Five UCM Graduate Students, Two Faculty Members Collaborate on Presentations at ATMAE Virtual National Conference

 

Meeting online recently to discuss the University of Central Missouri’s participation in the virtual conference of the Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering (ATMAE) were, left to right beginning from top left, Ahmed Aldakroury, Alexandria, Egypt; Rohit Deshmukh, Mumbai, India; Sahaj Patel, Vadodara, Gujarat, India; Sanket Prakashrao Pople, Nanded, Maharashtra, India; Akshay Venkat Shinde, Mumbai, India; Dr. Roya Azimzadeh, program coordinator, Design and Drafting Technology; Joleen Byerline, instructor, School of Technology Graduate Programs; Dr. Odin Jurkowski, Director, Graduate Education and Research (GER); and Drew Burkeybile, assistant director, GER.

WARRENSBURG, MO – When it comes to graduate education at the University of Central Missouri, the pandemic may change some aspects of the classroom experience, but in the area of research many faculty members and students continue to persevere. That is exactly what’s happening this fall within the School of Technology’s Master of Science in Industrial Management program. Under the guidance of two faculty members, five students have been invited to co-present their collaborative research with faculty at a national conference, Nov. 4-6.

The annual conference of the Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering Technology (ATMAE) is being conducted virtually and is an opportunity to showcase meaningful research conducted by members of the organization in a variety of academic and professional areas. A grant from UCM’s Office of Graduate Education and Research (GER) helps make UCM student participation possible.

Odin Jurkowski, director of GER, said his area is dedicated to assisting faculty members and students in endeavors that allow them to share their research with others, both within and outside of their discipline. This has already been done through events such as the 3MT at UCM and the Graduate Scholarship Symposium, as well as supporting travel to external conferences.

“As COVID-19 has had major impacts on scholarly activities, UCM has pivoted by moving to virtual events. We've also recognized the state, national, and international trends that have shifted conferences to virtual events as well,” Jurkowski said. “By encouraging our own faculty and students to participate virtually we are still able to maintain those experiences in a safe environment. Graduate Education and Research (GER) is happy to be able to continue this support and we appreciate all of the hard work being done by faculty and students across campus."

Student participants in the ATMAE virtual conference are each seeking a Master of Science in Industrial Management. They are Ahmed Aldakroury, Alexandria, Egypt; Rohit Deshmukh and Akshay Venkat Shinde, both of Mumbai, India; Sahaj Patel, Vadodara, Gujarat, India; and Sanket Prakashrao Pople, Nanded, Maharashtra, India. These students will be joined in the event by Dr. Roya Azimzadeh, coordinator of Design and Drafting Technology, and Joleen Byerline, instructor in the School of Technology Graduate Programs.

Azimzadeh and Patel will present “Improving Manufacturing Processes Using Simulation,” and Pople will share his research with Azimzadeh related to their study,“The Effect of Temperature on Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Technique.” Byerline will join Aldakroury for a presentation on “Auditing Innovation Management,” and shares in a presentation with Deshmukh, Shinde and Pople titled “Importance of 5S and Implementing It in Daily Life: An Application on Online Pedagogy.”

Shinde commented on the value of his educational experience at UCM that led up to his participation in the conference. He noted that “being a graduate international student at the University of Central Missouri is the most valuable and enjoyable moment of my life; valuable because during all this time, I am learning new lessons in my life which are going to be helpful in my future for being a good decision-maker; enjoyable because I can explore a lot of other cultures because of my friends at UCM.”

Amid the pandemic, virtual learning has become second nature to most students. The experiences students gain through online presentations and other educational opportunities virtually are preparing them for a professional world that will be heavily embedded in technology.

“Virtual learning is a new and challenging method of learning but in due course of time we have become more adapted to it and it has been helpful to keep a sense of normalcy in our current environment,” Deshmukh said. “It is not the next big thing but it is the new big thing which I think is very beneficial to every student.”

Students also have appreciated the positive working relationships they experience in collaboration with UCM faculty members who care about their success and who supportive their research.

“The wide diversity of scholarly interests among the faculty has encouraged both the cultivation and broadening of my endeavors,” Pople said. “Dr. Roya Azimzadeh has been the ideal advisor. She has helped me to participate in the 2020 ATMAE and IAJC (International Association of Journals and Conferences) Virtual Conference and encouraged me to present scholarly work during the pandemic. The faculties in the Industrial Management Department and the staff at UCM Graduate Education and Research (GER) are also equally supportive.”

According to its website, ATMAE is a professional association with more than 1,000 members who share technology, management, and applied engineering ideas, research and applications that have a positive impact on the future. Its membership includes college and university educators, administrators, students, and industry professionals who are dedicated to solving complex technological problems and developing the competitive technologist and applied engineering workforce.

For more information about the ATMAE virtual conference and UCM’s involvement, contact Joleen Byerline at byerline@ucmo.edu or visit atmae.org.