Dean – IQAC

Dr. Palani Natha Raja M is a distinguished academician and industry expert, bringing forth over 32 years of invaluable experience. He earned his PhD in Quality Engineering and Management from IIT Delhi in 2008, following his ME in Mechanical Engineering from BITS Pilani in 1994 and BE from Madurai Kamaraj University in 1992.

Dr. Raja commenced his professional journey with a commendable stint in industries, garnering invaluable insights for four years before transitioning to academia. Since 1997, he has been an integral part of Thiagarajar College of Engineering, starting as a Lecturer and steadily ascending the ranks to become Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor in 2005, 2008, and 2011 respectively. His leadership roles include serving as the Head of the Department of Mechatronics from 2017 to 2025 and fulfilling administrative responsibilities as Registrar from 2006 to 2016, Dean of Planning and Development from 2016 to 2021, and as Principal-in-Charge from 2021 to 2024.

Dr. Raja’s commitment to academic excellence is further underscored by his tenure as Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) II & III Coordinator for seven years, where he spearheaded initiatives securing funds exceeding 25 Crores for the establishment of new labs, procurement of equipment, establishment of a skills center, and faculty development. His dedication to educational reform also saw him serving as Assistant Director (on lien) to AICTE from 2001 to 2004.

Dr. Raja serves as an esteemed NBA Accreditation Expert Member and Chairman of NBA Committees, contributing significantly to the enhancement of educational standards. Additionally, he plays a pivotal role as a panel member in NAAC’s New Accreditation Norms Committee, furthering the cause of quality assurance in higher education.  He won the “President of India Scout Awardee” in the year 1985. He has been awarded the “Career Award for Young Teachers” instituted by AICTE in the year 2003 and “Eminent Engineer Award” by the Institution of Engineers (I), Madurai in the year 2013. He has completed the “CMI Level 5 Award in Management and Leadership” offered by Dudley University of Technology and the Chartered Management Institute(CMI), UK, under the AICTE- United Kingdom India Education Research Initiative programme in the year 2021.

He is a life member of the Indian Value Engineering Society (INVEST) and Operational Research Society of India (ORSI), India