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SUMMARY OF THE  PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS OF Dr.M.PONNAVAIKKO

Dr.M.Ponnavaikko is Born in Sengamedu village in South Arcot District in 1946 has over 40 years of productive experience (as of July 2009) with excellent opportunities to serve in leading Academic Institutions and Industries in India and abroad. He has visited over 15 countries in the world. His  professional career is characterized by new job assignments at various stages and these assignments were essentially on invitation. For his part, he has kept up the pressure on his work towards achieving in the results envisaged by the mission of his employer - institutions. Enmeshed in this process is his constant attention to widen his knowledge-base and to acquire additional skills required by the job on hand. The organization in which he worked and the persons with whom he was associated have had a strong influence on him in building his personal and professional traits.
     
A Institutions that shaped his career
  1 Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board
    Assistant Engineer
    1971-76
     
  2 Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore
    Project Associate in an R&D Project sponsored by TNEB
    Consultant to the Southern Regional Electricity Board for computer based solutions to power systems problems.
    1972-76
     
  3 Rural Electrification Corporation, New Delhi, A public Sector Government of  India Undertaken
    Special Officer in the Scale of a Chief Engineer
    1977-84
     
  4 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi
    Doctoral Research candidate (Part time)
    Teaching PG classes assigned by the Guide
    1979-83
     
  5 Electrical Construction Company a Joint Venture of Government of India and Government of Libya
    Advisor and Board Secretary
    1984-1986
     
  6 Bright Star University, Libya
    Higher Institute of Mechanical & Electronics Engineering
    Visiting Professor, 1986-89
     
  7 Self-financing Engineering Colleges (Mookambigai Engineering College, Trichy and Crescent Engineering College, Chennai)
    Professor and Head, Department of Computer Science Engineering
    1989-1992; 1995-2000
     
  8 Regional Engineering College, Trichirapalli
    Professor & H.O.D., Computer Science & Engineering
    1993-95
     
  9 Tamil Virtual University
    First Director
    2000-2003
     
  10 SRM University, Chennai
    Director, Research, Virtual Education and International initiatives
    2003 - 2007
     
  11 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA,  Stanford University, USA, Carnegie Mellon University, USA and Queen's University, Canada, through Academic Collaboration as the Director, International Initiatives at SRM Institute of Science and Technology - SRM University
    2003 - till date
     
B Demonstration of Leadership
  Involvement, Initiative, commitment, and Contribution are the innate Leadership qualities in him. He has left his foot prints in every organization where he served. He led the Distribution system planning initiative in Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board to start with and later as a pioneer in the country through Rural Electrification Corporation. As the Chairman, Technical Journal Committee and the Chief Editor, he was the first to start a Technical Journal in the Higher Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (HIMEE), Hoon, Libya. He led Mookambigai College of Engineering to start Mookambigai Industrial Liason Centre (MILC) for Industry - Institute Interaction. Provided  the leadership to launch a Summer Sequential M.Phil.(CS) Program in Bharathidasan University for the benefit of the Computer Science Faculty Members in the Arts & Science Colleges affiliated to  the University. Through his leadership he strengthened the Computing infrastructural facilities at Mookambigai College of Engineering, Keeranur, Regional Engineering College (REC), Trichy, Cresent Enginerring College, Chennai, and SRM University, Chennai. As Chairman, Board Studies in Computer Science, he has made original contributions in the Computer Curriculum for UG and PG programs  in Bharathidasan University, REC, Trichy and Madras University. The specific leadership contributions listed bellow have the National and International recognition:
     
  1 Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), New Delhi gave him the first opportunity to demonstrate his professional abilities and leadership.  As Special Officer (System Improvement), he pioneered a scheme on all India basis for improving the power distribution systems in the country for energy conservation, by framing standards and norms for project formulation, appraisal, implementation and monitoring. He administered the scheme in the then-24 State Electricity Boards (SEBs) for seven years from 1977 to 1984.  His methods and models are followed even now by the REC and SEBs as "Ko models".
     
  2 The second great opportunity was his appointment as the first Director of Tamil Virtual University (TVU), Chennai in the scale of a Vice-Chancellor. With no examples to follow he had to start from conceiving the concept till completion for delivering Web based courses on Tamil from Pre-KG till higher education. Within a period of less than three years, courses on Tamil were offered from Pre-KG to B.A. Degree in through web along with a large digital library having over 2,00,000 pages of literatures, dictionaries with search facilities and video galleries of 125 temples and cultural events.  Tamils from over 90 countries became the beneficiaries.  To promote Tamil Virtual Education around the world, nine Study Centres in five countries were set up to start with.  Commonwealth of Learning came forward with its overwhelming appreciation and sponsored a project with a financial aid of Canadian $75,000 to train 40 Malaysian students in B.A. Tamil programme. He could proudly say that Tamil Virtual University is a unique and pioneering effort in distance education achieved through his enormous initiatives and leadership.
     
  3 Services rendered at the Vice-Chancellor, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli
The University education system should not confine only to the conduct programmes for the award mere certificates and degrees, but should contribute to the overall development of an individual with knowledge, capacity to build an economically sound career with cultural, social and human values. Further, the University should develop and offer programmes for the economic development of the people living in the area under the jurisdiction of the University. With this goal in mind I started my service in this University as the Vice-Chancellor and tried to implement the following:
     
    3.1 Empowerment of Rural youth through skill based training programs:

Introduced the following community oriented innovative service programs for the benefit of unemployed rural youth men and women, school dropouts and handicapped persons:

i) Entrepreneurship Development Programmes

Promotion of youth entrepreneurship training are being conducted for unemployed men and women, school dropouts and to the college students. A large number of persons were benefited during the past two years.

  • 2007-08 : 1601 (1022 men + 579 women)
  • 2008-09 : 1892 (712 men + 1180 women)
ii) Certificate courses for unemployed youth and students

Certificate courses are conducted for unemployed men and women, school dropouts and to the school and college students. A large number of persons were benefited during the past two years.

  • 2007-08 : 1706 (1224 men + 482 women)
  • 2008-09 : 1571 (1010 men + 561 women)
  • 2009-10 : 718 (431men + 287 women)
iii) Certificate courses for Deaf and Dumb

Specially designed Certificate courses in basic computer operation and DTP are offered for the Deaf and Dumb persons. So far 84 persons, 65 men and 19 women are trained and employed.

iv) Certificate courses for Visually Impaired

Certificate course in Guitar was organized for 5 visually impaired persons, 4 men and 1 woman.

Diploma course in Keyboard operation for 10 visually impaired, 6 men and 4 women.

v) Certificate courses for Slum youth

Certificate courses in Tally and Computer Hardware and Networking were organized for slum youth, sponsored by the Slum Development Board. 54 candidates, 35 men and 19 women were benefited.

     
    3.2 Introduction of employable Skill based Curriculum in the Under Graduate degree programs in all the Universities in Tamil Nadu.:

He noted that the undergraduate curriculum offered by the University through the affiliated colleges are theoretical and the Graduates are not employable on graduation and that the Degrees of this kind do not really help the students coming from the economically backward rural areas. He further noted that the curriculum did not include a course on Tamil, the Regional language of this land, as a compulsory component of the curriculum. He, therefore, believed strongly that the curriculum of the undergraduate degree programs of all disciplines should include skill based components and a compulsory course on Tamil for all the students with a provision to study their mother tongue too. Accordingly he revised the curriculum of all the undergraduate degree programs, introducing practical oriented Skill based courses and study of Tamil as compulsory components of the curriculum under Choice Based Credit System (CBCS). Appreciating this curriculum the Government of Tamil Nadu advised all other universities in Tamil Nadu to follow the same curriculum introduced by the Bharathidasan University.

3.3 Introduction of an innovative concept for Early Graduation by the Fast learners :

He also introduced a unique 6-year integrated M.Tech. programs in Computer Science and Engineering, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, and Geo-technology in the University Departments for the 12th Standard pass students, integrating B.Tech. and M.Tech. degrees under CBCS, incorporating an innovative concept of early graduation for the fast learners. Bharathidasan University is the first to offer such an innovative concept in the country.

3.4 Introduction of a new innovative Four-year B.S. programmes in the Science subjects:

As a pioneering initiative by myself in the country, Four-year B.S. degree programmes in the areas of Computer Science, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Geosciences and Electronics, equivalent to the Engineering degrees in these areas that provides career prospectus for higher education and employment in the countries like USA, are to be offered first time in the country at the Arts and Science colleges and in the Departments of the University from the academic year 2010-11. . Necessary approval for the new nomenclature has already been given by the UGC. At the instance of Bharathidasan University, this new nomenclature, B.S. degree, in the academic curriculum is introduced by the UGC.

3.5 Introducing Virtual Education Programs :

Virtual Education program is planned to be introduced in the University for the MCA, MBA, M.A.(Tamil), and M.Phil.(Tamil) courses.

3.6 Established the following Research Centres:
  1. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research Centre
  2. High pressure Research Centre
  3. Kalaignar valar Thamizh Mandram
3.7 Establishment of Counselling and Career Development Centres (CCDC) in the Rural Areas:

He believes that the University system should not stop its activities only with offering academic programs and awarding Degrees. The University system should serve the community in spreading educational awareness among the people and ensure that the Scientific and Technological developments reach the society and help them for their economical development. To achieve this goal he has proposed to establish ?Counselling and Career Development Centre (CCDC)? one in each of the eight districts served by the Bharathidasan University to provide the following services to the people with a financial grant of Rs.150 lakhs from UGC:

  1. Career Guidance through Touch Screen based information resource for Educational opportunities, Employment opportunities, Adult Education, Health Awareness, E-governance and guidance to the farmers, supported by a Senior Academician placed at the Centre.
  2. Empowerment Men and Women for Entrepreneurship/Employment through Skill based training and placement with the help of Industries and Service Sector.
  3. Formal training to the artisans, like self made Electricians, Plumbers, Masons, Mechanics, Welders, etc. and awarding University Certificates through appropriate testing.
  4. Offering Academic programs of the University under Distance Education mode in the (CCDC).
3.8 Introduced an innovative program to empower self-made artisans:

The self-made artisans like Electricians, Mechanics, Plumbers, Welders, Masons, etc living in the villages are under-employed since they do not have formal education and do not have any certification for employment. To empower the self-made artisans he has introduced a certification programme. Two baths of Electrical Technicians, numbering 48 candidates and one bath of Welding Technicians, numbering 11 candidates have been awarded University certificates.

He has also proposed to establish a Technical Skill development and testing laboratory in the University campus for training and certification of the Artisans.

3.9 Academic Service to the visually impaired :

To promote educational services to the visually handicapped persons with the help of computers, a Software development cell has been established and a visually impaired Professor with adequate experience in software like Braille has been identified for posting in the cell.

3.10 Establishment of Facilitation Centre for the disabled persons:

He has proposed to establish a Facilitation Centre for the disabled persons with the financial aid of Rs.100 lakhs. This centre will develop programmes, hardware and software systems required to improvise the living style of Deaf, Dumb, Visually impaired and mentally under developed persons. It will also develop training kids and teaching manpower to educate such persons.

3.11 Computer courses for Senior Citizens:

Introduced one month Computer literacy programmes for the aged senior citizens. In the first batch 128 persons, 105 men and 23 women were benefited. Currently 27 persons, 26 men and one woman are undergoing a three month certificate programme in computer usage.

3.12 Certificate Course in IT for School Children (SUITS) :

A one year University certification programme for the school children from 5th Standard to 9th Standard in collaboration with the School, University, and Industry has been started from this academic year for the students studying in the 5th to 9th standards. During this year 6890 students are studying in this programme.

3.13 Enhancement of the University campus facilities :

Actions are taken to improve the University campus as an excellent campus for the living of the students and staff to provide the following facilities:

  1. Construction of a five-bedded hospital in the campus
  2. a shopping complex
  3. an indoor stadium with gymnasium
  4. a married student apartment
  5. a multipurpose auditorium
  6. a modern sports fieldvImplementation of a rain water saving scheme with the construction of percolation tanks
  7. a school for the children of staff members of the university
  8. Improvement of the roads in the residential and instruction areas, and
  9. Opening a good canteen near the administrative and academic areas of the university for the benefit of students, staff and the visitors.
  10. Construction of compound walls for the University Campus and for Ladies Hostel: For the safety of the University and of the girls students of the university, constructed compound walls for the University campus and for the girls hostel are under
3.14 Waste water recycling , and water management system for the University campus :

An expert was assigned with a project work to study the water resources in the campus and submit a scheme for implementation. The Expert has submitted his Report with a plan for implementation, covering the aspects like rain water harvesting, ground water recharging, waste water recycling, and water requirements for drinking and for plantation on a long term basis. The report has been taken for implementation.

3.15 Establishment of Grievance cell for Students

A Grievance cell for students, headed by a senior academician as the Director, has been established. The cell is provided with computer and internet facilities for direct access to the university information system.

     
C Innovation and Creativity
  1 Developed original mathematical models for Distribution System Components and tools (O.R.Techniques) & methods for Optimal Distribution System Planning.
     
  2 Developed Nomograms as ready-reckoner for Distribution System Analysis and Planning to help the practicing Distribution Engineers as planning aids (known as "Ko models")
     
  3 Developed a computer based method for assessing the load generation balance on long-term basis for a regional grid, covering, long-term load forecast, rainfall forecast, water management in power station reservoirs and maintenance scheduling of generating units in the Thermal, Nuclear and Hydro Power Stations in the region to even out the shortage of power and energy, if any in the region.  This study was carried for all the regions in the country.
     
  4 Developed a "Walking-Aid for Blind" through a student project at Regional Engineering College, Trichy during 1994  (won Best Project Award from Tamilnadu State Council for Science & Technology).
     
  5 Developed Tamil softwares like 'Tamil C' and 'Tamil Java' and a Bi-lingual Search Engine for Tamil and English Portals through a student project.
     
  6 Developed a "Virtual Eye", a GPS based guiding kit for the blind, developed through a Ph.D. Research programme by Mrs.Amudha under my guidance.
     
D Awards and Recognition
  1 ?Knights of Sovereign order of Princes and Knights of Antarcticland? of the Sovereign Order of Knights of Antarcticland, was awarded to Dr.M.Ponnavaikko by His Highness Sir Giovanni Caporaso Gottlieb, elected 42nd Grandmaster of  Sovereign Order of Knights of Antarcticland State, USA, in the Nobility Awarding ceremony held on the 7th November 2009. With this Honor he is entitled to use the title Sir affixed to his name,  H.E. Sir M.Ponnavaikko.
     
  2 Certificate of Honour, awarded by The International Council of CCLP Worldwide, Brazil, in recognition of his valuable contributions  to the field of higher education in India, on 6th November 2009.
     
  3 "Lifetime Achievement Award", presented by the International Association of Educators for World Peace, Hunstsville, Alabama, USA, affiliated to the United Nations, at New Delhi on the occasion of  the South Asia Virtual Education Submit held on 13-14 March 2008.
     
  4 "Achievement Award" presented by the Indian Science Monitor at the 5th Annual Achievement Award Function during the National Science Day Celebration on 28th February 2008.
     
  5 Certificate of Appreciation  awarded by IEEE Inc. USA to Dr.Murugesan Ponnavaikko,  for his Notable Services and Contributions towards the Advancement of IEEE and the Engineering Professions,  as Chair, IEEE Madras Section, 2006-2007.
     
  6 "Distinguished Service to Tamil Award" presented by the California Tamil Academy, USA, in Recognition of  his Untiring Efforts to Promote Tamil Education Worldwide in June 2003.
     
  7 Jaya Distinguished Academician Award 2001.
     
  8 Madras Chapter IEEE / PES Outstanding Engineer Award 2000.
     
  9 Recipient of the Best Project Award for the development of "Walking Aid for Blind" from the Tamilnadu State Council for the Science and Technology, 1994.
     
  10 Listed in the Directory of Prominent individuals in the fields of Science and Engineering in Marquis Who's Who in America, 1998.
     
  11 Expert Member in the National Committee on "National Initiatives on Engineering Experimentation" constituted by AICTE, New Delhi
     
  12 Expert Member in the UGC Sub-Committee to propose measures to deal with fall-out on higher education as a result of a recent Constitutional (86th) Amendment, making education as fundamental right for children of 6-14 age group.
     
  13 Special Invitee to the National Graduate Student Repository formulation Committee, constituted by the UGC, Sept. 2004 to Sept. 2005.
     
  14 Special Invitee to the Committee, constituted by the UGC,  for framing Norms and Methods for implementing the proposal on National Graduate Student Repository Scheme,  July 2006 to October 2006.
     
  15 Member, Academic Council, Anna University, for a 3 year period from 3rd January 2006 to 2nd January 2009.
     
  16 Chairman, IEEE Madras Section, 2006, and 2007
     
  17 Vice-Chairman, Committee on 16-bit Tamil All Character Encoding: TACE-16, constituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu, March 2007.
Replica IWC Portuguese watches    
  18 Chairman, Committee on Tamil in Mobile phones, constituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu, March 2007-08.
     
  19 Member, First Class Administrative Reforms Committee, constituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu, March 2007-08.
     
  20 Member, South Asia Subcommittee, constituted by the Unicode Consortium, USA.  to Examine the encoding of Tamil and other scripts of India, 2007 - till date
     
E Publications / Presentations
   
  1 Books Authored / Edited              22
       
  2 Journal Papers                            47
       
  3 Conference Papers                       54
       
  4 Reports on Projects undertaken     40
       
  5 Endowment Lectures                    05
       
 
 
 
 
 
 

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