The Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, St Joseph Engineering College, Mangaluru, in association with IEEE SJEC Student Branch and IEEE Mangalore Subsection organized a two-day workshop titled “Innovate-2024: Turn Your Ideas to Reality'' from 13-14 June 2024 for the pre-final year ECE students of SJEC. A total of 133 students participated in the workshop. The main objective of the workshop was to provide the participants with an insight into ideation that would aid in selecting apt industry and socially relevant projects, planning its implementation, documenting the work and also introducing the ethical aspects to be considered. The workshop commenced with the inauguration at 9:30 AM at Spoorthi Hall. Chief Guest for the inauguration was Mr. Harish Neermarga, Founder and Managing Director, Accolade Tech Solution Private Limited, Mangalore. In his address he called upon creating a roadmap by developing a detailed project plan with milestones, timelines, and deliverables. He also stressed on the importance of converting the project into a product, and its significance in placement and employability related matters. The Director SJEC, Rev. Fr Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, Assistant Director SJEC, Rev. Fr Kenneth Rayner Crasta, Dr Rio D’Souza, Principal, SJEC and Dr Purushothama Chippar, Vice Principal, SJEC, Dr Dayakshini, HOD, Dept of Electronics and Communication Engineering, SJEC, were presided over the function. The workshop was coordinated by Dr Jennifer C Saldanha, IEEE SJEC Student Branch Counsellor, Mr Glenson Toney, Training Coordinator, Training & Placement Cell, SJEC and Dr Aldrin Vaz, Assistant Professor, Dept of Electronics and Communication Engineering, SJEC.
Day 1, Session 1: Ideation by Mr. Harish Neermarga, the Founder and Managing Director of Accolade Tech Solutions
In his speech, Mr. Neermarga emphasized the significance of selecting a proper project idea. He discussed various strategies for idea generation and the importance of brainstorming sessions to foster creativity and innovation among students. He also discussed some of the social relevant projects and developing a design plan for its implementation.
Day 1, Session 2: Literature Review – Strategy for Problem Statement Identification by Mrs Swathi Prabhu, Asst Professor, Dept of ICT, MIT, Manipal.
She offered a thought-provoking talk on how to conduct a literature review. One of the most important steps in the research and project creation process is developing a problem statement, and she offered a strategic framework for doing so. The goal of Mrs. Prabhu's seminar was to provide students the instruments that they needed to evaluate the body of literature in an efficient manner, which would help them formulate impactful and concise problem statements for their projects.
Day 1, Session 3: Effective Presentation and Documentation by Dr Aldrin C Vaz, Assistant Professor, Department of ECE, SJEC
He focused on creating effective reports using Word documents. The session provided detailed instructions on structuring reports, emphasizing clarity, coherence, and proper formatting. Key points included the importance of a clear introduction, well-organized body sections with headings and subheadings, and a concise conclusion. He advised on an effective way of using table of contents and reference section prominently.
Day 2, Session 1: Project Management Dr Binu K G, the Head of Strategy & Planning at SJEC.
He provided the participants with valuable insights on project management. He discussed the concept of a project, emphasizing that it is a temporary endeavour aimed at Project management. He introduced us to work breakdown structure and also the importance of the RACI chart. Dr Binu emphasized that every project should have defined goals, timelines, budgets, stakeholders, and a project manager to ensure its successful completion. The session concluded with an emphasis on the significance of choosing an appropriate academic project and initiating it effectively, which plays a crucial role in project success.
Day 2, Session 2: Converting Ideas to Block Diagrams Mr Vijay Ganesh, Assistant Professor, Department of ECE, SJEC.
The session provided a step-by-step guide on how to systematically approach problem-solving in engineering through the creation of block diagrams. The session started by emphasizing the importance of a clear problem statement. The session focused on realizing the needs of the customers or end-users. This step is crucial as it ensures that the final solution aligns with what the users requirement. The session then covered the process of compiling all the requirements and materials needed to fulfil the project's objectives.
Day 2, Session 3: Technical Paper Writing by Dr Dayakshini, HOD, Department of ECE, SJEC.
It was an enlightening guide on how to effectively convert engineering projects into publishable technical papers. The session covered the essentials of crafting a technical paper, deciding between conference and journal publication, and navigating the submission process. She first discussed the definition of research, emphasising its role in generating new knowledge and solving problems. It covered crafting a paper with key elements such as an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion..
Day 2, Session 4: "Plagiarism and Ethical Issues in research" by Dr Jennifer C Saldanha, Assistant Professor, Department of ECE, SJEC and Branch Counsellor, IEEE SJEC Student Chapter.
Session began with an explanation of plagiarism, defining it as using someone else's work without proper acknowledgement to the source. Various forms of plagiarism, including direct copying, mosaic plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and accidental plagiarism, were discussed. Strategies to avoid plagiarism included proper citation, using quotation marks for direct quotes, and paraphrasing effectively. Tools for checking plagiarism were recommended to ensure originality. Ethical clearance and issues related to integrity, honesty, and the consequences of unethical research practices were also addressed, highlighting the importance of maintaining ethical standards in academic and professional work.
Day 2, Session 5: Pitch it Right by Mr. Glenson Toney, Assistant Professor from the Department of ECE and the Training Coordinator of the T&P Cell at SJEC.
During the session, the resource person shared his experiences working on various projects and discussed the winners, solutions, and financial aspects related to them. Additionally, the session focused on the importance of pitching ideas, conducting research, collecting data, and finding solutions. Furthermore, participants were encouraged to create their product and give it a distinctive name, highlighting the importance of team naming. The timing of the project implementation, the development of a business plan, and financial projections were discussed as essential components.
