Jonnala Subba Reddy – NPTEL STAR
An Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Lakireddy Bali Reddy College of Engineering in Andhra Pradesh, Prof Subba Reddy, not just brings teaching experience but also a relentless passion for lifelong learning.
Hailing from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, his academic journey began at a Telugu-medium government high school. From there, he went on to complete his BTech at SRKR Engineering College, followed by an MTech at IIT Roorkee, graduating from both places with first-class distinction. Currently, he is also pursuing his PhD at IIT Hyderabad under the guidance of Prof Ashok Kumar Pandey, working in the area of Vibrations and Control.
He was introduced to NPTEL in 2017, inspired by a fellow colleague who had already completed several courses. What started as a curiosity soon became a deep commitment. His course interests range from Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Management, basic English, to education-related courses.
Today, Professor Subba Reddy boasts an impressive 64 NPTEL certifications. His achievements include 24 STAR recognitions, 5 domain certifications, and 2 NPTEL Champion Badges. Notably, he is also one of the very few individuals to hold a domain certification in Robotics.
The reason for this interest in NPTEL content, compared to other certification courses according to him, is “NPTEL gives learners structured and high-quality education from IIT Professors. The lectures are well recorded and explanations are clear and precise,” he shares.
While certifications certainly push him, it is the joy of learning that drives him. “Since I enjoy the process, it never feels like extra work”, he says. He also bonds with his children, who are NIT/IIT graduates through the learnings from NPTEL at times. “They’re working in tech, and I do computer science courses sometimes, just to keep up with them!” he shares.
He especially appreciates the platform’s advanced planning and learner-friendly structure. “Assignments, video uploads, exam dates, everything is announced two weeks ahead. That makes time management possible, even if you are juggling full-time teaching jobs like mine.”In recent semesters, Professor Reddy has impressively completed over 10 courses alongside his teaching duties, all while simultaneously working on his PhD.
He is all praises for how NPTEL functions – from the thoughtfully designed assessments to learner-centric initiatives.
He lauds the platform’s assessment system, calling it fair, challenging, and robust. “You can’t just jump to the assignments, you have to engage with the lecture first”.
He is also grateful for NPTEL’s conference funding initiatives for active learners attending reputed conferences. Moreover, he is very much appreciative of how responsive NPTEL is regarding course suggestions. “If a subject is not available and you let them know, they reach out to the experts and try to bring it in.”
Prof Subba Reddy is also an active participant in the NPTEL STAR event. He speaks highly of the academic engagement and community building that happens there. “Listening to fellow learners and professors from IITs across India is deeply motivating. I look forward to the academic discussions and the networking opportunity every time”.
His advice to learners: “Be curious, don’t just enroll, but engage. Register for exams, take notes, and use the forums. The professors are responsive to queries. The system is solid. NPTEL gives you access to some of the best minds in the country. Make the best use of it.”
Through NPTEL, Professor Reddy hasn’t just stayed updated, he’s been inspired, and continues to inspire others.
– Written by Asha Thangaraj