The students should be learning-centred and self-disciplined to achieve their goals in future, says Dr Kalaiselvi

In a conversation with Shiksha.com, Dr K.Kalaiselvi, Associate Professor at Acharya Institute of Health Sciences talks at length about various initiatives and practices adopted by the institute to help students become career-ready. She goes into detail talking about clinical case presentation, supervised bedside patient assessments, frequent community visits and camps.

Read the complete interview below:

Q: What are the salient features of the teaching methodology adopted by your college? How does this differ from others?

A: Group discussions, Seminars, Practical Demonstrations, Research Projects, and evidence-based teaching methodology are a few practices that help us differ from other institutes offering similar programmes. Interactive and participative sessions are adopted by the college. Training the students to make home-based rehabilitation instruments by using locally available materials at low cost. We are also organising various augmentation programmes on the basis of advanced techniques

Q: How are you preparing your students to be Industry ready?

A: By providing students experimental training on patients in Acharya Physiotherapy clinic and Rehabilitation center, supervised hospital posting and clinical case presentation, supervised bedside patient assessments, frequent community visits and camps. Students are given training on the various procedure in the clinical setting. Students are also taught decision-making skills and documentation. They are also attending various International guest lectures, workshops and conferences to update their knowledge. We are conducting preplacement training which includes of leadership qualities, communication skills and personality development.

Q: What are the qualities you are looking for in student applicants? What qualities do they need to do well in your course?

A: The students should be learning-centred and self-disciplined to achieve their goals for the future. Discipline, good communication skill, punctuality, a positive approach, an ability to work independently and should have coordination in groups to complete given task on time , good written English ability and a sense of social responsibility. They should also have interest to update their knowledge in recent advances. They should take active participation in community based rehabilitation

Q: How do you ensure that your course curriculum is up to date and meets industry requirements?

A: The curriculum is updated according to the recent advanced techniques in terms of changing the needs of the patient and society.

Q: Is your college receptive to innovation, technology, science & entrepreneurship? How? Could you cite some examples of these?

A: Yes, our college is receptive to innovation, technology, science & entrepreneurship