Dr. N. C. Balaji – NPTEL STAR
Dr. N. C. Balaji, Associate Professor and Head of the Civil Engineering Department at the National Institute of Engineering (NIT), Mysuru, believes that “the best teachers are also the best learners.” His academic journey began at NIE, where he completed a Diploma, B.E., and M.Sc. in Civil Engineering, and continued at the Centre for Sustainable Technologies, IISc Bangalore, where he earned a Ph.D. in Building Science. Although his formal Ph.D. coursework comprised only 12 credits, the IISc experience shaped his research orientation and exposed him to high-quality, practice-oriented scholarship – an influence he carries into teaching and consultancy.
Alongside teaching, Dr. Balaji has worked as a structural consultant, constantly applying classroom theory to real-world projects. He recognized early that civil engineering’s rapid technological evolution demands continuous upskilling; so even after achieving a Ph.D. he remained a dedicated learner. It was at IISc, through conversations with professors, that he first heard of the vision behind NPTEL, and when the platform launched he enrolled in 2017 to learn directly from faculty at premier institutes.
What began as an academic pursuit soon grew into something deeper. Beyond subject expertise, he discovered in NPTEL a masterclass in pedagogy. Each course became a twofold learning experience – on one hand, enriching his knowledge of civil engineering, and on the other, offering valuable insights into effective teaching practices. He carefully observed how professors structured content, used digital tools, and wove in real-world examples drawn from industry practice. As he emphasized, “unlike other platforms like YouTube, NPTEL’s content is genuine and scrutinized. Every video is verified, ensuring both quality and accuracy.” For Dr. Balaji, NPTEL evolved into more than just a source of knowledge; it became a living classroom on how knowledge itself could and should be imparted.
His philosophy is rooted in a refreshing humility: he deliberately approaches every new subject as a “fresher,” believing that this mindset is essential for genuine growth. That attitude is not merely personal.
Dr. Balaji models it for his students by studying alongside them, taking exams with them, and showing that learning never stops.
The badges he has earned – NPTEL Believers, NPTEL Domain Scholar, NPTEL Evangelist, and Elite + Silver – are tangible evidence that authentic dedication to learning often brings recognition, even when accolades are not the goal.
The knowledge from NPTEL feeds directly into both his consulting practice and the way he teaches.
A memorable example: an IIT Kharagpur bridge-design course that used Python for structure detailing struck him as “unique.” Inspired by this, he went beyond the course’s scope – which didn’t originally include visualizations – by writing his own Python programs to generate graphical outputs for bridge designs.
This hands-on extension deepened his understanding and helped him bring more applied, tech-driven content to his students.
That same curiosity led him to interdisciplinary subjects like design thinking, where he explored links between civil engineering and product/mechanical design; discoveries that keep his teaching and professional work fresh and relevant.
Having completed nearly fifty NPTEL courses, Dr. Balaji has witnessed the platform’s transformation – from the days of laminated certificates and grainy videos into today’s world-class ecosystem with subtitles, digital boards, and AI-enabled features. For him, the platform’s evolution has been as inspiring as the courses themselves. Each refinement in delivery nudged him to refine his own teaching practices.
He views NPTEL as far more than a repository of lectures; it is a vital, open-source platform that democratizes access to high-quality education.
What makes his journey unique is not the number of courses he has completed, but the way he has engaged with them. For him, education is not just about acquiring knowledge; it is about observing how knowledge is shared, adapting it to one’s own context, and passing it forward. In that sense, NPTEL has become his pedagogical compass, guiding him as much in how to teach as in what to teach, and reminding us that the deepest learning is the kind that continues, evolves, and inspires others to follow.
– written by Satyam Shukla