Only lecturing method is not sufficient but students want both theoretical and practical exposure, says Professor

In a conversation with Shiksha.com, Dr Meenakshi Kaushik, Professor at the Accurate Group of Institutions talks at length about their industry integrated curriculum. She elaborates on the extensive use of case studies, role-plays, presentations, simulation & business games and peer learning methodologies to impart a quality learning experience to students.

Dr Meenakshi is an MBA and PhD degree holder in Leadership Development from the University of Rajasthan. With over 17 years of rich academic experience, she has developed her expertise in the areas of Human Resource & Organisational Behaviour, Values & Ethics and Leadership development.

Read the complete interview below.

Q: What is the difference between the teaching methodology in your institute and others?

A: As an Academician and seeing the cut-throat competition in the market and the pragmatic nature of employment in the dynamic business world and the modern business education system in higher education has opened up new vistas of practical teaching methodologies for the teachers in business studies. The usual method of teaching in our institution is the lecturing method. To teach the nuts and bolts of dynamic nature of business concepts, but personally feeling, only lecturing method is not sufficient and satisfactory and even students in modern trend prefer their teachers to impart education in theoretical and practical methods to get a clear cut insight.  Our institution uses various teaching methods such as Case study, Roleplay, Simulation and business games, Research-based individual/group projects, Learning in communities (Team learning), Hands-on learning and Internships, group discussions on real industry-based issues and brainstorming, Industry visits, Films and audiovisual methods teaching with a digital edge, Problem-based learning (PBL), Business Quiz, Workshops and conferences and Short written exercises. Due to the Covid -19 pandemic, presently we keep on conducting and inviting industry speakers online to impart their sessions on real industry-based issues and various other entrepreneurial activities.

Q: What is the key attributes that a student should have in order to qualify for admissions and get top grades in your institutions? 

A: To qualify for admissions, a student must fulfil the eligibility criteria which is to have a bachelor's degree in any programme from a recognised university in India. Different courses have different scorecards and percentile requirements. Along with the bachelor’s degree, an applicant must also go through either of the nationally accepted management qualifying exams such as MAT, CAT or XAT exams and clear those with good scores followed by GD/PI.

Our institution is also imparting scholarship schemes for meritorious students seeking admission to our campus. Scholarships are been given based on CAT/ XAT/ CMAT/ ATMA/ Academic records and the work experience of the candidates. Once the scholarship is approved the student would be issued a separate letter for the grant of scholarship.

Our institution’s experienced counsellors also impart good counselling to admission seekers based on their psychometric analysis. We also develop the Reasoning, Aptitude, Analytical skill of the candidates by conducting Case studies, Management games, Simulation games, Skill-based training programmes of NPTEL, Swayam and through many more platforms. Along with these, students also participate in extracurricular activities and sports and many more kinds of activities to groom their overall personality.

To perform well in the curriculum, we expect students to be dedicated and punctual about the classes. Though self-study is mandatorily needed but classroom sessions do help in doubt clarifications.

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

A: We are coming up with industry integrated courses and we also impart practical knowledge about the real market, jobs, conducting regular classes of personality development and grooming, and also conduct a case study, role plays and various management games to enhance their analytical capability. We also have different clubs such as HR, Marketing, Finance, Entrepreneurial clubs where students participate in various activities and learn many new skills required by the industry.

Apart from that our esteemed institution keeps on taking inputs from the industry to frame its curriculum to suit their needs, accordingly we train our students.

We also conduct various certification programmes as per the requirements of the market.

A number of subjects have been introduced considering the industry demand such as digital marketing, data analytics, financial modelling and many more.

We also call experts to give exposure to operate on a stock market trading platform and face the world.

From time to time we invite industry leaders to our campus for their sessions and training programmes. Students are also been sent for industry visits in all their semesters to get practical insight. From the third semester, students chose their electives to shape their careers in that particular domain.

Q: Do you think the curriculum of the courses taught in your institute fits the requirement of the industry?

A: Yes of course, as I have already discussed that we have our PGDM programme industry integrated course and from time to time we always try to incorporate courses in consultation with the industry experts and professionals. Apart from that, we keep on calling industry senior professionals and educationists from IIM and other reputed institutions and universities for their guest lecturers often on Saturday.

We also conduct certification programmes according to student’s specialisation and groom them as per the industry requirements.

Q: Is your college receptive to innovation, technology, science & entrepreneurship?

A: Yes we are receptive to innovation, technology, science and entrepreneurship as these are the need of the hour and without these students can’t be competent and in order to develop these skills in our students our faculty members take extra efforts to discuss and conduct various real-life based industry-related case study, management games and role-plays. Apart from these, we send our students to attend various workshops, conferences and seminars. We also conduct many entrepreneurial activities for them to develop their entrepreneurial skills.

Various faculty members conduct presentations and PDP sessions to enhance their confidence and morale-boosting. Semester wise students also go for industrial visits, national and international tours.