SRM-AP All News
ALL News
- UDGAM 2023: Compete, Connect and Conquer April 21, 2023
The highly anticipated three-day national-level sports fest, UDGAM 2023, of SRM University-AP, was filled with great excitement and enthusiasm as 191 teams from 14+ universities across the state competed in various sports events. With a total player count of over 800, UDGAM 2023 proved to be an excellent platform for athletes to showcase their skills and sportsmanship.‘‘Next year, we want to scale up UDGAM to make it one of the major sports fests in the state, which gathers students from different universities for their competitive spirit and allows them to learn from each other. Because if we are physically fit, we can focus on academics”, said Prof. Manoj K Arora, Vice Chancellor, SRM University-AP, while inaugurating the closing ceremony. He also congratulated all the students for their passionate participation.
UDGAM is an annual sporting event of SRM University-AP that brings together students, faculty, and staff from varsities across the state to participate in competitions and showcase their athletic abilities. Cricket, Volleyball, Football, Basketball, Powerlifting, Rope skipping, Tennis, Table-Tennis, Athletics, and many more competitions were the highlights of the fest. KL University, VIT-AP University, and SRM University-AP were the most awarded universities of the sports fest. RVR & JC College of Engineering won the Cricket match, and KL University won the Football finals and Women’s Volleyball.“The event was a huge success, and the students were offered a great opportunity to showcase their talent and sportsmanship. Students across the state participated in the fest despite the scorching sun, making our first sports fest a milestone for the future batches”, said student council president and a national-level tennis player G K V Manikanta.
Prof. D Narayana Rao, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, SRM University-AP; Dr R Premkumar, Registrar, SRM University-AP; Dr Vijay Kumar Upadhyay, Director- Sports, SRM University-AP; and Mr Pankaj Belwariar, Director of Communications, SRM University-AP were also present at the prize distribution ceremony.
Continue reading → - Agricultural Utility Vehicle: Patent Granted to Inventors from the Department of EEE April 19, 2023
Conventional agricultural utility vehicles used for crop cultivation involve complex operations such as ploughing and seeding, require trained personnel, and are expensive and not affordable to many farmers, especially in developing countries. Thus, there is a need for an agricultural utility vehicle for carrying out crop cultivation activities that alleviate the drawbacks of conventional practices.Researchers at the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering have been granted a patent for an invention entitled An Agricultural Utility Vehicle for Crop Cultivation Activities (Application number 202241051059). Assistant Professor Dr Somesh Vinayak Tewari and his students Gundrevula Sisir Srivastav, Kolisetty Jayanth, Tempalli Pallavi Sri, and Jayana Keerthi Tanvita have accomplished this milestone through their dedicated research.
Abstract
The present disclosure discloses an agricultural utility vehicle (1000) for carrying out crop cultivation activities comprising a framed structure (200) having wheels configured to be driven in an open plot of land. An agricultural implement (400) is configured to be attached to the vehicle. An electric drive system (100) is configured to drive the framed structure, and a battery (300) is coupled to the electric drive system to provide power.
Continue reading → - Site visit to Railway Project April 18, 2023
The Department of Civil Engineering has organised the third industrial visit to the ongoing railway project, “Construction works of 3rd railway line between Vijayawada and Gudur”. The tour was arranged with the support of Mr Basha, AGM, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and coordinated by Mr Lakwanth Singh Khalsa, Project Manager, Systra, India. The field visit was guided by engineers from Systra and GR Infra (GRIL) working on respective sites and coordinated by the faculty.
Visit Highlights:
- Construction activities of Railway Under Bridge (RUB) at LC225: Understanding the difficulties due to black cotton soil and water seepage, diversion works of existing natural streams of irrigation channels, dewatering and pumping arrangements, alignment challenges, and girder design challenges.
- Erection of Foot Over Bridge (FOB) at Chirala Railway Station
- GRIL Laboratory Camp: Batching plant, Ready Mix Concrete, Quality Control tests, Concrete Permeability Test, etc.
- Steel Bridge at BR. NO. 612: Procedure of fabrication, inspection, and erection of girders, components of the girder, etc.
- Railway Formation: Earthwork, Blanket, Tests to be conducted at the site, and Method of laying.
Coordinating faculty: Dr A Uma Maheswar
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- ‘New Beginnings’: Launch of Executive MBA Programme and Business Fest -“AMEYA 2k23” April 13, 2023
The Paari School of Business, SRM University-AP, has launched a brand-new management programme, the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA), for working executives and businesspersons to upgrade and upskill their knowledge in the domain of business and management studies. The School also inaugurated AMEYA 2k23, the first edition of the Business Fest, aimed at students of management to showcase their skills in business studies and entrepreneurship. Chief Guest of the event, Dr Nagendra V Chowdary, Vice President – Academic Content & ET Cases, Timespro, Division of Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd., launched the EMBA programme in the august presence of Honourable Vice Chancellor of SRM University-AP, Prof. Manoj K Arora; Registrar, Dr R Premkumar; Dean-Paari School of Business, Prof. Bharadhwaj Sivakumaran; and Head of the Department, Dr CA Mahalakshmi Mudliar.
“The first Executive MBA programme was launched at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 1943 that has since established itself as one of the finest Business schools in the world. I do not doubt that Paari School of Business will experience similar success and the EMBA programme at SRM AP will secure a deserving position in the QS and FT rankings in the years to come”, said Dr Chowdary. The Dean of the School, Prof. Bharadhwaj, provided a synopsis of the programme, detailing the objectives, course structure, facilities, and resources of the EMBA programme. “Earlier, we had launched the Directorate of Executive Education and Professional Studies (DEEPS). The inauguration of the EMBA programme is the logical corollary of the same, facilitating working professionals with an opportunity to master advanced skillset relevant to the industry”, stated Prof. Bharadhwaj.
The first edition of the B-school fest, AMEYA 2k23, was also inaugurated by Vice Chancellor, Prof. Manoj K Arora. “AMEYA 2k23 is an ideal platform for young entrepreneurs and budding executives to display their knowledge and skillset in management studies. The fest serves a dual purpose to the varsity – increasing the branding and visibility of our nascent university and the Paari School of Business, also while encouraging students to inculcate leadership and managerial skills, crisis management, and effective communication skills to mould them into competent candidates for the industry”, said Prof. Arora. Dr CA Mahalakshmi Mudliar delivered a brief overview of the significance of the Business Fest. Prof. Arora, along with the other dignitaries on the stage, honoured Chief guest, Dr Nagendra V Chowdary, with a shawl and memento as a token of gratitude. Mr Arun Prasad G S conveyed the vote of thanks.
Continue reading → - Best Oral Paper Presentation Award at AMCES – 2023 April 11, 2023
The Department of Mechanical Engineering proudly congratulates G Chandra Mouli, PhD scholar for receiving the Best Oral Paper Presentation Award at the International Conference on Advances in Materials, Ceramics & Engineering Sciences (AMCES – 2023) organised by Dayananda Sagar University, Bangalore, held during March 13-15, 2023. The paper titled “A New Approach to Enhance Microhardness and Corrosion Resistance with In-Situ Shot-Peened Al – Zn Coatings on ZK60 Magnesium Alloy by Cold Spray” was awarded the first prize among the 200+ papers presented at the conclave.
Congratulations to G Chandra Mouli and his mentor, Prof, GS Vinodkumar, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering for their cutting-edge research in enhancing the thickness, microhardness and corrosion resistance of metals!
Abstract
This paper aims to develop an improved microhardness and corrosion protective coating (Pure Al-Zn, Al-Zn-Al2O3 and Shot peened Al-Zn) on an Mg alloy substrate, by using the cold spray (CS) technique. A mixture of metal, ceramic/hard particles (Al2O3) and Shot-peened (Large Ni particles) has been used to improve the feedstock powder flowability and coating deposition efficiency. The long-term corrosion properties are evaluated by immersing these coupons in NaCl solution as a function of immersion time durations. The coatings are well-characterised for their structural, morphological, mechanical and electrochemical properties. Thus, it has been observed that in-situ-shot peening helps to enhance the thickness, microhardness and corrosion resistance.
Continue reading → - 13th Asia Education Summit & Awards 2023: Yet Another Recognition for Academic Excellence April 4, 2023
SRM University-AP has been honoured with the award for the Best Emerging University with Academic Excellence in India at the 13th Asia Education Summit & Awards 2023 held on April 3, 2023, at Hotel The Ashok, New Delhi. Vice Chancellor of SRM University-AP, Prof. Manoj K Arora, received the award from Dr Raj Kumar Ranjan Singh, Honourable Minister of State for Education and External Affairs, Govt. of India; and Sri Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank”, Honourable Member of Parliament and former Minister of Education, Govt. of India, for the varsity’s outstanding services and contribution to the higher education sector.“SRM University-AP stands out at the forefront of higher education in India as a multifarious research-oriented institute delivering education for individual and social responsibility. The recognition at the Asia Education Summit and Awards 2023 proved that the five-year-old university is already ahead on the right path”, commented Dr P Sathyanarayanan, Pro-Chancellor of SRM University-AP, in response to the award.
“All the accolades SRM University-AP has been receiving while being a nascent higher education institute signal the emergence and establishment of a research-intensive institute combining academic rigour, an excellent research ecosystem, entrepreneurial heritage, and pioneering faculty, and I can’t be any prouder”, said Prof. Manoj K Arora, Vice Chancellor, SRM University-AP, while receiving the award. He also took part in the panel discussions on Improving Education Globally; Educational Technology has a Significant Role in Today’s Education System; Innovative Management Strategies for Cooperation Between University and Industry; Key Politics of State Central Towards Enhancing the Quality of Education Across the Country; and How Can India Create Enough Jobs for its Graduates, during the Asia Education Summit & Awards.
Asia Education Summit & Awards is an open platform that brings together some of India’s most brilliant minds to share their leader’s strategies and insights into financial, economic, educational and management issues. The Award recognises the professional contributions and academic achievement of doers and pioneers in the education sector. Campus infrastructure, faculty, placements, the strength of students, annual growth, student and alumni feedback and feedback from the industry were the criteria for the award.
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- Presented Paper at the 32nd International Annual Convention of the National Academy of Psychology April 3, 2023
The Annual Conventions of the National Academy of Psychology (NAOP) aim to provide a platform to present, discuss, and debate issues that confront individuals, groups, and communities in this fast-changing world. Dr Sunaina K, Assistant Professor of the Department of Psychology, has presented a paper titled Social Writing and the Development of Critical Thinking amongst School Students at the 32nd International Annual Convention of the National Academy of Psychology (NAOP), held at Ahmedabad University, Gujarat, from March 3 to 5, 2023.Abstract
This study attempted to examine the texts, contexts and voices of young adolescents in social writing activities in schools and how thinking is constructed through the same activities. An intervention study of one-year duration on social writing, based on a longitudinal quasi-experimental design, has been conducted with 15 students in a government school in Kozhikode district in Kerala. The intervention programme was conducted with the help of a module of writing activities prepared by the researcher by using the Vygotskian pedagogic ideas. Each writing session was preceded by a dialogue session between the adult member and the students.
The study employed Thematic Content Analysis as the method of data analysis. The thematic analysis of the mediated learning of social writing unfolds the dialectical interplay between the human mediators, cultural tools and the motives for developing critical thinking skills in the students. From the analysis of the pattern of appearing ‘self-reflections’, a domain of critical thinking (Barnette, 1997), it can be said that interactive participation in the dialogue session enhances participation in the writing activities with the involvement of self. Active participation in the dialogue session helps the students gather maximum information on the theme of dialogues (collection of everyday concepts) and also makes some generalisations. These generalised ideas are transforming into conceptualised thoughts (thinking in ‘scientific concepts’) when the students go through in a deliberate, systematic thinking process while writing. This conceptualisation of ideas, visible in students’ texts, is the base of the critical thinking that is getting reflected in their writings and further helps them in critical reasoning, self-reflection and thinking about critical actions while writing.
Continue reading → - An appraisal of India’s comparative advantage in information technology exports April 3, 2023
Researchers of the School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences have worked on India’s comparative advantage in information technology exports with competing developing nations, including China, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brazil. The latest paper published by Assistant Professor Dr Manzoor Hassan Malik, Department of Economics and Assistant Professor Dr Aehsan Ahmad Dar, Department of Psychology, has implications for attaining sustainability in IT export growth. It is suggested that policies are directed at enhancing the overall performance of the IT sector. The novelty of the present study lies in the estimation of India’s competitiveness in IT exports in relation to the group of reference countries, namely China, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brazil. With its policy recommendations, this research is helping to shape the sustainability of the IT sector.The paper titled An appraisal of India’s comparative advantage in information technology exports was published in the Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies with an impact factor of 1.560.
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to estimate revealed comparative advantage and Normalised Revealed Comparative Advantage (NRCA) indices of India’s Computer and Information Services (CIS) export competitiveness about Information Technology (IT) competing developing nations, such as China, Philippines, Malaysia and Brazil. Using annual data of total exports for CIS, transportation (TNS), travel (TVL) and insurance (INS) services under service categories of the balance of payment, the present study estimates the pattern of Comparative Advantage (CA) in India’s CIS exports with respect to IT competing developing nations such as China, Philippines, Malaysia and Brazil from 2000 to 2018. The choice of the study period is determined by the availability of consistent data on IT service exports of these nations. The study also estimates the export position of CIS export in comparison to India’s traditionally strong commercial services export of TNS, TVL and INS during the study period. Both indices showed that India had a strong CA in CIS compared to the selected nations, indicating India’s relative export performance to be stronger than that of China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brazil. The cross-service index showed that India’s relative specialisation level in CIS with respect to the world’s average specialisation level was stronger than its relative specialisation level in TNS, TVL and INS services. Furthermore, The NRCA cross-nation index showed that India’s NRCA index score has been declining since 2010 with respect to these nations, which implied a decline in the competitiveness of CIS. On the other hand, NRCA has increased in the case of the Philippines, Malaysia and Brazil for most of the period post-2010.
Continue reading → - Academic Trio Secures Second Prize at Aakaar Symposium April 3, 2023
The students of SRM University-AP are nurtured in a conducive educational ecosystem that moulds them into competent candidates ensuring research and academic success at national and international frontiers. The Department of Civil Engineering proudly congratulates Tanoogna Mallarapu, Jonnalagadda Cheritha and Gade Venkata Reddy, Final year BTech students for securing the second prize in the Paper presentation contest at the prestigious Aakaar Symposium held by The Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay on March 17 and 18, 2023. The trio presented their paper titled “Study of alternative flexible pavement design approaches suitable for Maine conditions” which was part of the students’ paid internship on an overseas (USA) research project funded by the Maine Department of Transportation, USA. A total of 47 groups participated in the contest from various domains of civil engineering from all over India. The academic cohort bagged the position of runners-up under the guidance and mentorship of the faculty advisor, Dr Uma Maheswar Arepalli, Assistant Professor, SRM Univeristy-AP.
About the Symposium
Aakaar is an annual symposium organized by the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT Bombay. The event comprises workshops, lecture series, panel discussions, industrial talks, exhibitions, and other activities. The festival also includes the Seventh International Civil Engineering Symposium (ICES), which aims to encourage young research enthusiasts to engage in rigorous research in civil engineering. ICES includes poster presentations, 3-minute thesis talks, city planning, and paper presentations. The symposium offers young and promising students enthusiastic about research the opportunity to present their work in front of experienced professors, civil engineering leaders, and industrialists.
The team had the incredible opportunity to meet renowned academicians and industrialists and learn about various projects in the civil engineering domain. Their work was highly praised by the judges with Dr Dharmaveer, Associate Professor, Civil Engineering Dept., IIT Bombay commenting that, “I enjoyed their presentation. I like their exposure to new tools and techniques, exploring new terms, learning, and understanding, which made them worthy.”
Tanoogna from the team stated her elevation in acquiring this success. “From the outset, I was motivated to participate in the competition and showcase my skills. Our advisor, Dr Uma Maheswar was always available to answer our questions, provide feedback on our work, and offer valuable insights that helped us refine our approach. His mentorship has played an integral role in our success, and we could not have accomplished this without his assistance. We are grateful for this opportunity and the platform that IIT Bombay provided us. It has been a fantastic journey, and I look forward to participating in more competitions and pushing my limits further,” said the young scholar.
Cheritha also expressed her gratitude towards her team’s accomplishment and the valuable experience the symposium had provided. “We were able to show case our work and was able to present it effectively and secured 2nd place in the category of paper presentation. Participating in this event is an incredible experience for me to gain knowledge. I am very grateful for my advisor and my teammates Tanoogna and Venkata Reddy for their hard work towards the accomplishment of the project and for being there in difficult situations.”
Venkat also commented that the event was beneficial in gaining knowledge and to present the project. The students thanked their mentor, Dr Uma Maheswar for the opportunities he had provided and his constant encouragement to strive for excellence.
Dr Uma Maheswar, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, SRM University-AP also voiced delight in the incredible performance of his students. “From the beginning, I had the feeling that the topic has the potential to win this competition. But this team of students has made it a reality with their excellent technical and soft skills. It was a moment of immense pride and happiness for us in the civil engineering department when our students won the contest at a prestigious platform like IITB. Heartful congratulations to Tanoogna, Cheritha, and Venkat. I wish them the best of luck in their future career endeavours.”
Abstract of the Paper
AASHTOWare Pavement Mechanistic-Empirical Design (PMED) has been introduced to overcome the limitations of the AASHTO 1993 pavement design approach in the United States. However, due to the data requirements and work involved with accurate local calibration of PMED performance models, PMED seems challenging from a benefit-cost standpoint, especially for the states with low traffic volumes and limited resources. This study aims to understand the current flexible pavement design practices in the United States and recommend an alternative design approach for a state department of transportation. The methodology included an online survey with practitioners, a literature review, and a comparative analysis of selected alternative design approaches. Two approaches were chosen as an alternative design approach based on the online survey results, interviews, and literature review. One is updating layer coefficients for AASHTO 1993, and the second is developing its mechanistic-empirical (M-E) based pavement design approach for Maine. A layered elastic analysis using winJULEA or similar combined with standard performance empirical equations was considered a proposed M-E design tool for preliminary analysis. A sensitivity analysis using the range of design input values for Maine conditions and validation with a historical project database is planned. The presentation will discuss this study’s findings and the final recommendations derived from the comparative analysis.
Continue reading → - Alignment 360-The Leadership Workshop March 28, 2023
SRM University-AP conducted the first-ever three-day leadership workshop with the theme Alignment 360 to help individuals at the university align their values, goals, and behaviours holistically. 57 leadership team members from academic, non-academic, top management and the President’s office participated in the event held from March 17 to 19, 2023, at Riviera Beach Resort, Chirala. The workshop aimed to enable individuals and teams to clarify their core values and goals and develop an action plan to align their behaviour and decision-making with these values and goals.
Honourable Pro-Chancellor of SRM University-AP, Dr P Sathyanarayanan, expressed how glad he is over the workshop’s theme and put forth his vision and mission to locate SRM University-AP as the number one higher education institution in the upcoming years. Prof. Manoj K Arora, Vice Chancellor of SRM University-AP, kick-started the workshop by welcoming all and introducing the purpose of the workshop. He gave the task to the leadership team to formulate the next five years’ Strategic Goals and Operational goals.
The programme covered various aspects of alignment, including personal values, organisational culture, communication, leadership, and strategy. Through interactive exercises, discussions, and self-reflection, participants learn how to identify their values and goals, assess their current alignment, and develop strategies to improve alignment. The ultimate goal was to help individuals and organisations become more effective and efficient by aligning their behaviour with their core values and goals. By creating a shared understanding of values and goals, teams can work together more cohesively and make decisions that are consistent with their overarching mission and purpose. This, in turn, can lead to increased productivity, better morale, and improved outcomes.
Mr Chand and Mr Harish from Hum Consulting conducted the workshop and kept the audience enthralled and involved through various activities. Team building, Leadership roles, Target achievements, Conflict management and other activities were completed. The workshop concluded with a gala dinner and entertainment evening at the beach with the theme, Unwinding by the sea.
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