We focus on fostering broader dimensions of learning which are critical to students' overall success, says Director

Dr Seema Tatwawadi, Director of MET Institute of International Studies, discusses the institute's Empirical Pedagogy and Learning-Focused Approach in depth. She goes into great detail regarding the curriculum architecture created by NCC Education, a British qualifications awarding body in the United Kingdom. The course units are designed to meet the National Occupational Standards of the United Kingdom, guaranteeing that students who complete the course are job/ industry-ready.

Dr Tatwawadi has a brilliant academic career capped by her Doctorate from Pune University. She is a distinguished Psychologist, Educationist, Counselor and Lifestyle Management Consultant and has over 35 years of experience.

Read the complete interview below.

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

A: The MET Institute of International Studies offers unique international courses and prepares students to be confident global citizens. Besides this, we follow –

• Learning Focused Approach- We focus on fostering broader dimensions of learning which are critical to students' overall success. These include social and emotional development, creativity and innovation & positive attitudes to learning.
• Affordability - Providing international courses in a familiar environment at an affordable cost. We offer easy financial assistance.
• Empirical Pedagogy- Quality of academics is perhaps the most obvious and important aspect of the programme. We have a well-rounded industry-experienced faculty. The curriculum focuses on a research-based approach and industry-driven projects, which help in empirical learning.

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

A: MET IIS course curriculum is designed by NCC Education, a UK awarding body of  British qualifications. The course units are prepared to comply with the National Occupational Standards of UK ensuring that the students studying the course are job/ industry-ready. Additionally, the students are encouraged to undertake primary and secondary research cases to gather relevant industry data. Industrial visits, company open day sessions adds to the student’s knowledge about the industry. Students engage with industry experts during ‘Industry–Academia Interaction Series’ through webinars and seminars.

Q: What are the key attributes that a student should have in order to qualify & excel in the programme?

A: We believe that every student is unique and possesses certain qualities. To qualify and excel in the programme a student needs the following attributes –

• Clear sense of purpose
• Adaptability
• Excellent English writing, reading & communication skills
• Willingness to work hard & smart
• Critical & logical reasoning abilities
• Self-discipline

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

A: MET Institute of International Studies is an Accredited Partner center of NCC Education UK, which has agreements with over 70 universities across the globe, including the UK, Australia, Canada, and the USA.  All the programmes offered by MET Institute of International studies are practical and relevant to becoming successful in today's global economy.

Our flagship programmes are –

• International Foundation Diploma (Level-3, IFDHES) – We are amongst the few institutes in India offering pre-university one-year diploma programme after Class 10 standard. This programme is offered in six specialisations i.e., Engineering, Medical, Business, Finance, Computing, Chemical Engineering and Higher Finance
• Dual Country Graduation Programmes in Business & Computing (Level-4 & Level-5 Diplomas) - In this programme students’ have an option to move to UK to complete Level-5 Diploma & Graduation or students’ can opt to stay in Indian and complete online top-up degree from UK.
• International Level-7 Diploma in Management is an Ofqual regulated qualification that offers flexible online & self-study. This programme provides an easy route to obtain an MBA Degree from UK universities

Q: What are you doing to improve/drive better campus placements for your current students and alumni? What kind of jobs routinely come to campus? What would you say are the key recruitment trends for your college (observed over the past five years)?

A: We believe that in this competitive global environment with excellent academic inputs, the focus should be on developing global competencies. Right attitude can make students employable. Apart from empirical pedagogy we focus on providing comprehensive knowledge of industry practices so as to improve their practical skills.

• Our students’ assessment is based on the writing assignments. Doing research for this equips them with in-depth knowledge of how businesses are done or companies are setup with current best practices
• Students get an opportunity to visit, organise and interact with top industry experts including the alumni. These interactions are aimed at gaining valuable insights into various industries to help them get a better understanding of businesses.
• We encourage them to read regularly and come up with innovative solutions to various case studies. We hold regular discussions on the practical workings of industries along with an emphasis on role-plays to give them a realistic understanding of businesses.
• We encourage them to pursue online courses and to work on areas of their interest so as to broaden their perspective and skills.