We are a new-age university that understands the importance of traditional educational standards, says Dr Uniyal

In a conversation with Shiksha.com, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Development and Leadership) RV University, Dr Dwarika Prasad Uniyal discusses the need for practical experience for students in-depth. He discusses a variety of efforts, including experiential learning as a teaching approach, industry-ready curriculum, and industry visits, among others. The goal is to provide students with a high-quality, lifelong learning experience.

Dr Uniyal has rich and varied experience of more than 25 years in premier academic institutions and industry. In an academic career spanning over two decades, Professor Uniyal taught at premier Business Schools such as IIM Kashipur (where he was Dean of Exec Education and headed its Dehradun campus) MICA - Ahmedabad, SPJIMR - Mumbai and SP Jain School of Global Management - Dubai.

Read the complete interview below

Q: What are the three things that your university is doing that will enable it to differentiate itself from the competition?

A: Innovation has been the key to our success so far. We are a new-age university that understands the importance of traditional educational standards yet we blend it with modern world practices to impart a quality learning experience to students. This differentiates us from the competition. Besides this -  

• We are creating a truly multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary undergraduate programme that will take BA/ BCom/ BSc/ BBA into the league of professional programmes sucha as BTech or MBBS
• Compulsory multiple internships to make students industry ready and we are forging tie-ups with companies from the time we are conceptualising the curriculum. Our programmes will be co-created and co-delivered with the Industry
• Unique Major-Minor combinations across three schools of Economics & Finance, Design and Liberal Arts & Sciences. Students can take Minors from any of the three schools and create a unique portfolio of subjects. No two students will have the same grade sheet. They can customise and design their own academic pathways

Q: What are the top three initiatives undertaken by you that are helping your students become more industry-ready?

A: The journey to help students become industry-ready starts from Day one. The curriculum, teaching methodologies, webinars, seminars, all aim towards that only. The most crucial factor that contributes to making students industry-ready is the practical exposure and the same is imparted through -

• Signing MOU’s with various industrial groups to Co-Create and Co-Deliver the programme. Multiple Skills workshops across three years.
• Mandatory Summer Internships and multiple Live Projects across three years
• Live Incubator and Consulting Company on campus which will undertake paid projects from the industry. It will be run by students and mentored by faculty.

Q: What are the key attributes that a student should have in order to qualify for your institution and perform well?

A: To qualify for the institution, one must fulfill the eligibility criteria. Besides this, students must have a great portfolio of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and a hunger to do things differently.

They must have a mindset of an entrepreneur and should be ready to explore more, do more and be more.

To perform well in the curriculum, one must go beyond classroom learnings, which means to have the self-interest to learn more and explore more. University brings various live projects, and certification opportunities to students to learn more. One must have the zeal to encash those opportunities.

Besides this, active participation in other co-curricular activities is equally necessary for a healthy mind and body.

Q: Which programme/s would you say is/are your best? What is it that helps your institution differentiate itself for this programme?

A: We are a multi-disciplinary professional university with a legacy of 80 years across various domains including RV College of Engineering. RV University is a modern, tech-enabled, new age Liberal Education University that is truly global in its approach, has global linkages and global aspirations.

We will be creating high-quality content on every possible domain topic as well as topics related to outcomes for learners. We are also walking on a pathway to create a community of learners and industry that is mutually symbiotic

We shall also work closely with modern-age technology-enabled companies to create learner experiences that prepare them for the modern world