Branding Essentials:Ideas to Impact, KPR Institute Engineering and Technology, Autonomous Engineering Institution, Coimbatore, India

The Centre for Staff Development (CSD), KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, organized a sesiion titled “Branding Essentials: Ideas to Impact” for Heads of Departments, Heads and Directors. Resource person Dr.Akila Muthuramalingam, Principal, KPRIET handled the interactive session focused on enabling academic departments and centres to develop a clear, credible and consistent identity aligned with the institutional brand of KPRIET.

The session highlighted the importance of academic branding in building visibility, credibility and recognition through evidence-based communication. Participants explored how their units could move beyond merely reporting activities and instead communicate measurable outcomes, distinctive capabilities and meaningful impact. The workshop introduced a six-part brand-building framework covering Identity, Differentiation, Evidence, Story, Visibility and Reputation.

Participants were guided to identify their unit’s key strengths, target audiences, areas of expertise, evidence of achievement and the associations they wanted stakeholders to remember. The session also covered the academic ecosystem, including teaching and learning, student outcomes, faculty capability, industry engagement, research and innovation, student experience, infrastructure and societal impact. Emphasis was placed on using verified data and avoiding generic or unsupported claims.

A hands-on team activity enabled participants to develop a Brand Canvas, positioning statement, brand pillars, proof points, target audiences, tagline, signature initiatives and content themes. Participants were also introduced to the use of ChatGPT/Claude as thinking and drafting partners and Canva for developing a one-page visual identity. The importance of verifying all AI-generated claims and maintaining institutional visual standards was reinforced.

The workshop concluded with selected teams presenting their 30-second brand pitches and reviewing their outputs using the Five-Second Brand Test. The session encouraged participants to refine their departmental and centre identities around expertise, outcomes and impact while maintaining alignment with the KPRIET institutional identity.