Students are taught how to pass aptitude tests as part of the Institute's Employability Readiness Program, says Prof.

In a conversation with Shiksha.com, Associate Professor Dr Preeti Shirodkar at Kohinoor Management School talks at length about methodologies such as twin teaching, flipped classrooms, language games, remedial sessions and hand-holding adopted by the institute for holistic development of the students. She further elaborates on the importance of Communication and Soft skill training for a successful career.

Dr Shirodkar is a PhD degree holder in English language and Literature from the University of Mumbai. She has conducted numerous training programmes and delivered talks and webinars for academia and industry, served at varied undergraduate and postgraduate departments in Mumbai and has been to Germany and England as a Visiting Scholar. She has over 30 years of rich academic experience.

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: KBS is unique in having two core full-time faculty for Communication and Soft Skills training, which is considered a core competency by organisations, more especially in today’s times. This enables the students to be shaped in the area of Communication and Soft Skills. The core faculty uses techniques of twin teaching, flipped classroom, language games, remedial sessions and hand-holding, which helps students acquire the relevant skills in communication. Case studies developed by the faculty members are used for training and discussion. Most faculty make it a point to use case studies, engage in role plays, use quizzes, engage in continual assessment and experiment with pedagogy to bring out the best in every batch.

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

A: In addition to preparing them in the areas of Communication and Soft Skills, the Institute conducts an Employability Readiness Programme, where students are given training to crack aptitude tests and get through the selection process. This individual grooming has proven to be extremely useful in boosting confidence during the selection process and has also gathered students praise by the selecting organisations for the way in which the students carry themselves. Furthermore, academic and live projects coupled with internships at different levels and the Friday Series, which exposes them to the views of industry professionals helps them become industry-ready. So too, all subjects in the programme are taught from a practicable point of view, with diverse examples, case studies and skills practice sessions. Most importantly, honing their skills and not merely focussing on knowledge helps their transition into the industry.

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

A: KBS believes in shaping students to fulfill their potential. The only trait they thus require is a desire to become the best version of themselves, through a willingness to learn.

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

A: We not merely get feedback from the industry but also engage in Faculty Development. The faculty members attend various skills and knowledge enhancement workshops and are also invited to conduct them for the industry and academia. This helps them remain abreast of the latest trends and expectations. In fact, one of the books co-authored by a faculty member and an industry professional has been used by a reputed organisation as a training manual for their new employees.

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

A: Yes. We not only have an entrepreneurship cell that has been responsible for fostering innovation, which has also been showcased and well-received on LinkedIn, but also has excellent faculty members in Excel and PPT. These faculty members have ranked on the LinkedIn Skills Assessment Test and have been conducting training for the industry, in these areas, given their proficiency in it. Some of the entrepreneurial ideas showcased on LinkedIn include a disposable toilet cover, which is not merely extremely useful considering the pandemic but could go a long way in resolving major issues that women face, by using public restrooms.