Sandip Patil

For Sandip Patil, NPTEL began as a box to tick rather than an opportunity to explore. He first heard about the platform in 2017, but it was only in 2022 that he completed his first NPTEL course, ‘Python for Data Science’, in order to meet his college’s appraisal requirements.

One of the things that caught his attention was the course’s use of case studies. He found them thought-provoking and useful enough to share with his students, bringing practical examples into his own classroom. A subsequent course on ‘Software Testing’ introduced him to automated testing tools, which he later discussed with his students as well. 

Sandip holds a B.E and an M.Tech in Electronics and Telecommunication. He is an Assistant Professor in the Information Technology Department at MGM College of Engineering  Mumbai. He has been teaching since 2010 and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the same field, with his research focused on Computer Networks and Internet of Things. His teaching interests overlap with several NPTEL courses, allowing him to strengthen his understanding of the subjects he teaches.

One question from ‘Demystifying Networking’ stayed with Sandip: if IPv4 was already doing the job, why was IPv6 needed? The question changed the way he approached technology. Instead of accepting familiar concepts as fixed facts, he began asking what problems they were created to solve, what limitations had emerged, and how changing needs had shaped their evolution. This shift in thinking helped him look beyond simply memorising protocols and understand the larger forces shaping the internet. 

He gradually developed a more focused approach to learning: identify your domain, fix it and start building your expertise in it.

He has completed nine courses on the platform, focusing primarily on computer networks and IT. Among these, he has earned Elite certificates in ‘Cloud Computing’, ‘Introduction to IoT’, ‘Computer Networks and Internet Protocol’, and ‘Demystifying Networking’. Currently, he is enrolled in another two courses: ‘Cybersecurity’ and ‘Computer Architecture’.

Sandip credits the shift in perspective he gained through NPTEL with changing how he approached projects. As part of his college appraisal, he worked on ‘Agribot Solar’, a project designed to support agricultural activities. He presented it at an Ideathon organised by the Mumbai University Ideas Foundation Incubation Centre, where it secured fifth place among 500 projects. Later that month, he presented the same idea at another competition organised by SCRS by FIU, USA, securing the first runner-up position. 

Beyond the knowledge gained, Sandip values the opportunity to demonstrate his understanding through NPTEL’s examinations.

A rigorous assessment gives learners a more meaningful way to establish their understanding of a subject.

He encourages his students to adopt the same focused approach. Choosing a domain and developing a strong foundation in it, he says, can help them enter their professional lives with both relevant knowledge and a stronger resume. 

For Sandip, being a teacher does not mean being done with learning. He intends to keep exploring his field alongside teaching and research, keeping pace with developments in the subjects he works with. His only mantra: never let the student within you die. 

~written by Khushi