What has influenced your decision to take up teaching? Or head a college?
Well since childhood I was fond of teaching and also studying. I have taught my younger brother, sister and also many of batch mates during engineering and MBA and now also it's my passion. For me it's one way of nation building.
I never thought I would head an institution. But I do my job with full sincerity, integrity and putting 200%. I believe that if our efforts are true, success would be ours. So when I have carried out certain good projects and shown the results of many processes, the management has given me this responsibility. I accepted it without any discussion and also not even understanding what was in store for me. It was a good learning for me. In fact every day is a learning day
Do you teach? If yes, what kind of teaching methods do you use to keep students interested in your classes?
Yes I teach. Even when I was head of the department I used to teach undergraduates. Since 2007 after taking up responsibility of the Institute I teach postgraduates. I teach for every class as if it's my first class. The same preparation and reading new material every time even if I m teaching the same subject is required. Power point presentation, conventional method of backboard and chalk, involving every student into learning and delivering, giving lot of live examples and case studies is my way of teaching.
How do your colleagues react to your ideas and initiatives? How do you respond?
Initially, I have faced lot of resistance in department and at Institute when I initiated some changes. But after seeing the results, people have accepted my way of working. My classes are attended this year by many of my teachers and everyone enjoys and also admires the initiatives. Now they know it's for their betterment.
I don't get affected by criticism or praise. I do what seems right. My elders blessing and my parent's ashirwad is always with me.
What are the challenges you face from students and how do you overcome them or turn them around?
Today's youth do not have mentoring; parents may not have time, and they may not have an elder person at home. Due to nuclear families, they don't learn doing something for the extended family. Some of them may get used to being self-centered.
I know I have the power of convincing and getting things done, even if it may look harsh initially. I don't mind getting some blame or criticism for good cause.
My biggest asset is my students' faith in everything we do and unconditional support. Yes, on some issues there were certain differences but now for many of them I am a role model and I pray to almighty to let me perform with similar zeal to my last breath.
What are the challenges of administering a college? As a young director, how do senior HODs or Deans react to your
Policies etc?
Within 14 years we have brought up the institute where others have not been able to reach even in 30 yrs. Even if there are issues we solved together as I always discussed with the group before taking any decision. Initial resistance was there, but now they have seen the results.
We face problems at every point of time in every profession but to fight and solve them is what I learnt after becoming director. I thank my chairman Mr. Sunil Raisoni for making me so tough to face every challenge in the job.
Do you think our students and teachers are working in a professional style? What needs to be done immediately in Indian colleges?
Indian students' capacity and knowledge is comparable to anyone on this globe but only its matter of our education system which centers around examination oriented approach rather than learning based or application based approach.
Our students are habituated to working hard only exam point of view whether those are university exams or competitive exams. Once they learn to crack these exams, even a little deviation from the set pattern affects their performance.
In comparison, universities abroad may have less content but it is application oriented they need to study a lot, read a lot and to learn from book only gives them good knowledge.
If we remove the so called tuition classes, books, VBDs, Key to success, Short notes from the Indian education system and adapt continuous evaluation system and have interdisciplinary courses, our students and teachers will be more professional.
Can better delivery & more effective administration of existing curriculum enhance student's chances of employment?
Yes, I strongly believe better delivery and good curriculum designing and implementation can enhance the employment. We could show the results within one year of getting autonomy. The teachers know how to design the curriculum and take the pains to deliver it by learning it himself/herself… implement new methods of evaluations and effective administration in terms of rules regulation definitely improves the employment
What are your future plans?
I don't plan future but yes for the growth of Institute, I am sure to take this institution to the international level. We made some beginning, but there are miles to go
How can we get competent postgraduates to choose teaching as a career?
Or attract people from industry to interact with students or faculty?
Being director of an autonomous Institute we tried to incorporate many skills to evaluate and also to enhance teaching skills in our present postgraduate programs. Those are personality development, presentation skills, teaching without any instrument/ blackboard so that he/she should be able to explain the idea in mind without any tool. We are carrying out special course on teaching methodology and research methodology workshops so that there is focused and systematic research. We have also made evaluation of research work in such a way that post graduate students cannot do cut and paste which normally all students do. We support them financially also. So nurturing and creating teachers and identifying potential teachers is also done at institute level.
What could be a sustainable model to improve the teaching skills of existing faculty?
Until and unless existing faculty undergo massive learning and practice model, and get attached to some knowledge partner it will be very difficult to sustain this competition. Yes, first job they will get easily but they will not be able to retain it for long.
We give personality development training to the faculty, carry out training need analysis (TNA) and also carry out orientation. We have many knowledge partners in various disciplines for our teachers which update their skill and capacity.
