BACK TO BASICS, KPR Institute Engineering and Technology, Autonomous Engineering Institution, Coimbatore, India

The "Back to Basics" refresher study group, organized by the IIChE Student Chapter, has truly left a lasting impact on the academic journeys of its participants. The two-month program, which recently concluded on March 30th, 2023, has been a resounding success, delivering tangible outcomes that have transformed the lives of its attendees.
One such outcome is the participation of three student groups in Yesist 23, where they were able to showcase their innovative ideas. This was a significant achievement for these students, who had never before participated in such an event. They credit the "Back to Basics" classes for giving them the courage and confidence to face this challenge and succeed.
The impact of these classes has not been limited to chemical engineering students alone. We have seen students from other engineering departments also benefit from these sessions, as they provided a strong foundation for core concepts and instilled a sense of discipline to study on a daily basis.
Another noteworthy outcome of these classes is that they have inspired more students to prepare for the GATE examination. The hands-on approach of the "Back to Basics" has instilled in students a sense of confidence and motivation to pursue their academic goals.
All in all, the "Back to Basics" refresher study group has been a transformative experience for its participants, providing them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to excel in their academic pursuits. It has truly been a testament to the IIChE Student Chapter's commitment to academic excellence and student success.
The "Back to Basics" refresher study group, organized by the IIChE Student Chapter, has been a valuable learning experience for all involved. While the program has achieved many successes, some challenges have also been identified that can be addressed for future programs.
One key lesson learned is that only second-year chemical engineering students participated in these classes regularly. This indicates a need for better outreach and promotion to other students of different years. Another challenge identified was low participation rates, with only 20% of students attending the classes regularly. This may be due to a lack of awareness about the program, scheduling conflicts, or other factors. In the future, the IIChE Student Chapter could explore ways to better promote the program by partnering with academic mentors to encourage student participation.
Finally, transportation was identified as a significant pain point for many students. As the classes took place in the evenings, students may have faced difficulty in arranging transportation from campus. Future programs could consider offering transportation services or changing the timing of the classes to better accommodate students' schedules and logistical needs.
Overall, these lessons learned will be valuable in shaping the design and execution of future programs, to ensure maximum student participation and engagement.