I look for applicants who are interested in analytics and are not afraid of numbers, says Professor Manish

In conversation with shiksha.com, Professor Manish Velankar at Vivekanand Business School talks at length about the importance of staying abreast with the latest trends in the corporate world. Not only for students but it has become a necessity for the educational institutions to revisit their curriculum, seek suggestions from specialists, alumni to update the same. The corporate sector these days refrains from hiring talent with no practical exposure or hands-on experience as it increases the training time. Hence, updating the curriculum and helping students become industry-ready has become the need of the hour.

Read the complete interview below

Q: What are the salient features of the teaching methodology adopted by your college? How does this differ from others?

A: We follow a FLIP classroom methodology which is case study-based learning. Before every class, the students are given a case study related to the topic being taught. The students are supposed to read the same and come to the class. A group of students solves the case completely and makes a presentation on the same. The class proceeds with a discussion of the concepts in the case.

Q: How are you preparing your students to be Industry ready?

A: Industry readiness is a crucial factor that all the schools and institutions are now focusing on. These days industry or corporate are refraining from spending a lot of time in training students. Rather they prefer to hire students who have been given enough practical exposure and hands-on experience during the curriculum itself. To help students become industry ready:

• ‘Board of Studies’ (BOS) meeting is held every academic year. In this meeting alumni of the institute and the industry experts are also called for inputs on the curriculum. This makes sure that the coursework is updated to match the industry expectations
• In analytics subjects which are taken by me, I take practical cases which are very close to real-life scenarios. Also, the problems are solved in the computer labs where students solve the answers hands-on

Q: What are the qualities you are looking for in student applicants? What qualities do they need to do well in your course?

A: I teach in the Analytics domain. I look for applicants who are interested in analytics and are not afraid of numbers. A background in programming is preferred, though not a necessity

Q: How do you ensure that your course curriculum is up to date and meets industry requirements?

A: ‘Board of Studies (BOS)’ meeting is held every academic year. In this meeting alumni of the institute and the industry experts are also called for inputs on the curriculum. This makes sure that the coursework is updated to match the industry expectations

Q: Is your college receptive to innovation, technology, science & entrepreneurship? How? Could you cite some examples of these?

A: Our college has various student cells to develop their personalities in a well-rounded fashion. There is a student cell for entrepreneurship that acts as an incubator for innovation and ideas for startups. We have an annual event on analytics. Students take part in organiz=sing this event. The ideas discussed in this event are very useful for the students.