OPEN MINDS - PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS

TIE COMMUNICATION PROGRAM

Participant: Priya Krishnamurthy
Background: Final Year Computer Science Student

Testimonial: "I used to dread group discussions and presentations, often staying silent even when I had good ideas. The TIE program's approach was different - instead of focusing on perfect grammar, they encouraged us to speak first and refine later. The movie dialogue sessions were brilliant; analyzing conversations from films I already loved made learning feel natural. The Open Mic Nights were initially terrifying, but choosing my own topics gave me ownership over my learning. Now I actively participate in technical seminars and even led a project presentation last month. The confidence I gained here has genuinely changed how I approach conversations, both academic and personal."

Most Inspired Aspect: "The realization that communication is about connection, not perfection. Once I stopped worrying about making mistakes and started focusing on expressing my thoughts clearly, everything changed."

INDUSTRIAL EXPOSURE INITIATIVE

Participant: N. Sarmiladevi
Position: Faculty, AI & Data Science Department

Testimonial: "Teaching database concepts and Java development for years, I thought I understood the practical applications well enough. The three-day exposure at Open Minds was eye-opening. Watching real client requirements get translated into actual code, seeing how database queries are optimized for performance rather than just correctness, and observing the iterative design process with user feedback - these are realities you can't simulate in a classroom. I witnessed developers handling last-minute requirement changes, debugging production issues, and collaborating with designers in real-time. When I returned to teaching, I completely restructured my project assignments to mirror these industry practices. My students now work with realistic constraints, timelines, and even mock client feedback sessions."

Most Inspired Aspect: "Seeing the gap between textbook solutions and industry solutions. The way developers balance multiple constraints - time, resources, user experience, and technical feasibility - gave me a new perspective on what I should be preparing my students for."

MULTI-TECHNOLOGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Participant: Rahul Venkatesh
Background: Third Year Electronics & Communication Engineering Student

Testimonial: "Coming from an ECE background, I felt intimidated about transitioning into software development. The 12-week program was structured perfectly - each phase built upon the previous one without feeling overwhelming. Starting with full-stack development gave me a solid foundation, then moving into design work opened my creative side I didn't know existed. The UI/UX phase was particularly challenging because it required thinking from the user's perspective, not just the technical implementation. What I appreciated most was the real client interaction - presenting our work and receiving feedback taught me more about professional communication than any theory class could. By the end, I was confidently discussing project timelines and technical trade-offs with clients."

Most Inspired Aspect: "Learning that technology is ultimately about solving human problems. The moment I started thinking about users rather than just code, both my technical solutions and design thinking improved dramatically."

SPECIALIZED CONTENT DEVELOPMENT

Participant: Anitha Rajesh
Background: MBA Student specializing in Business Analytics

Testimonial: "Working on the UK university content project pushed me to think beyond theoretical frameworks and focus on practical application. Developing modules on data-driven decision making required me to research current industry practices, understand international academic standards, and present complex concepts in accessible ways. The AI chatbot integration component was particularly challenging - I had to learn the technology while simultaneously creating educational content about it. The process taught me to be both a learner and educator simultaneously. Seeing students from different universities actually use and benefit from the content I developed was incredibly fulfilling. It validated that good educational design can transcend geographical and cultural boundaries."

Most Inspired Aspect: "Realizing that creating educational content is itself a form of learning. Every module I developed deepened my own understanding, and knowing that my work was helping students across different countries gave me a sense of global impact I'd never experienced before."

COMMON TRANSFORMATION THEMES

Confidence Building: All participants noted significant improvement in professional confidence and willingness to take on challenging tasks.

Practical Application: The emphasis on real-world scenarios over theoretical exercises resonated strongly across all programs.

Professional Communication: Enhanced ability to articulate ideas clearly and engage with clients/stakeholders professionally.

Holistic Skill Development: Participants appreciated learning multiple complementary skills rather than narrow specialization.

Mentorship Quality: Consistent appreciation for personalized guidance and constructive feedback throughout programs.