Author – Ritesh Ranjan: SRM Institute of Science and Technology has taken another important step toward strengthening industry-focused engineering education through its growing collaboration with Schneider Electric. The Department of Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering at SRMIST recently hosted a senior leadership delegation from Schneider Electric at its Centre of Excellence in Human Machine Interface, also known as HMI.
The visit focused on expanding practical learning opportunities for students in areas such as human machine interface systems, industrial automation, smart technologies and real-world engineering innovation. With industries rapidly adopting automation, digital monitoring, connected machines and intelligent control systems, such collaborations are becoming increasingly important for preparing students for the future of work.
The interaction between SRMIST and Schneider Electric marks a strong push toward experiential learning, where students are not limited to classroom theory but are also exposed to practical industrial challenges. Through hackathons, research opportunities, internships and centre-based learning, the partnership aims to create engineers who are technically skilled, industry-aware and innovation-driven.
Centre of Excellence in HMI at SRMIST
The visit comes months after SRMIST and Schneider Electric established the Centre of Excellence in Human Machine Interface in November 2025 at the Kattankulathur campus. The centre was created to give students hands-on exposure to advanced HMI technologies and help them understand how industrial systems operate in real time.
Human machine interface technology plays a crucial role in modern automation systems. It allows operators and engineers to interact with machines, monitor performance, control processes and respond to system alerts. In smart factories, energy systems, utilities and process industries, HMI platforms are used to improve efficiency, safety and decision-making.
The Centre of Excellence has been designed as a platform for innovation-led learning. It benefits students from core engineering branches as well as computing streams by giving them exposure to real-time industrial processes and automation systems. This helps bridge the gap between academic learning and industry application.
For engineering students, such facilities are highly valuable because they provide a practical understanding of how modern industries function. Instead of only learning concepts from textbooks, students can work with actual technologies, observe system behaviour and build solutions for industry-relevant problems.
Focus on Hands-On Learning
The session began with a welcome address by Mr. Sukhmohan Singh, Associate Director – Career Centre, followed by a felicitation address from Prof. M. Leenus J Martin, Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology.
Prof. Martin highlighted the importance of experiential learning in engineering education. He stated that SRMIST is working toward integrating hackathon participation into academic credits. This move is expected to encourage students to participate in real-world problem-solving activities and develop solutions beyond the classroom.
Hackathons are increasingly becoming an important part of technical education because they allow students to work in teams, think creatively, build prototypes and solve practical challenges within a limited time. By connecting hackathons with academic credits, SRMIST is encouraging students to take innovation seriously as part of their academic journey.
Prof. Martin also emphasized that industry-academia collaboration plays a vital role in shaping future-ready engineers. According to him, facilities like the HMI Centre and industry-driven hackathons give students exposure to emerging technologies and innovation ecosystems that are highly relevant to modern engineering careers.
Impact of the HMI Centre
Dr. G. Joselin Retna Kumar, Head of the Department of Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, presented the key achievements of the HMI Centre during the interaction. He explained how the centre is helping students connect classroom learning with industrial applications.
The HMI Centre is not just a laboratory; it is a practical learning environment where students can understand how automation systems are designed, monitored and controlled. It allows them to explore the connection between hardware, software, sensors, control systems and digital interfaces.
This kind of exposure is especially important at a time when industries are moving toward Industry 4.0. Manufacturing units, smart infrastructure systems, power plants, utilities and process industries are using connected devices, automation software, remote monitoring systems and intelligent interfaces to improve productivity.
As a result, students with knowledge of HMI, industrial automation and smart systems are likely to have better career opportunities. They can explore roles in automation engineering, control systems, industrial software, smart manufacturing, embedded systems, plant operations and product development.
Multidisciplinary Hackathon Planned
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the discussion around a multidisciplinary hackathon planned for the 2027–28 academic year. The hackathon will invite students from different disciplines to work on industry-oriented problem statements related to human machine interface systems and industrial automation.
This multidisciplinary approach is important because modern industrial problems often require knowledge from multiple fields. A successful automation solution may involve electronics, instrumentation, computer science, mechanical systems, software development, data analysis and user interface design.
Through the hackathon, students will get an opportunity to collaborate across departments and apply their technical knowledge to practical challenges. This can help them develop important skills such as teamwork, design thinking, rapid prototyping, problem analysis and technical communication.
Schneider Electric Internship Opportunity
Mr. Veerendra Vasamshetty, R&D Director – HMI Business, India, shared an important opportunity for students during the session. He announced that the winning team of the proposed hackathon will receive a three-month paid internship at Schneider Electric.
During the internship, students will have the opportunity to develop and implement their ideas using the hardware created during the competition. This is a strong example of how classroom innovation can be connected with real-world product development.
Such internships are highly valuable because they give students direct exposure to industry practices. They can understand how global engineering companies approach design, testing, implementation and problem-solving. For students, this can be a major step toward building strong professional careers in automation and smart technology sectors.
Global Perspective on Industrial Automation
The interaction also included insights from Mr. Marc Lafont, Vice President – HMI Business, Japan. He encouraged students to think creatively about combining hardware and software across platforms and brands to address live industrial challenges.
His remarks highlighted an important reality of modern industry. Today’s industrial ecosystems are not built around isolated machines or standalone systems. They require seamless integration of intelligent devices, connected platforms, automation tools and digital interfaces.
This global perspective is especially relevant for students who want to work in international engineering environments. Modern engineers must be able to design solutions that are flexible, scalable and compatible with different technologies.
Why the Collaboration Matters
The collaboration between SRMIST and Schneider Electric is important because it supports the development of future-ready engineers. As industries adopt smart manufacturing, AI-enabled systems, industrial digitisation and connected automation, students need skills that go beyond theoretical knowledge.
Human machine interface technology sits at the centre of modern industrial transformation. It connects people, machines, data and control systems. Engineers who understand HMI systems can contribute to smart factories, automation platforms, energy management systems and industrial digitalisation projects.
The partnership also supports skills that employers increasingly value. These include problem-solving, prototyping, cross-disciplinary collaboration, innovation, research orientation and practical implementation. By combining centre-based learning, hackathons and internships, SRMIST is building a stronger practice-oriented model of engineering education.
A Stronger Future Tie-Up
The discussions concluded with both SRMIST and Schneider Electric reaffirming their commitment to support the upcoming hackathon and deepen future collaboration. The partnership is expected to continue in areas such as student research, industrial automation, innovation projects and HMI technology development.
For students at SRMIST, this collaboration offers more than technical exposure. It provides a launchpad to understand industry expectations, work on meaningful problems and prepare for careers in future-focused engineering fields.
As smart manufacturing and industrial digitisation continue to grow, partnerships between universities and global technology companies will become even more essential. SRMIST’s collaboration with Schneider Electric is a strong example of how academia and industry can work together to create skilled, confident and innovation-ready engineers.
FAQs
1. What is the SRMIST and Schneider Electric HMI collaboration about?
The collaboration focuses on strengthening hands-on learning in human machine interface technology, industrial automation and smart systems. It includes practical training, hackathons, research opportunities and internships for students.
2. What is the Centre of Excellence in HMI at SRMIST?
The Centre of Excellence in Human Machine Interface at SRMIST is a dedicated facility that gives students practical exposure to advanced HMI technologies, real-time industrial processes and automation systems.
3. How will SRMIST students benefit from this collaboration?
Students will benefit through hands-on learning, industry-led hackathons, research exposure, internship opportunities and practical experience with HMI and industrial automation technologies.
4. What internship opportunity is linked to the hackathon?
The winning team of the planned multidisciplinary hackathon will receive a three-month paid internship at Schneider Electric, where they can further develop and implement their ideas.
5. Why is HMI important for future engineers?
HMI is important because it connects humans with machines in industrial environments. It is widely used in smart factories, automation systems, control rooms, utilities and digital manufacturing platforms.
