Chennai-born man named president of Illinois Institute of Technology

Chennai-born man named president of Illinois Institute of Technology

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

JUNE 17, 2021 20:29 IST

UPDATED: JUNE 17, 2021 20:32 IST

Raj Echambadi

Raj Echambadi is an alumnus of College of Engineering, Guindy

Rajagopal Ragavan Echambadi, Dunton Family Dean at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University, has been appointed 10th president of the Illinois Institute of Technology, U.S.

Born and brought up in Chennai, Raj, as he is known among his friends, completed his mechanical engineering degree from the College of Engineering, Guindy, and MBA from Anna University. He pursued Ph. D in Business Administration at the University of Houston. His first job through campus placement was in Tractors and Farm Equipment as service engineer overseeing Kerala and Tamil Nadu. His transition from engineering to MBA happened thanks to TAFE’s then head of Product Training Centre in Bengaluru. “Dr. Subramaniam suggested that I do a Ph. D in Business, because he thought I would be good at it.” To pursue Ph. D a degree in MBA was required.

Raj completed Class X from Shrine Velankanni School in T. Nagar and finished Class XII from Santhome Higher Secondary School. He has received many accolades for his teaching skills.

Pioneer in online iMBA

The iMBA programme that he conceptualised and launched at the University of Illinois in 2016 drew the Government of India’s attention. “We offered the first affordable, scaled online MBA programme in partnership with Coursera platform that reaches 80 million people around the world,” he said over a long-distance call on Thursday.

“The programme is now considered one of the best disruptive and breakthrough in graduate MBA,” he said, pointing out that at that time an MBA degree could cost $1,00,000 whereas their programme cost $22,000. At present, students from over 150 countries were participating in their MBA programmes, he added.

Four years ago, during his tenure at the Northeastern University, the institution tied up with Andhra Pradesh government’s skill development corporation and provided entrepreneurial education as a pilot project in around 10 colleges in that State.

In 2019, the Indian government invited Northeastern University to build entrepreneurial hubs in Sri Venkateswara University and Utkal University.

Under the Center for Emerging Markets, called the Vivek and Vandana Sharma India Initiative, the Northeastern University is offering a series of entrepreneurial education programmes for high schools. The aim of the initiative is to build capacity to offer high quality education.

His high school classmate Ramkumar Ramamoorthi, pro vice-chancellor of Krea University and formerly the chairman and managing director of Cognizant India, said he revived his connection after he returned to academia.

“He has done very interesting work in education. We are making it big (in the western world) in the academic context. It is clearly a recognition for Indians. In the context of National Education Policy it is an opportunity to forge greater academic linkages between Indian and foreign institutions. It will provide well-rounded opportunities to students on both sides,” he said.

City engineer to head Illinois Institute of Tech

City engineer to head Illinois Institute of Tech

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.06.2021

Rajagopal Echambadi, an engineering and MBA graduate from Anna University’s College of Engineering, Guindy, has been appointed as the president of 131-year-old Illinois Institute of Technology in the US. He will be take charge on August 16 and will be the first person of colour (and also the first one of Indian origin) to head the only technology-oriented university in Chicago.

Echambadi, 53, is currently working as Dunton Family Dean at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University in Boston.

“The motto of Illinois Institute of Technology is to provide education to students from all backgrounds to prepare them for meaningful roles in industrial society. It is still relevant and we could provide technology education to students from all backgrounds, countries and races to prepare them for the digital era. We will try to make technology education accessible to all,” Rajagopal Echambadi told TOI.

Illinois Institute of Technology has students from all over the world. He also has experience in building entrepreneurial hubs in Indian universities, including Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati.

“I will look to collaborate with Indian institutions such as IITs and Anna University for business and technology innovations,” he said.

Echambadi was born in Tiruvarur and did his schooling in Shrine Vailankanni Senior Secondary School in T Nagar and Santhome Higher Secondary School in Mylapore. He went on to pursue BE Mechanical Engineering in College of Engineering, Guindy, (1985-89) and MBA in (1990-92). He worked in TAFE and Castrol here before moving to the US to get a PhD from University of Houston (1994-98). His mother, Janaki, lives in Chennai.

With an academic career spanning more than two decades, Echambadi has several innovations to his credit including introducing an online MBA programme known as iMBA in partnership with Coursera, which was hailed as a breakthrough in graduate education. He also facilitated student entrepreneurships and social entrepreneurship.

Fellow academician and Echambadi’s school classmate Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, pro vice-chancellor of Krea University, recalls him as a passionate student. “We are from the 1985-batch of Santhome Higher Secondary School. He was always studious and passionate about engineering, he eventually got into Anna University,” said Ramamoorthy, who is a former chairperson and MD of Cognizant India.

“A lot of attention has been given to Indians making big in the corporate sector, such as Indira Nooyi, Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai. But not enough attention is given to people who have achieved in academics globally. Indians at the helm of affairs at illustrious universities globally can take academic partnerships to a very different level. They can understand the Indian investment in education and also the value global education brings to Indian students,” Ramamoorthy added.

Rajagopal Echambadi

Born in Tiruvarur and brought up in Chennai, Echambadi, will be the first person of colour to head 131-year-old Illinois Institute of Technology in the US. He pursued mechanical engineering and MBA in College of Engineering, Guindy and holds a PhD from

Siva Sankar Baba lodged in city sub-jail

Siva Sankar Baba lodged in city sub-jail

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.06.2021

Self-styled godman Siva Sankar Baba, arrested in Delhi under the Pocso Act on charges of sexually harassing students in his Sushil Hari International Residential School at Kelambakkam, was on Thursday produced before a city magistrate’s court and lodged at the Chengalpet subjail.

The 72-year-old, who underwent an angioplasty at a private hospital in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, sought permission to get treated at a private hospital but the court refused after police promised he would get the best care at a government hospital. The magistrate remanded Siva Sankar Baba in judicial custody for 14 days and asked police to produce him before the court on June 30. The CB-CID team sought five days of custody to question him, but the court is yet to decide.

On Wednesday, when a team led by superintendent of police Vijayakumar nabbed him from Mayur lodge near Chittaranjan Park in Delhi, Siva Sankar Baba had tonsured his head. After tracking him through Srinivasan, one of his devotees, the team checked more than 30 lodges before finally nabbing him.

On June 12, the Mamallapuram all-women police registered three cases against Siva Sankar Baba based on complaints from several students of the school he founded. On June 13, the case was transferred to the CB-CID.

Rajini to leave for US soon for check-up

Rajini to leave for US soon for check-up

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.06.2021

Actor Rajinikanth, who recently completed work on Sun Pictures-produced ‘Annaatthe’, his latest film, is set to leave for the US in the next few days for a routine health check-up.

Rajinikanth, who underwent a kidney transplant surgery a few years ago in the US, has since been visiting the country for annual checks. Due to Covid-19 and subsequent restrictions on travel, he could not go last year. “He will be leaving in the next few days. But his travel plans are yet to be finalized,” his publicist told TOI.

Rajinikanth, who had planned to launch a political party sometime last year to enter electoral politics ahead of the 2021 assembly election, had to abort the move due to Covid and advice from doctors.

WISH YOU HEALTH

MTC likely to begin services from Monday

MTC likely to begin services from Monday

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.06.2021

The demand for public transport is getting more intense, and Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) might resume government bus services in Chennai from Monday but with restrictions.

A Tamil Nadu transport department source said that half the bus fleet might be operated for the first one week with 50% seating capacity so that there was no crowding inside the vehicle and at bus stops.

“We are expecting the chief minister (M K Stalin) to make the formal announcement before Saturday. In case the government permits MTC to resume operation, all buses were serviced and kept ready so that they can be operated on alternate days. During the one-day break, buses will be taken to depots for disinfection,” the source added, requesting anonymity.

Alongside bus maintenance, MTC has also intensified vaccine drives for its employees. Of the total 24,000 staff (including drivers, conductors and technical crew), around 60% of the workforce has already received their first dose of vaccination, according to official data on Thursday evening.

More camps were planned in the next three days at bus depots to ensure that maximum workforce was available for duty from Monday, said a senior MTC official.

K Anbalagan from SVSAAP transport workers' union said that the vaccination programme, which was slow early, gained momentum this week and depot authorities called up individual drivers and conductors to check their vaccination status.

"However, there is a sense of fear among employees as they have received only the first dose. Besides this, some of them are still hesitant to get vaccinated because of misconception about side-effects. So MTC should take more steps to create awareness among them," he said.

Given the limited number of cabs in city roads, autos turned out to be the most accessible urban commute option this week. "People, who want to avoid crowded share autos, can opt for regular auto rides. But not all can afford it everyday," said transportation activist R Rengachari.

T Sadagopan, a residentactivist from Avadi said, even those who have private cars or bikes are not in a position to use them because of the increase in fuel cost. "Employees, who are stuck in their native districts, are unable to reach industries, shops and hotels are unable to get back to work because of the lack of buses," Sadagopan said.

Even if bus services are resumed, inter-district buses might not run from Monday as infection rate is high at 10 or more districts in the state.

A state transport department official said that half the bus fleet might be operated for the first one week with 50% seating capacity so that there was no crowding inside the vehicle and at bus stops

For seniors, an arduous wait for vaccines

For seniors, an arduous wait for vaccines

Nivedha.Selvam1@timesgroup.com

Coimbatore:18.06.2021

Around 6 am on Thursday, 63-year-old S Jayanthi, a resident of Vellakinar, and her 68-year-old husband rushed to corporation’s elementary school upon hearing that the civic body was administering Covid-19 vaccine to those above 45 years. But their joy of finally getting vaccinated was short-lived.

While standing in a serpentine queue awaiting their turn to get the jab, a corporation worker appeared and asked them to come back the next day as there were no available slots. For the second time in the last two days, the couple returned without taking the jab. The couple has decided to try their luck again on Friday, and plan to visit the school a little early in the day as they are due for their second dose.

“We took our first dose of Covishield in March at a private hospital. When we were due for our second dose in May, we visited multiple primary health centres and waited for several hours... but to no avail,” said Jayanthi.

Hers is not a lone case in the district. For many senior citizens like her, getting vaccinated is a gargantuan task as they have to wait endlessly in queues at corporation centres for multiple hours.

A resident of Vadamadurai M Madhankumar questioned if it was difficult for officials to inform the public about the location and timings of vaccination camps in advance. “Most of the time, the CoWin website has no booking slots available.”

When contacted, a corporation official said that his team has directed all centres to distribute tokens in advance to avoid crowding at centres. He said steps would be taken to adopt uniform timings in all the centres.

NO STOCK: A corporation centre in Coimbatore has no vaccines

In1st meet, CM asks PM to scrap NEET, drop oil exploration in TN

In1st meet, CM asks PM to scrap NEET, drop oil exploration in TN

PM Modi Promises Full Support, Said Stalin Can Reach Him Anytime

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.06.2021

Chief minister M K Stalin, in his maiden meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after assuming charge, requested him to scrap NEET and drop plans to extend such entrance exams for admission to other courses. He also asked the PM to drop hydrocarbon and neutrino projects planned for the state.

In a 25-minute meeting with the PM in New Delhi on Thursday, Stalin sought adequate allotment of vaccines and drugs for Tamil Nadu to fight Covid. The CM also demanded early commencement of vaccine production at HLL Biotech in Chengalpet and Pasteur Institute in Coonoor to overcome vaccine shortage.

The PM assured his full support for development projects in the state and said he could be reached anytime, the CM said.

Accompanied by water resources minister S Duraimurugan, chief secretary V Irai Anbu and DMK Parliamentary party leader T R Baalu, Stalin reached the PM’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg at 5pm. It was “happy and satisfactory,” Stalin told reporters about the meeting later in the day at Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi.

‘Will stay friendly but firm on state’s rights’

The state government chose not to release the full text of the 117-page memorandum submitted by Stalin to Modi.

The DMK government’s demands included revival of Sethusamudram shipping canal project and Maduravoyal-Chennai Port elevated road project. While the first was dropped by the BJP government at the Centre, the latter was spiked by the AIADMK government. It has also sought setting up of the apex court bench in Chennai.

Reacting to social media reports that the DMK government had agreed to implement the Chennai-Salem greenfield expressway project, the state government clarified that it had urged the Centre to drop the project.

Stalin sought to point out to Modi that the Centre was not supplying adequate quantity of Covid vaccines to Tamil Nadu. “The PM assured us of supply. We have been speaking to the PM and ministers over phone. They tell their difficulties,” Stalin said, seeking to recall the Centre’s direction to not reveal details of vaccine shortage. Urging speedy construction of AIIMS in Madurai, the state government has also demanded that an AIIMS-like institution be set up in Coimbatore.

On the farm front, the DMK government urged the Centre to repeal the three farm laws. It also demanded that the Citizenship Amendment Act, electricity amendment bill 2020, national education policy and the draft EIA notification 2020 be withdrawn. “He (the PM) assured us that he would consult the ministers and officials concerned and take a good decision,” the chief minister said, adding that his government would follow the principles of former chief minister M Karunanidhi when it comes to maintaining Centre-state relations. “We will extend a friendly hand for relationship and raise our voice for the rights.”

Stalin said he had requested Modi to declare Tamil as official language of India, that the proceedings in the Madras high court be carried out in Tamil and also demanded that Thirukkural be named the national literature.

On the release of seven Rajiv assassins, the chief minister said the state government had sent a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind after governor Banwarilal Purohit decided that the President was the competent authority to decide on remission of sentences. Stalin said the government would shut down Tasmac outlets in a phased manner akin to the previous AIADMK government’s policy. “Those who cast votes for us should remain happy and those who did not cast votes should feel sorry,” Stalin said, responding to queries about the 42 days of his governance.