimed curriculums and credit-base education which can be transferred to a foreign college if any students want to pursue the same course in a foreign land. Moreover, it has timely revised and updated courses based on the demand of the market. It is the pioneer in introducing semester system which incorporates international evaluation system. Similarly, the University has focused on research and practical-based orientation.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic created maelstroms and turmoil against smooth running of institutions and compelled us to revive virtual teaching and learning activities. What strategic plans have you made to cope with such pandemic and other unprecedented epidemics that are likely to reoccur in the future?
In my view, it is not possible to conduct practical classes virtually. Engineering education incorporates drawing and field work which are not easy to demonstrate virtually. So, drawing is effective only through physical way of teaching, but theory subjects could be effective through virtual way with the use of power point. Hence, both physical and virtual ways of teaching and learning activities should be practiced as per the circumstances, but higher priorities should be given to physical teaching, especially to engineering education.
What message would you like to convey to the graduates of ten-plus-two programs?
I treat all the students as my children and convey them a message that they must choose the faculty and subject based on their own discretion to live an autonomous life. We have maintained academic excellence and good environment. If you have strong willpower to be a civil engineer, computer engineer, architect, electronics and communication engineer, you are warmly welcome to our college, we are fully committed to solidify your dream.
