Foreword

When I was approached to write a foreword to this compilation of the life journeys of the PSG Class of 1986, I felt happy for a couple of reasons.  I have been fortunate to closely interact with many in this class during their student days.  I have also been in touch with many on and off after graduation. Graduates of this class have been progressing well professionally as well as getting recognized by the communities where they live, through their contributions.

In the past, the employment scenario for engineers was characterized by lifelong loyalty to their organization, with mobility within the confinements of geographical boundaries of the organization spread. In addition, there was a lifelong adherence to a basic discipline, though shifting from a technical stream to a managerial stream in the course of time was the norm.

However, going through the stories and the journeys in this volume, I find that information technology has brought about a paradigm shift. These graduates have successfully refocused their core competencies depending on professional opportunities they identified, which change continuously and are often not at all related to basic specialization at the undergraduate level.

Mobility across borders for employment has now become the norm rather than the exception, as this offers opportunities for better employment along with professional challenges and a better quality of life.  Technological developments have enabled large scale, across the border movements of graduates for employment and entrepreneurship.   In many cases the basic undergraduate qualification becomes only a stepping-stone to take advantage of whatever opportunities come in the way. 

As an educator, it occurs to me that this is also a pointer for designing an education system that should make graduates capable of adapting themselves to fast changing technology and business scenarios.

We rejoice in the success and achievements of the graduates of this class.  It gives us confidence that the current and future generation of our alumni also will follow the path shown by the trailblazers such as these. My best wishes for the continuation of these journeys to excellence.  And best wishes to those that are beginning it in this changing world!

With warm regards to all of the 1982-86 alumni from the PSG College of Technology.

Dr. Radhakrishnan

Director

PSG Institute of Advanced Studies

Coimbatore, India