Management

Lavkamad Chandra
Correspondent and Principal
‘Educating youth in skills and applying technology at all levels is the focus of education at AIAT.’ ‘I returned to India to give back to the society and my parents. I’m doing Karma Yoga at Auroville.’

Mr. Lavkamad Chandra, Correspondent and Principal. He has a master’s in engineering from RWTH Aachen University in Germany. He is with Karin Latzke the founder of Auroville Institute of Applied Technology/AIAT and Director of the AIAT College. The AIAT focuses on skill-centric education from ITI-Certificate to bachelor’s degree in applied sciences and technology. The vocational education program has been running for 20 years. He has been instrumental in introducing the Dual System of Vocational Training in collaboration with ten industrial partners in Pondicherry. He has over 40 years of experience in operations research management, Business Application System Development, strategy, and logistics with companies including ThyssenKrupp, Lufthansa, and Airbus.

Angelika Kolb
Head of Pedagogy and Counsellor
‘Since 2005, I've wholeheartedly supported AIAT in various ways: as a consultant to the management; with project-based and student-centered teacher training, with the "I can' programme to improve the trainees; self-confidence; as a teacher taking classes in German; maintaining social media, redesigning the AIAT webpage, working with German senior experts, as a photographer and with donations of scholarships. I’m a mentor for German-speaking volunteers and support AIAT in raising funds in Germany. It’s part of my Dharma.’

Ms. Angelika Kolb: She is an Assistant professor of the German language, has a Masters in German and Psychology, and has 35 years of experience as a psychologist, body- and psychotherapist. She has also been teaching and practicing a relaxation method called Kum Nye for 40 years: we work with inner and outer energies, feelings, breathing, mind and space. It is a path that brings joy. She mentors Volunteers from German-speaking countries and has been instrumental in raising funds for AIAT in Germany since 2005.

Arumugam Subburayan
Vice Principal
‘I deliver social service by helping students with technical skills.’

Mr. Arumugam: HR Manager and Vice Principal of ITI in AIAT. He completed a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and worked for the Department of Employment and Training Government of T.N. for 38 years, beginning as an instructor and retiring in 2017 as the principal of Government ITI, Ulundurpet, district Villupuram.

Jürgen Pütz
Co-Executive
The new direction in AIAT which the Institute is being able to explore in conjunction with PTU - Pondicherry Technical University offers exiting range of educational opportunities which are a new experience for youth in this area.

I have been involved in organic farming, horticulture, silviculture, afforestation and soil and water conservation, Watershed Management, Tank Rehabilitation and Rural Development projects since I joined the Auroville Project in its initial stages. I have successfully completed and continue to coordinate a number of projects supported by both Indian and foreign funding agencies. Palmyra Centre has received National Groundwater Augmentation Award for year 2008 from The Ministry of Water Resources, New Delhi on. We hope to meet the expectations which will be attached to this development.

Administration

Anbazhagan
Head of Accounting & General Administration
After my experience at AIAT - I stand for the rural youth getting the right skill training education. My work is the learning of opportunities for everyone aspiring for a better life. I work towards cultural development and communal harmony.

Mr. Anbazhagan – MBA (Banking & Finance) He joined AIAT in 2006 as Head of Accounting and General Administration. He is responsible for finances, accounting, building maintenance, admission and examination related activities with Government institutions. He is also involved in marketing. He is very much engaged for the student’s cause and growth. He is a link between AIAT and the villages of the Auroville bio-region.

Muthuvel
Admin. Assistant
I work at AIAT to support the management, helping to achieve their goals to better the livelihood of the youth of this area.

He has a bachelor’s degree and more than ten years of experience. He is responsible for the maintenance of the student records, Government related administration work.

J. Ramachandran
Driver
Auroville is doing good work for the people. That’s why I selected Auroville ITI. I believe that it’s the right place for me

Mr. J. Ramachandran - Driver: 10th passed. Work experience: Fourteen years as a diesel mechanic. Skills: Driving, Diesel Mechanic, Volleyball.

Department of Electronics, Communication & Electrical Engineering

Manikandan Sekar
Head of the department of Electronic and Electric Lab & Senior Instructor
Before embarking on the journey of inventing something new, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the existing inventions and understand how they work. This will not only give you a solid foundation for your own innovations but also demonstrate the importance of studying and appreciating the developments that came before us. So, let’s delve into the world of existing inventions, learn from them, and be inspired to create even more remarkable ones.
I approach teaching electronics with a focus on answering the “why” behind each concept and component. My classes are not just about rote memorization, but about understanding the underlying principles and applications of electronics. By asking “spark putting questions” and explaining the reasoning behind the design and function of electronic components. I aim to inspire curiosity and critical thinking in my students, helping them to build a deeper understanding of electronics that goes beyond memorization and into a true appreciation of the field.

I did my B. Tech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. After completing my UG I worked as site engineer in a contract company. In 2013 I came to AIAT as an instructor of the EM department. This was a turning point in my career and I started loving my role as a teacher. I really enjoy this role and I’m grateful to AIAT for giving me this wonderful opportunity to bring many young people to a right path.

Mohammed Mahommed A
Assistant Professor in the Department of Green Electric and Electronics Engineering
I have worked on several innovative projects, including a biogas oven, an electric scooter, a solar power plant, a windmill power plant, and an automatic dustbin. I have experience in syllabus development for the B.Voc program in Green Electric and Electronic Engineering and I’m also a member of the Board of Studies (BOS).
I have experience with Project-Based Learning (PBL), where students create their own projects based on the syllabus, which greatly enhances their understanding. While teaching, PBL has proven to be an effective tool for fostering deeper comprehension among students. I also received training from German volunteers through the 'I CAN' program, which focuses on modern teaching methods. These techniques have helped me improve knowledge sharing and enhance students' skills

I did my M. Tech in Electronics Engineering and started my career as Assistant Professor at Mailam Engineering College, Villupuram. Then I started my own project center for the students to help them to make innovative projects. Thus I got good experience in teaching and doing real time projects. Then I joined AIAT in 2017 as an Electronic Mechanic faculty member, and I am doing innovative projects like Smart Dustbin, mobile signal detector, solar charger, DC motor in series and parallel module, etc. Poor students get extra counseling and we help them to get good jobs. 

Department of Information Technology

Ravi Shankar.D
Head of Information Technology Department, Computer Science senior instructor
My specialisation and my experience in the industry as a network engineer gave me a deep understanding of IT at the system level. Giving the students a global vision of computer systems and the context in which their project fits, gives them a better understanding of what they are asked to achieve. This approach has proven to me more efficient for faster learning.

MCA, M. Phil. in Computer Science; around 15+ years of experience in the area of ‘Lecturing about Computer Hardware, Networks and System Administration’.

I have done a dissertation on Analysis of BGP Vulnerability and Practical Security Implication. I’m a CCNA certification holder and can handle CISCO networking devices.

From 2006-2010 I worked for Achariya Group of World Class Education, Pondicherry as Sr. Lecturer in Cambrian College – Achariya Campus-Canada for Software Engineering Technology (SOTY) and Computer Engineering Technology (CETY) courses.

2010 until present I’m working as a facilitator for Information Communication Technology at AIAT.

Sanitation and Hygienic staff

G. Irusammal
Sanitation in-charge
I like our atmosphere and love to help to uplift the career of the students. I admired our principal’s activities to improve the life of our students.

8th STD, has been working in AIAT since the beginning of 2004.

Faculty for Employability Skills, English, Communication and Extra Curriculum Activities

Ms.Shrishti Thakur
Assistant Professor for English
My teaching approach focuses on encouraging students to actively engage with the language through practical communication exercises. I believe in the power of immersive learning where students participate in discussions, group activities, and real-life simulations, which not only builds their confidence but also accelerates their grasp of English. My career goal is to help students overcome language barriers and enhance their communication skills to succeed in diverse fields.

Assistant Professor for English, M.A, in English from Pondicherry University. She also teaches Hindi and has joined the Auroville Institute of Applied Technology in 2024.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mr. Maria Antoine Pushparaj
Senior Instructor, Department of Mechatronics and Production
Mechanical engineering is known for their broad scope of expertise and for working on a wide range of machines. Mechanical engineering often is regarded as the broadest of the traditional engineering fields, there are many opportunities for specialization in the industry or technology. Mechanical engineering invents machines and structures that exploit those elements in order to serve a useful purpose and solve a problem. Original design and the practical issue of making something that works are the themes behind any engineering endeavor. An engineer creates a machine or product to help someone solve a technical problem. The engineer might start from a blank sheet of paper, conceive something new, develop and refine it so that it works reliably, and all the while satisfy the constraints of safety, cost, and manufacturability.

Mr. Maria Antoine Pushparajis the faculty for the department of Mechatronics and production department. He has done his master’s in computer Aided design and Manufacturing (Mechanical) with 7 International and 14 National journals and has a wide range of outsourcing calibration service for various industries and has teaching experience in ANNA university and Pondicherry affiliated engineering colleges. A lifetime member for IISTE.