We follow an action-based learning, blended teaching methodology for the courses, says Asst. Prof. Sowmya Senthil

In a conversation with Shiksha.com, Assistant Professor Sowmya Senthil at Global Institute of Business Studies talks at length about action-based, blended teaching methodology. She goes into detail discussing the evaluation process which completely depends on the nature of the course such as practical exams, open-book exams, project/assignment report submission, case analysis and presentation etc.

Sowmya Senthil has over 11 years of academic experience. She has previously worked as an Assistant Professor at the Oxford College of Business Management, Bangalore BBM & BCom Dept at Bangalore University

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 an action-based learning, blended teaching methodology for the courses. Most courses are attached with term papers or mini-projects, which allow the student to practically understand the concepts.

The evaluation of these courses is also planned differently depending on the nature of the course, like practical exams, open book exams, project/assignment report submission, case analysis and presentation etc.

Students are not just evaluated on fixed exams; we do a continuous evaluation system throughout the trimester. Through this, we ensure that students are continuously learning and understanding the course and they do not become just exam worms who study only for exams.

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

A: Firstly, our curriculum itself is designed in such a way that it matches the current industry standards. Secondly, we have corporate trainers who regularly visit our campus and provide their inputs as Guest Lectures, Talk Series, IRE Talk Series, Value-Added Programmes, and Subject Mater Experts.

Also, we have an ultra-modern learning system. So even in the era of the online education system, things don’t stop us. Through various virtual events and regular webinars, we keep preparing our students to become future leaders.

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

A: An applicant must be ready to learn and should be receptive to the inputs given to him/her. A student with a positive attitude and the right etiquette will always be a good candidate after two years. We provide them with every opportunity to learn and grow in the field. We also believe that it's the students' responsibility to grab the opportunities and prepare themselves as an industry-ready product.

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

A: We have many corporate associates who play an active role in refining the curriculum. We have a committee with a combination of experienced academicians and corporates taking part in framing the curriculum to suit the current and upcoming industry standards. The credits are assigned with an understanding of the weightage in the industry requirements. We ensure that we follow the basic recommendations of AICTE, such as the credits recommended, the concept of Bloom’s Taxonomy, etc., and ensure our curriculum minimizes the gap between the institute and industry.

Our curriculum includes MOOC courses, industrial visits, industrial live projects, outbound training, specialization-based training, business immersion projects, and many more. We just don’t prepare them to be industry ready. We have social internship projects incorporated into our curriculum, which help in preparing them to be better citizens and better human beings. We always believe in "giving back to society" and we teach our students the same.

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

A: Yes, we are very much into it. We have a separate IRE (Innovation, Research, and Entrepreneurship) school which runs every Friday. This is the brainchild of GIBS and it is well accepted by the students. We have an expert trainer to train on IRE every week. The 3 trainers collaborate and ensure that students will actually come up with their protocols at the end of the 3rd trimester, i.e., at the end of three levels of IRE. We believe this will actually support students to come up with innovative ideas, and they can grow and scale them with the right system, whether they become an entrepreneur or hold a position in a top firm.