YEAR 1 | ISSUE 3 | JULY, 2012
20
Interview of Prof. Balaji Rajagopalan, Pro Vice Chancellor, Galgotias University
3 Cs for Holistic Development Three Cs i.e. Commitment to work, Confidence with Humility and Care with Passion are essential for the growth of an individual, Says Prof. Balaji Rajagopalan, Pro Vice Chancellor, Galgotias University in an interview with The G-Post . On behalf of the entire team of The G-Post, I welcome you to Galgotias University. Tell us something about yourself? I was born in Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu and grew up there until I was 6 years old. My mode of transportation to school there was a bullock cart! I have a few fond memories of the short time I spent there. My father worked for South Eastern Railways and it was typical for him to get transferred to a different location every few years. While this caused a lot of inconvenience to our family at that time, I am very thankful for the many places I had an opportunity to live in. I spent most of my schooling days in Vishakapatnam (also known as Waltair) and also received the B.E degree in Mechanical Engineering from Andhra University. I embarked on a journey to the USA in 1989 for higher education and lived there until my move this year to GU. Most recently, I served as the Associate Dean of the School of Business at Oakland University. What has motivated you to join Galgotias University? The opportunity to contribute to the shaping of a new University that has the vision to deliver world-class education. What is the status of technical and management education in the USA? At the heart of any great institution is exceptionally talented and well educated faculty with a commitment to advancing knowledge as well as a student body that has the intellectual prowess and the motivation to excel in their endeavors. If you look at the institutions in the US, you will find that there are hundreds of institutions that offer this combination. While there are many factors that contribute to the phenomenal success of institutions in the US, in my humble opinion it is primarily driven by its ability to attract the best faculty and student talent from across the world. Engineering and Management education in the US continues to be regarded as the best in the world. While there are challenges to retaining this status, I remain very optimistic that the US will continue to be a leader in higher education. Do you see reverse brain drain a reality in today’s economically booming India? When countries create attractive opportunities and a model where innovation is encouraged and rewarded, it is bound to attract talent. And this has been the case with India for the last few years. What are your future plans? I will focus on contributing to GU’s institution building efforts.
What changes are you going to bring in the existing education system at Galgotias? Changes in curricula and pedagogical methods are collaborative exercises and no one individual can or should try to bring about a change. So, my efforts will be directed toward building a collaborative model for continuously assessing our curriculum and making amendments to them that will serve our students well. What are your expectations from students and your colleagues at Galgotias University? I have already received a very warm welcome. I look forward to working with colleagues in all areas of the University. Many foreign universities are setting up their centers in India or arranging a tie-up with existing institutions. Do you think this will improve education scenario in India? Competition from any quarter will motivate existing entities to improve and challenge them to prove their value to the market. So, in this context, it is a welcome initiative. However, it is too early to predict the broader impact this move will have on the education in India. Given the fact that Indian students lack in soft-skills and there is less practical exposure. How are you going to address this issue at Galgotias University? We have already developed a Professional Development Program and are in the process of looking an implementation model. Your message to the students. The three C’s that I usually talk to students about are --
Commitment to work
Do your work (professional and personal) with a commitment that goes beyond simply the need to complete your task. Commitment is deep involvement and is reflected in everything that you do – the way you interact with others, the way you help a colleague or the quality of output.
Confidence with humility
Let no one make you believe you are not capable of accomplishing the goals you have set for yourself. Believe in yourself. Be confident but have the humility to accept your mistakes and recognizing that there is always someone that knows more than you do.
Care with passion
Care about your community, country and the disadvantaged people across the world. When given an opportunity to impact a life, in however small ways, do so with passion.