Hubs & Nodes Initiative: Faculty Development Programme on Activity-Based Pedagogy in Kochi, India
By Elizabeth Rita Samuel and Dr. Tripura Pidikiti
The Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Rajagiri School of Engineering & Technology (Autonomous), Kochi, India, successfully organized a six-day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) titled “Activity-Based Pedagogy Using MATLAB Integrated with Arduino/Raspberry Pi” from 16–22 April 2026 under the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IES) Hubs & Nodes Initiative – Hyderabad Hub.
The programme was organized in collaboration with the IEEE IA/IE/PELS Joint Chapter Kerala, IEEE Kerala Section Young Professionals, IEEE Sensors Council Kerala Chapter, and MathWorks. The FDP focused on strengthening engineering education through activity-based pedagogy, embedded systems integration, AIoT applications, and industry-oriented learning approaches.
The event brought together faculty members, researchers, IEEE volunteers, industry professionals, and Young Professionals from across Kerala, creating a multidisciplinary platform for technical learning, collaboration, and IEEE engagement. Around 65 participants actively attended the programme. The programme enabled interaction among academia, industry, IEEE volunteers, and Young Professionals through hands-on learning and collaborative technical engagement.
IEEE IES Hubs & Nodes Initiative and Faculty Empowerment
The inaugural session introduced participants to the vision and objectives of the IEEE IES Hubs & Nodes Initiative, which aims to strengthen regional collaboration, increase industry engagement, and support sustainable technical ecosystems connected to the global IEEE IES community.
Dr. Tripura Pidikiti addressed the participants and highlighted the importance of experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and industry-integrated pedagogy in modern engineering education. She also discussed the role of IEEE IES in supporting global networking, professional development, and technical collaboration opportunities for students, faculty members, and Young Professionals.
Technical Sessions and Hands-On Learning
The FDP featured hands-on technical sessions conducted with support from MathWorks experts. Participants received practical exposure to:
- MATLAB and Simulink environments
- Arduino and Raspberry Pi integration
- Embedded systems and sensor interfacing
- AIoT applications and cloud-based visualization using ThingSpeak
- Real-time engineering problem-solving methodologies
The programme emphasized activity-based pedagogy and practical implementation methods suitable for engineering laboratories and interdisciplinary teaching environments. Participants gained hands-on exposure to embedded platforms, AIoT systems, and real-time engineering applications, enabling them to bridge theoretical concepts with practical engineering implementation.
Innovation, Research, and Industry Interaction
The offline sessions conducted at the Rajagiri campus became a major highlight of the programme. Sessions by Dr. Jose Joseph and Robin Francis focused on innovation ecosystems, assistive technologies, and the societal impact of technology-driven solutions.
Dr. Biju K, Chair of the IEEE IA/IE/PELS Joint Chapter Kerala, and Dr. Anil K Roy, President of the IEEE Sensors Council Kerala Chapter, introduced participants to research opportunities, AIoT systems, sensor technologies, and IEEE Sensors Council initiatives.
Dr. Tripura Pidikiti also interacted with participants regarding opportunities to organize impactful regional activities under the IEEE IES Hubs & Nodes Initiative through collaboration among IEEE volunteers and organizing teams.
The programme also facilitated discussions on interdisciplinary collaboration, AIoT laboratory initiatives, and innovation-oriented engineering education models.
IEEE IES President’s Address
One of the key highlights of the FDP was the online interaction with Prof. Juan José Rodríguez-Andina, President of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society and faculty member at the University of Vigo, Spain.
In his address, Prof. Rodríguez-Andina discussed the global opportunities available through IEEE IES, including international collaborations, technical conferences, research networking, and student engagement initiatives. He encouraged participants to actively engage with IEEE technical communities and emphasized the role of IEEE IES in advancing industrial electronics, interdisciplinary innovation, and global collaboration.
Industrial Visit and Practical Exposure
The FDP also included an industrial visit to Goose Industrial Solutions Pvt. Ltd., where participants received practical exposure to PLC and VFD systems, industrial automation workflows, and real-world implementation practices used in industrial environments.
The visit helped bridge the gap between academic laboratories and industrial applications by providing faculty members with practical insights that can be integrated into teaching and laboratory activities.
Outcomes and Future Initiatives
Advanced technical sessions conducted by Souvick Chatterjee demonstrated the integration of Raspberry Pi with MATLAB for real-time engineering applications and teaching modules. Participants were encouraged to conceptualize innovative teaching activities and project ideas based on the technologies introduced during the FDP.
The programme resulted in several meaningful outcomes, including:
- Initiation of school outreach activities using distributed sensor kits
- Curriculum enhancement support from MathWorks
- Internship opportunities facilitated by Goose Industrial Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
- Strengthened interaction between academia and industry
- The FDP also strengthened awareness about IEEE IES technical communities, interdisciplinary collaboration, and future regional engagement opportunities under the Hubs & Nodes Initiative.
Event Impact
The programme received highly positive feedback from participants for its strong emphasis on hands-on learning, emerging technologies, industry relevance, and IEEE engagement opportunities.
Organized under the IEEE IES Hubs & Nodes Initiative – Hyderabad Hub, the FDP demonstrated how activity-based pedagogy, AIoT systems, embedded technologies, and industry collaboration can significantly enhance engineering education and professional development.
The programme highlighted the growing role of IEEE IES in enabling sustainable regional ecosystems that connect education, industry, innovation, and global technical collaboration through meaningful engagement and hands-on learning.