TRANSFORMATIONAL LEARNING TO TRANSLATIONAL LEARNING: “Becoming the Ambassadors for Societal Transformation and Nation Building”

I. Transformational learning: Innovative pedagogy

• Service-learning is a flagship curriculum initiated by the School of Liberal Studies which involves credit-based 240 hours of community-based learning. (1500 students every year). Students are involved in a wide range of activities, which often benefit the community, while also advancing the goals of a given curriculum. Community-based curriculum activities are paired with structured preparation and student reflection. Proponents of academic service-learning feel that the real-world application of classroom knowledge in a community setting allows students to synthesize course material in more meaningful ways. Common goals achieved by service-learning include: gaining a deeper understanding of the course/curricular content, and an enhanced alignment with the Government policies, initiatives, and industry CSR activities. Outcomes: 1500 students every year with 3 to 4 weeks on the field with the community.
• Project-based learning: Although the entire nation has gone through the metamorphosis with online teaching and other teaching pedagogy, experiential learning, and project-based learning have been the most impactful teaching tool to increase student reflection on outcome-based learning. Outcome: More than 90 hours are invested in PBL per semester for this effort. 900 students benefited every year.
• Research-based learning: Students align with faculty in the research projects with specific objectives and with a time-bound exercise that gives learning skills in a time-bound fashion and brings the project to completion. Notably developing project reports and documenting for presentation gives wider skills for employability and to set an eye for Global competence. Outcome 470 students have received INR 2.1 Cr for the UG and PG research projects
• Capstone projects based learning: 642+ projects have been executed during the assessment period with complete mentoring from Industry experts. Such engagements directly give the mindset of the industry demands. These projects are the finishing school concepts that qualify students both for Industry and Higher studies. Outcome: 642 comprehensive projects
• Corporate internship: Students apply their scholastic learning by solving business, political, economic challenges through corporate internships in India and abroad. Outcome: 2500+ internships
• Startup and Entrepreneurship-based learning: Starting with Hackathon, securing IPR, and identifying investors for a business model, the university has a business ecosystem to groom ideas into reality. The synergy of our students is reflected in the elevator pitch made for funding & IPR documentation. Outcomes: 30+ sessions.
• Globalization: School of Liberal Studies provides leadership and a global outlook not only to the school but also to the entire university. The office of International Relations is committed to:

  Outbound Initiatives

  • International Exposure Programs: 30+ IEPs, 740 Students & 48 Faculties
  • Travel Grant Initiative: 950+ Students
  • Student Abroad/Exchange Programs: 18 Programs, 30 Students
  • AIESEC Outbound Programs: 350+ Students to 20+ Countries

  Inbound Initiatives

  • Study In India Program: 9+ SIPs, 100+ Students & 11 Faculties
  • International Admissions: 280+ Students from 38 different countries
  • Hosting International Faculties: 15+ International Faculties
  • AIESEC Inbound Programs: 350+ Students from 40+ Countries
• Mixed learning: Even before the pandemic, e-learning was nurtured at PDEU to appropriate 10-15% of the credits to be acquired online. Students across all schools have credited courses through all the approved online portals including Swayam/NPTEL/MOOC platform, EDEX: and COURSERA Outcome: 3000 students completed more than 22000 certificates.

II. Translational learning: Attaining Atmanirbhar Bharat in Energy through a “Triple Helix Model” - Government – Academia-Industry partnership worth INR 240 Crore out of which 120 crores during the assessment period.

To respond to the innovation for Industry 4.0, “Make in India” and Skill India initiatives are paramount challenges for Atmanirbhar Bharat. PDEU has developed a vibrant campus with advanced facilities and technologies in its campus. The way we achieve this need is through an intense collaboration that will bring Industry and Academia closer.

“Triple Helix Model”: Government – Academia-Industry partnership includes.

• International Automobile Center of Excellence (iACE) – INR 100 Crore: Maruti Automobile Center of Excellence (iACE) was developed by Maruti Suzuki India Limited in association with the Government of Gujarat and PDEU Through this facility 17 certificates, PG programs will be launched. In the areas of automotive manufacturing and automotive electronics.
• 1MW Solar Power Plant Integrated to the Grid besides 0.7 MW rooftop Solar. A fund of INR 44 Crore from Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA), for the establishment of the Solar Research Development Center (SRDC) on the campus. A ground-mount photo-voltaic (PV) 1 MW power plant is installed first of its kind in Gujarat with multiple technologies available at one place.
• The Siemens CoE in automotive is funded by the Government of Gujarat (INR 20 Crore), There are nine sophisticated laboratories for design and validation, Advanced Manufacturing, Test and Optimization, Automation, electrical and Energy savings, Process Instrumentation Mechatronics, CNG Machines, CNC Controller, robotics and Rapid prototyping which provide an opportunity for promising and prospective innovations.
• Centre of Excellence for Geothermal Energy (CEGE) funded by Gujarat Energy Development Agency, Government of Gujarat (INR 20 Crore), was founded in response to the quest for other new renewable energy verticals. PDEU has pioneered this work in all earnestness and has demonstrated till date a 40 kW geothermal working model at Dholera by empowering Swaminarayan Temple.
• Drilling Cementing and Stimulation (DCS) Research Center (INR 10 Crores) was established under the aegis of the Government of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC). It is in alignment with the “Make in India” vision of our Honorable Prime Minister.
• British Petroleum has granted INR 3.5 Crores towards Women in Technology in the year 2021 Shell Hazira 7.5 Crores for Digital twins, Green Hydrogen, Suzlon Chair for 1 Crore.
• Manufacturing Skill Development (INR 35 Crores) (the year 2020-2025):
  • 50 MW solar panel production line funded by GEDA will be commissioned by June 2022, 17 Crores.
  • Metal 3D printing for Avionic, Automotive applications with INTECH, 5 Crores.
  • Energy storage Fabrication: Redox flow batteries with V-FLOW TECH; 2 Crores.

PDEU acknowledges the mandate given by the Government and the Industry.